It’s true but hard to believe for more than a hundred friends and family members including dancers  at Chennai’s R R Sabha  as they witnessed 54 year old  Kaveda Ravi performing  her Bharatnatyam Arangetram with aplomb. Kaveda  performed six dances non stop for more than an hour with graceful movements, Abhinaya and rhythm.

Kaveda learnt Bharatnatyam during her school days when she was 14 under her Guru  Shagunthala but could not pursue the full cycle for an Arangetram as life turned busy – with college education and marriage. The mother of two adult  daughters now kept her passion for dance alive and resumed active learning under her Guru Padmashree Shobana  in Chennai and later under her third Guru Kalaimamani Vidyalakshmi Vidyanath. Her passion took wings and she performed at many prestigious sabhas and temples. She had even won a Rotary first prize. 

Kaveda says it took six months of practice for this big debut. “It was a very  fulfilling and emotional moment for me as Arangetram was a long time dream for me”. On the question of many giving up their passion as they gain age, Kaveda says “Age never stops me from achieving my passion. It’s not too late to follow your dream”.

As part of her dance journey, a  few years ago Kaveda was part of a stunning dance performance by a dozen such Chennai  women from various professional backgrounds who revived  their passion for dance, many after their marriage. 

Kaveda’s Guru Vidyalakshmi is excited. She says there were key challenges including “Physical stamina, core strength and flexibility”. But Kaveda, she adds managed everything. “With dedication and guidance all dreams can be achieved at any stage of life”.

Kaveda’s family including her husband Ravi supported her passion. Her daughter Swarna Roshna Ravi says “My mom used to practice even while cooking. She used to always listen to the audio and practise”. On other challenges she says “Despite physio activity often she would experience body and knee pain. But she would take pain killer and keep working. I should also credit my dad. His support motivated her”.

The hall was packed. Besides her close family and family friends and Kaveda’s childhood friends too had lined up to root for her. Swayam Prabha, her friend from school summed up “What makes this special is Kaveda’s courage, that it’s passion has no deadline and it’s never late to pursue one’s passion.