Ishalaya School Of Kathak

We are tucked away in Aundh, right near the Colaba Causeway area. It’s usually pretty loud here because of the dancing. If you walk past Ishalaya School Of Kathak in the evenings, you can hear the bells and the rhythmic tapping on the floor. It's not a fancy studio with glass walls or anything like that. Just a regular room where people come to learn the steps. We spend a lot of time sweeping the floor because the chalk and dust get everywhere. Sometimes the music is a bit too loud for the neighbors but they don't seem to mind much. We've been at this address for a bit now. Most days it’s just us trying to get the rhythm right and making sure the students don't trip over their own feet. It’s a lot of work, teaching the younger ones especially. They have so much energy. We keep the windows open when it gets hot, so you can hear the traffic from the causeway mixing with the tabla. It’s just how things go here. There’s a tea stall not too far away where we usually go when we have a break between the classes. It’s a simple setup. We don't have a big sign or anything, just enough so people can find us. It feels like home after you’ve spent so many hours here practicing the same circles over and over again. Everyone knows each other, and it’s mostly just hard work and some sore feet at the end of the day.