Chapter- 18 Dancing On
1. Why may dancing not be easy for the girl in the picture?
Answer: Because the girl has a physical disability and dances with an artificial leg.
2. What classical dance form does Sudha perform?
Answer: Bharatanatyam.
3. Where was Sudha performing when the audience heard strange dance terms?
Answer: In Washington, USA.
4. Name some Bharatanatyam items mentioned in the lesson.
Answer: Alarippu, Shabdam, Varnam, and Padam.
5. What do the terms bhava, raga and tala mean?
Answer:
Bhava – emotion
Raga – melody
Tala – rhythm
6. How old was Sudha when she was a promising dancer?
Answer: She was 17 years old.
7. How many performances had Sudha already given?
Answer: She had given more than 80 performances.
8. What tragic incident changed Sudha’s life?
Answer: She was injured in a road accident.
9. Where did the accident take place?
Answer: About 25 km from Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu.
10. Why did Sudha’s condition become serious?
Answer: Because she developed a gangrenous infection.
11. What difficult decision did doctors have to take?
Answer: They had to amputate her right leg below the knee.
12. How did Sudha feel after losing her leg?
Answer: She was heartbroken but determined.
13. What was Sudha’s biggest dream?
Answer: To dance again.
14. Who helped Sudha fulfill her dream?
Answer: Dr. Pramod Sethi.
15. What is the ‘Jaipur Foot’?
Answer: An artificial leg made from rubber and sponge.
16. Who developed the Jaipur Foot?
Answer: Dr. Pramod Sethi.
17. Which award did Dr. Sethi receive?
Answer: The Magsaysay Award.
18. What challenges did Sudha face while learning again?
Answer: Learning to balance, bend, walk, turn and dance.
19. Who supported Sudha in her struggle?
Answer: Her doctors, physiotherapist, parents and guru.
20. What is Gurudakshina?
Answer: A thanksgiving dance recital for the guru.
21. When did Sudha give her Gurudakshina recital?
Answer: On October 27, 1982.
22. Why is this performance called a miracle?
Answer: Because Sudha danced again after losing her leg.
23. When did Sudha make her public comeback?
Answer: On January 28, 1984.
24. Where did Sudha give her comeback performance?
Answer: In Bombay (Mumbai).
25. How was the performance received by the audience?
Answer: She was warmly welcomed and praised.
26. What did Sudha usually ask her father after performances?
Answer: “How was it, Daddy?”
27. How did her father react after the 1984 performance?
Answer: He touched her feet in respect.
28. Why did Sudha’s father touch her feet?
Answer: As a tribute to a great artist.
29. What qualities of Sudha inspire us?
Answer: Courage, determination, patience and dedication.
30. What is the central message of the lesson?
Answer: Strong willpower can overcome physical disability.
Answer by Dimpee Bora
