It was an incredible honor to attend Lylah’s Bharatanatyam Arangetram, a momentous occasion in her dance journey. Since the age of 5, Lylah has been dedicated to mastering this classical Indian dance form. Now, at 16, she has reached the pinnacle of her training, delivering her Arangetram—a stunning full-length solo performance marking her debut as a Bharatanatyam dancer.
Lylah, in addition to being a talented dancer, is an award-winning student broadcast journalist. Her journey began at the age of 12 when she assisted with a TV segment I had scheduled for her mother, Rudrani Banik, M.D. on Teen Kids News. The segment featured Dr. Banik discussing eye health, and the producer needed a young student interviewee, so Lylah stepped in. Before the interview concluded, Lylah mentioned she might want to become a reporter for the show. I immediately introduced her to Alan Weiss, the founder and producer of Teen Kids News. Lylah applied, auditioned, and has been anchoring for them ever since that pivotal day in July 2020. Last year, she won an Emmy with Teen Kids News!
From the stage, Lylah shared a powerful story of dedication, heritage, and self-discovery. After an intense and captivating three-hour performance, she closed the recital with a heartfelt speech. She expressed deep gratitude to her Guru, Sonali Skandan, for pushing her to reach new levels of excellence in dance, and to her mother, Rudrani, for sacrificing parts of her own career to provide these opportunities and for always supporting her dreams.
Lylah’s speech delivered a meaningful message that applies to all of us. She shared that although she didn’t initially see herself as a dancer, she committed to the practice, and now she is one. This mindset is something we can all adopt, filling in the blanks for ourselves:
“I’m not a ________, but I’ll dedicate time to become a ___________, and soon I will be a ___________.”
To achieve the milestone of her Arangetram, Lylah took decisive steps. She declared her goal, sought mentorship and guidance, set clear objectives, created deadlines, practiced daily, leaned on the support of family and friends, and boldly showcased her talent on stage.
You don’t have to know Lylah to be inspired by her story—it’s a testament to what dedication, practice and focus can achieve. I hope sharing it has sparked something in you. It definitely stirred something in me.
Thank you Rudrani Banik for inviting me to this milestone achievement for your beautiful and brilliant daughter, who reflects everything I see in you. I can’t wait to watch the next chapter in Lylah’s journey unfold. 🧡🩷🙏🏻
#Mentor #Mentee #Mentorship