Dance is my Therapy | Anika Nattamai | TEDxKings Mills Youth

Anika Nattamai, a junior at the University of Cincinnati studying Health Science, talks about how dance can serve as a form of expression, emotional release and personal healing when words are not enough. Her talk centres on Bharatanatyam, the Indian classical dance form she has practised for 14 years and in which she completed her Arangetram in 2024. She also describes the art form as a way to bring body, mind, emotion, rhythm and attention together, and her work as Co-Captain of UC Laya, the university's Indian classical dance team. The talk was given at an independently organised TEDx event.

• Dance as a language for expressing emotions and releasing stress
• Bharatanatyam training and the speaker's Arangetram in 2024
• Mentoring dancers as Co-Captain of UC Laya
• Talk given at an independently organised TEDx event

**Dance Is My Therapy** What if healing doesn’t always begin with words? For some, it begins with movement. This talk explores how dance can become a powerful language for expressing emotions, releasing stress, rebuilding confidence, and reconnecting with ourselves. Because sometimes, when words aren’t enough, the body knows how to tell the story. Anika Nattamai is a junior at the University of Cincinnati majoring in Health Science and aspiring to become a Physician Assistant. Alongside her interest in healthcare, her deepest passion lies in Indian classical arts. She has trained in Bharatanatyam for 14 years under Guru Smt. Anupama Mirle and completed her Arangetram in 2024. She has also studied Carnatic vocal music for over a decade and completed her solo vocal graduation recital the same year. For Anika, Bharatanatyam is more than performance. In a world filled with distraction, the art form asks the body, mind, emotion, rhythm, expression, and attention to come together in a single moment. Anika currently serves as Co-Captain of UC Laya, the University of Cincinnati’s Indian classical dance team, where she enjoys mentoring dancers and sharing the richness of Indian culture. Through both dance and healthcare, she hopes to help others discover the value of lifelong learning, This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx