We recently connected with Jinu Scaria and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jinu , we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
Growing I always wanted to learn a hobby however the financial situation was not as such that we could afford an extra class other than regular school. I held on to this desire of mine until it was time to find a job and it was recession that year 2010. There was no hope for me to get a job in line with my education and I decide to find a call centre job just so that I can make money to join my first dance class. Lot of people told me once I join call centre then I will be stuck there forever however my heart always told me that I should pursue what I love and if this is what it takes and I must do. initially joined Bollywood dance classes which was close to my home. My work was during the night and I would dance during the day. It was perfect. 6months into the dancing I was given opportunities to perform and competitions and South Indian reality shows. Towards the end of one year I wanted to join a dance style that was more challenging and unique. It was my sister who suggested Belly dance to me. By the one year I had found a job that was aligning my education and I was very happy. I started looking in google for belly dance classes and found one and immediately joined. Everyone around me told me this is not good for girls and that no one would marry me if I did belly dance. So I hid from everyone and joined belly dance classes. I started falling in love with this beautiful style however I was very scared of the judgement of eveyone. I never had courage to tell anyone that I was learning belly dance and I actually good at it. In my society back then saw belly dance as and entertainment for men. Never saw it as an art. I carried this little secret with me for 2 years. I felt extremely free in my dance classes and caged outside that with this secret. I told once to one of my colleague that I would like to do belly dancing.. they just laughed and said you need a belly to do belly dancing and brushed it off. I still was not ready to tell people. In my third year of learning I started performing for competitions and stage shows. I was very scared thinking what will people think of me. However one day I took courage and told my friends and family.they said your learning it’s ok . But no one will ever marry a belly dancer. I dint think it so much but since everyone started telling this it was in my heart bothering me. They even suggested me to stop doing what I was. I felt I will do as life takes me. It came to time that I my parents started searching for suitable partners and they would like me but when I say I belly dance during my free time they said – I am ok that you pursue your passion but my mom will not be happy with this. With this repeated rejection it made me wonder that if I were wrong. It took a lot of self talk and convincing myself that in fact I was not wrong. It was them who were wrong to think belly dance as not an art. It took me 3 years to realise this and convince myself to believe. With time and a lot of self doubt I decide to stand for what I love and no one supported me even then. Everyone still told me that I should stop. I knew I dint start dreaming of this when I was little to stop now. It was this dance that gave me the courage and taught me how to express my feelings and stand for myself. Because of that decision today I am married and happy and proved everyone wrong. I am a proud belly dancer toda
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
When I started I just wanted to learn something that makes me feel confident and free. I was learning for the longest time and decided to start teaching this beautiful art. Belly dance and Bollywood. I had a set life back home but had to move continents for my marriage. Which meant starting from scratch in this new place. I found a day job meanwhile searching for a studio or some place for me to start teaching. I moved during pandemic and everything had gone on zoom for a long time I was not finding anything. Today I found jhalak dance academy and I am teaching Bollywood and belly dance classes there. I still don’t have any students for my belly dance classes but hopeful one day I will have a class full
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I think the biggest skill that brought me here is to believe in yourself no matter what people say..everyone around always will have an opinion and you have no responsibility to keep them happy. The biggest responsibility that one has is to keep yourself happy first . This will take you a long way
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am looking for Bollywood or belly dance dancers who can collaborate with me. I wish to grow this community.
They can reach us at jhalak dance academy.
21339 village green circle, German town Maryland .
Phone – 2406906190
My personal instagram- https://www.instagram.com/jinuscaria?igsh=MWdteWg5MGV0ZjBheQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
They can ping me on my social media as well
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jinuscaria?igsh=MWdteWg5MGV0ZjBheQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100081326381628&mibextid=sCpJLy
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jinuscariadance
- Other: TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@jinuscaria77?_t=8kWQNjNKdRL&_r=1
