Dancing and drawing are skills that can only be perfected after years of tedious training and maybe not even then, but what if you started when you were five? Twelve-year-old Aida Ramsahai did exactly that, from the age of five. Aida watched her sister Arana practise classical East Indian dancing for Baal Vikaas competitions. From there, she ventured on her own dance journey by competing for the Rio Claro Hindu Primary School and performing with Simone's Dance Academy.

In an interview with Newsday Kids on Thursday, Aida said, "Because my sister participated in Baal Vikaas competitions for dance, she roped me into it as well. And if I don't know a dance move, I can always go to her."

[caption id="attachment_958193" align="alignnone" width="683"] Aida Ramsahai performs a kanha dance at the Chandrasekhar Vishnu Mandir in Rio Claro. - MARVIN HAMILTON[/caption]

Baal Vikaas competitions comprise seven categories – classical dancing being one of them – and Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha registered primary schools participate in them. Her school won the second-place trophy in 2019. This was also the last time any Baal Vikaas competitions were held – owing to the covid19 pandemic – before its return this year.

Aida showcased her talent to Newsday Kids at the Chandrasekhar Vishnu Mandir, Naparima/Mayaro Road, Rio Claro, where she performed a Kanha dance, which she said, "didn't take more than a month" to learn. The form one student of Rio Claro West Secondary School said learning the dances doesn't take her longer than a few weeks.

"Dancing is very active and since I started at a young age, I just grew into it."

For her performance, she wore a bright yellow and pink sari. Not once did she miss a step or get nervous, as she let her elegance, grace and talent do most of the work.

She beamed with pride when she recalled performing this dance at S&S Persad's Indian Arrival Day celebrations at Naparima/Mayaro Road, last Saturday.

[caption id="attachment_958194" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Aida Ramsahai holds her drawing of Lord Ganesh, her favourite Hindu god. - MARVIN HAMILTON[/caption]

She said Simone's Dance Academy will not have practice until CSEC and CAPE examinations are over, to give its members sitting these exams that time to focus. Aida said she'll do her dances at home and once the academy reopens, she plans to make her presence known at all rehearsals and competitions. She said when she registered with the group, she wasn't old enough to take part in competitions, but after turning 12 in January, she is excited to be included.

As for her art, she said, drawing is what she most gravitates to, but, to make her art look "pretty," she'll endure colouring her pieces. Aida also started drawing at the age of five and her love for it developed because of school. She said at the time, all she was able to draw were animals for her science class but she prefers drawing Lord Ganesh. After SEA exams in 2021, she immediately spent her free time watching YouTube videos on how to draw Lord Ganesh, and so she