Ananda Shankar Jayant’s ‘Dancing with Joy’ celebrates courage and resilience
In Short
Ananda Shankar Jayant’s memoir explores how classical dance became a source of strength, resilience and hope during her journey with cancer
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Ananda Shankar Jayant’s ‘Dancing with Joy’ celebrates courage and resilience
Renowned classical dancer Ananda Shankar Jayant’s inspirational memoir, ‘Dancing with Joy’, was released by the Hon’ble Vice-President of India, C P Radhakrishnan, at Uprashtrapathi Bhavan in New Delhi on October 14. Published by Garuda Prakashan, the book was launched in the presence of Dr Sandhya Purecha, Chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi; Dr Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA); and Dr P. Raghu Ram, Chairman of the Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation.
Addressing the gathering, the Vice-President described the memoir as much more than a story about dance and joy, calling it a powerful account of “passion, hard work, resilience and the extraordinary strength that comes from discovering and nurturing one’s talent.”
Highlighting Ananda’s journey through cancer, he said it was “not merely a book about cancer, but a story of life beyond cancer.” He observed that a deeply nurtured passion could become an anchor during life’s most difficult moments and help transform adversity into an opportunity for self-discovery.
Referring to the book’s message that the ‘D’ in DANCER helped its author overcome the ‘C’ in cancer, the Vice-President noted that dance, nurtured through years of discipline, learning and dedication, had become Ananda’s core strength in confronting one of life’s greatest challenges.
He also emphasised that “awareness, early detection and timely treatment” were essential to saving lives.
Highlighting the expansion of cancer care facilities and preventive healthcare initiatives, he encouraged people facing serious challenges not to lose hope and to approach setbacks with courage and determination.
At the heart of ‘Dancing with Joy’ is Ananda’s personal encounter with cancer, which she approaches not as an ending but as another rhythm to understand and master. Reflecting on her experience, she writes, “Cancer is a mind game,” describing how dance became her source of strength in navigating the physical and emotional challenges of the disease.
Released during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October, the memoir celebrates resilience, purpose and the transformative power of passion.
It offers an intimate glimpse into Ananda’s life as an artiste, teacher, speaker, writer and arts entrepreneur.
The book also seeks to inspire young artists to sustain their creative journeys and encourage parents to recognise and nurture their children’s innate talents. Congratulating Ananda, the Vice-President expressed hope that the memoir would inspire readers to meet life’s challenges “with courage, grace and joy.”
