A seven year old Kathak Dancer and Writer, Manya Bahal is currently studying at Salwan Public School in Gurugram. She started practicing Kathak at six and has participated in numerous dance competitions. She has written a book 'Lily and Her Magical Friend' with the motivation of her teacher and her father. She achieved first place in a group dance competition and cleared the first level in Kathak at seven. She advises other young stars to trust in their abilities and continue practicing.

The Initiation

Manya Bahal started practicing Kathak one year back at the age of six and has since participated in many dance competitions. Initially she started with Bollywood dancing but then her grandmother motivated her to pursue Kathak. She has also won many prizes in Kathak. Besides being a Kathak artist, she is also into writing. Recently, she has written a book ‘Lily and Her Magical Friend’. Her class teacher Ashima mam motivated her to write a story so she wrote this story and then later converted it into a book. This story book is based on a girl whose father is ill and she goes to the jungle and asks for help from some people and in the end she saves her father.

Gurus & Role Models

Manya practices Kathak under the guidance of her teacher, Chandrakala ma'am, a kind and patient mentor. Another teacher, Ashima ma'am, inspired her to write her storybook. Manya considers her father her role model, as he consistently supports her in extracurricular activities and encourages her to pursue her dreams, helping her build confidence along the way. She aspires to join the AirForce, and her father always motivates her to become an all-rounder and excel in everything she does.

The Talent

Manya began her journey of writing a storybook by first practicing her writing skills. Together with her father, she brainstormed ideas and developed the stories. After completing her entire story in Hindi, she translated it into English, eventually creating her very own storybook.

Achievements

Manya has several achievements to her name. She secured first place in a group dance competition at Urban Square Mall in Udaipur. She cleared the first level in Kathak at the age of seven. She initially practiced swimming at Khel Gaon and gradually progressed to swimming in lakes like Fateh Sagar. Although she was initially afraid of swimming in the lake, with practice, she overcame her fear and even began diving into the lake. She has now started writing a ‘Trilogy’ of three books.

A Bit More

Manya shares that when she used to live in Udaipur, her grandmother encouraged her to pursue swimming, dancing, and music. Now that Manya lives in Gurugram, she continues her dance practice and has also begun writing stories. The quote "Believe you can, and you are halfway there" always motivates Manya. It signifies that believing in yourself brings you halfway to achieving your goals. She emphasizes the importance of never giving up, having faith in yourself, and finding joy in your work. Manya advises other young stars to trust in their abilities and keep practicing, never considering themselves perfect but continually striving for improvement.