Inside the rehearsal room: Where dancer Malavika Sarukkai shapes her art

Chennai: The spotlight and audience adoration are what artists cherish most. But the moments of glory on stage are built in unseen hours of practice, behind the quiet walls of a rehearsal space.

“I have spent most part of my life here,” says dancer Malavika Sarukkai, seated on a wooden swing in the airy rehearsal area of her Valmiki Nagar home. Part of the space opens to the sky, where an old bougainvillea tree stands like a silent spectator. A large mirror on the wall reflects her movements, while idols of Nataraja and Dakshinamurthy add a divine touch.

Located at the center of the house, the rehearsal room bridges the world of visitors with the dancer’s private quarters — a subtle link between the outer and inner realms where performance takes shape.