Final Thoughts

Even though this wasn't your standard sit down take a test and study course I would have to say I still learned a lot. Maybe it was learning by doing and repetition, but those methods have both been effective for much longer than schools have been around.

I learned about a story that has a greater impact on a larger percentage of the worlds population that most books that have ever been written with the exception of the Bible or Quran. I learned that this story was and still is much more than just a story. It has become to many a religion, where no man is worshipped, but his character is. They worship his goodness, his generosity, and all the other good characteristics that Rama came to embody. For many, who are less religious, the ramayana is a way of life.

At first I honestly had no idea that his was a dance class and my first response to finding out was "uh oh i should definitely go drop this asap." However, after listening to Francis talk about the legacy of the Ramayana on the world and those that he had taught I decided to give it a shot. I was not disappointed. I had absolutely, zero, dance training prior to this class was feeling very exposed in front of the people in the class who had or hadn't had any training.

As the weeks went by and I got to know people in the class I became more comfortable and enjoyed coming to class much more. Also as I read more of the Ramayana I began to understand what the goal of the class was in my own interpretations and and decided to continue with the class and see where it would lead. I'd have to say I stayed with the class, mostly because of the fun I was having and the people I was meeting. On top of that learning about the story and its culture was very interesting.

What I got from this class was quite honestly a new view on what has been going on around me. Since we've been studying the Ramayana and relating a lot of what is goign on in our real lives to it, I often find myself doing it outside of class. I like especially the idea that there are no genuinely bad people in this world, that they are all playing a part of a bigger scheme. I also like the idea that people pray for neutrality, that there should be an equal amount of good and evil.