Mumbai's Saanika Shah Scales Mount Everest and Performs Bharatanatyam at Base Camp
Last month, Saanika Shah, a 22-year-old mountaineer, endurance athlete, and classical dancer from Mumbai, successfully scaled Mount Everest, the world's highest peak. During her expedition, Shah also performed a traditional Bharatanatyam dance at the Everest Base Camp, situated at an altitude of 17,500 feet, showcasing her artistic roots amidst extreme weather conditions.
Shah, who has been training in Bharatanatyam since she was four years old, decided to combine her passions for dance and mountaineering. During the expedition, she obtained permission from her team to perform on the day of the puja ceremony, a traditional ritual held at the base camp to pray for safe passage and bless the climbing equipment before ascending.
Performing the classical dance at an altitude of 17,500 feet presented severe physical challenges. Shah changed into her traditional Bharatanatyam sari, jewellery, and makeup inside her tent in temperatures reaching minus 5 degrees Celsius. Despite the freezing, windy conditions and the thin air, she performed a three-minute dance.
Shah noted that even walking short distances at that altitude caused breathlessness, but she maintained her expressions and smiled throughout the performance. Following the dance, she required several minutes to rest and recover her breath.
The climb was the culmination of a five-year dream that began in 2021 during the lockdown, when Shah was 17 years old. After watching a movie about the 1996 Everest disaster, she resolved to climb the peak. She spent the next five years undergoing rigorous training, using every peak she climbed as preparation for her ultimate goal.
Shah completed her climb with the Elite Expedition group, which is run by Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal Purja. She credited her guide, Lakpa Tenjen Sherpa, with keeping her safe during the life-threatening journey.
Reflecting on the climb, Shah recalled moments of intense fear on the summit night. While navigating the Hillary Step, she faced a 2,000-meter drop on her right, highlighting the extreme dangers of the high-altitude expedition.
