(June 18, 2023) Srushti Sudhir Jagtap, a 16-year-old student hailing from Latur in Maharashtra, etched her name in history by achieving a remarkable feat, shattering the previous Guinness record for the longest individual dance marathon. With an extraordinary duration of 127 hours, she surpassed the previous milestone of 126 hours established by Nepalese dancer Bandana Nepal five years back in 2018.
“After dancing for five days straight, Srushti Sudhir Jagtap (India) has broken the record for the longest dance marathon by an individual,” reported the Guinness World Records (GWR) website.
Shrusti’s record-breaking attempt
The youngster’s record-breaking dance marathon started on the morning of May 29 and continued until the afternoon of June 3 at her school auditorium, where an enthusiastic crowd of supporters kept her spirits alive. Determined to break the record, the Latur teenager had held two practice sessions of non-stop 126 hours of dancing before making the official attempt. “Due to strong practice, I was familiar with all the changes in my mind and body, so I was calm and composed until the end,” Shrusti said.
The youngster showcased the rich and diverse cultural heritage of India in her five-day-long performance.
Perseverance and record-breaking performance
Srushti’s remarkable journey as a dancer and record-breaker exemplifies her unyielding determination, passion, and patriotism.
From a young age, she displayed extraordinary talent and a profound admiration for Indian culture. Her aspiration to represent her country through dance motivated her to take on the formidable challenge of surpassing the record for the longest dance marathon. “I wanted to promote Indian culture,” the teen said.
To prepare herself physically, mentally, and spiritually for the dance marathon, she had been following an intense training regimen. Her daily routine included up to four hours of guided meditation, six hours of dance practice, and three hours of additional exercises.
As part of her preparation, she slept at 10 in the night and woke up at three in the morning every day for 15 months.
Finding support
It was under the guidance of her grandfather and the unwavering support of her parents that Srushti embarked on a rigorous training regimen, diligently preparing her mind and body for the awe-inspiring achievement that awaited her.
Her parents, Sudhir and Sanjivani Jagtap, who are both teachers, played a pivotal role in her journey. Looking at the extraordinary talent of their daughter, they had fostered the virtue of hard work since a young age so that she does well in what she loves the most.
Her grandfather, Baban Mane, also has a crucial role to play in the youngster’s feat. He taught her Yoga Nidra (Yogic sleep), a form of guided meditation, which helped Srushti to develop exceptional control over her mind and body. “It gave me control over sleep,” she said.
Jampacked auditorium where people thronged to see her achieve the feat
Years of training
Born in 2007, the teenager’s feat is the result of years of training combined with the support and encouragement of a nurturing family.
Shrusti has been dancing since a young age and has won many awards and accolades along the way including the Asia Book of Records for 24 hours nonstop Lavani (folk dance of Maharashtra) in 2021.
During the official dance marathon where she shattered the record, she captivated the audience with Kathak dance performances. Though the atmosphere buzzed with excitement as Shrusti was coming closer to her goal, there were moments when she felt exhausted. To keep her refreshed, her parents sprayed water on her face during the event from time to time.
“As per our guidelines for ‘longest marathon’ records, the participant is permitted a five-minute rest break for every continuous hour of activity. These rest breaks can be accumulated if not taken. They were the only times Srushti could sleep or use the bathroom during the attempt,” the GWR website mentioned.
The youngster used to take rest breaks at midnights using the time to nap or talk to her parents to refresh her mind.
Besides coffee, she did not take any stimulants to stay awake. “Coconut water and chocolates also helped me to stay fresh,” she remarked.
Shrusti has won several awards and accolades since childhood for her dance performances
Triumph over challenges
The dance marathon presented its fair share of challenges, especially on the final day, when the continuous dancing took its toll on Srushti’s body. The physical and mental exhaustion became more evident. However, she persevered, maintaining an unwavering focus on her goal.
It was a mentally and physically demanding feat, nonetheless the dancer’s extensive practice and thorough preparation enabled her to stay composed and calm until the very end.
A student at Podar International School, Latur, Srushti Sudhir Jagtap peacefully slept for one whole day after achieving her goal.
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