India, June 20 -- Mumbai-based tango dancer Kruti Gandhi Sarda became the first Indian to win at the recently concluded Indonesia Championship Preliminaries that saw almost 100 dancers competing. "It was thrilling to be recognised as a tango dancer on the global stage," says Kruti, adding, "Tango has given me so much - community, purpose, and artistic expression. So, being able to represent India was truly humbling. I stood third in the Social Category."

It was an improvisational format, where she had to dance to three different songs with three different partners. Sharing how representing India kept her motivated, the dancer says, "There was a sense of responsibility and a lot of adrenaline. Winning was extra special as it was the first...