Christmas is around the corner. I wish I could be in my kids shoes once again believing in Santa's magic.
My DVD saga continues. If I thought scripting and shooting were the hardest part, I had no idea of post-production. My bad luck with professionals contines. It is about making a quick buck never mind how. I am fed up with their narrow vision and callous work ethics. With my penchant for perfection, I am back to my husband for technical support. For nearly a month now we have been getting into all aspects of video making. It's something we never imagined we would be doing. But circumstances forced us to. We have gone over every single frame countless times. Thanks to good technology and techno savviness, I bet we will give these so called professionals a run for their money. I am so mad at times that I vent my anger on the food. It's a miracle when the dinner turns out good.
The day I get to sell my DVD will be a long cherished dream come true. Meanwhile, I need to get my battery recharged by heading off to the dance class.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
No turkey this Thanksgiving!
For a while, I have been toying with the idea of making a dance instructional video. In the field of Odissi it would be something unique. This task proved to be quite a challenge. I had to get into the finer details of the dance as well as the technicalities of shooting. With Guru Mitra's blessings and encouragement, I knew I could achieve my dream.
For days I was heartbroken and demoralized as I couldn't find the same kind of joy and spontaneity in my indoor recordings with a hired crew as I typically feel when dancing on stage, so my husband decided to shoot the video himself. He went ahead and bought a new camcorder. I was only too happy. I knew it would take an endless amount of patience and hardwork to get everything perfect-just the way I had envisioned it.
This was going to turn out to be a different kind of Thanksgiving!
No laboring over the turkey or visiting our family, instead we would shoot the dance video. Starting on Thanksgiving day, we shot for 3 days on our patio. Nestled in the breathtakingly scenic Ramapo mountains of North Jersey, we probably have one of the most picturesque backyard. It took me a video to realize that.
Fall brings out a different kind of beauty, something very hard to describe. Devoid of any stress and tension, I could enjoy every moment of making this video. I must confess that we needed to do numerous takes in the cold, breezy weather. Being outdoors has its disadvantages, turning blue in the cold is one of them. We constantly had to take breaks.
I am not the kind to give up. I had to get this out of my system before I could get back to my gruelling dance rehearsels.
Finally finishing our shooting, I relaxed with the boys in the hot tub being thankful for having such a loving and supportive family. This is the true spirit of Thanksgiving.
For days I was heartbroken and demoralized as I couldn't find the same kind of joy and spontaneity in my indoor recordings with a hired crew as I typically feel when dancing on stage, so my husband decided to shoot the video himself. He went ahead and bought a new camcorder. I was only too happy. I knew it would take an endless amount of patience and hardwork to get everything perfect-just the way I had envisioned it.
This was going to turn out to be a different kind of Thanksgiving!
No laboring over the turkey or visiting our family, instead we would shoot the dance video. Starting on Thanksgiving day, we shot for 3 days on our patio. Nestled in the breathtakingly scenic Ramapo mountains of North Jersey, we probably have one of the most picturesque backyard. It took me a video to realize that.
Fall brings out a different kind of beauty, something very hard to describe. Devoid of any stress and tension, I could enjoy every moment of making this video. I must confess that we needed to do numerous takes in the cold, breezy weather. Being outdoors has its disadvantages, turning blue in the cold is one of them. We constantly had to take breaks.
I am not the kind to give up. I had to get this out of my system before I could get back to my gruelling dance rehearsels.
Finally finishing our shooting, I relaxed with the boys in the hot tub being thankful for having such a loving and supportive family. This is the true spirit of Thanksgiving.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Unforgettable
"Do your best, pour your heart and soul into what you do. God will take care of the rest." These words of Guru Mitra echoes in my ears.
There is always a challenge for classical dance teachers to find new talent. The dynamics of a group are disturbed when teenagers leave to pursue other interests. Unlike other dance schools,who have multiple entries or large numbers of participants, we had to make do with a mixed group of 5 adults and teenagers. In the previous years, when we did the opening and closing acts for Zalak, there were many more high schoolers. The team was well balanced.
Would we be able to pull this of? Would we be able to leave a lasting impression on the judges and the audience?
It would be heartbreaking for all of us if we lost. It was the first time we were entering the Zalak dance competition. This dance was my personal favorite. We had always brought the house down with this routine. Conjuring up those happy memories, I tried to forget it was a competition, I lost myself to the music. It was one of my most spontaneous performances aptly captured by the Marathi Vishwa photographer. The combination of expressions, footworks, and imagery won us a deafening applause from the audience.
We were still not sure about winning. I realized that numbers doesn't matter. You can win with a small team. It is the confidence and technical skill of each dancer that counts. The judges were unanimous in their decision when announcing us the winners for Zalak 2009.
We had finally done it. We had won New Jersey's most prestigious dance competition. This was an unforgettable moment for Guru Mitra and Rhythms of dance and music. What a start to 2009!
There is always a challenge for classical dance teachers to find new talent. The dynamics of a group are disturbed when teenagers leave to pursue other interests. Unlike other dance schools,who have multiple entries or large numbers of participants, we had to make do with a mixed group of 5 adults and teenagers. In the previous years, when we did the opening and closing acts for Zalak, there were many more high schoolers. The team was well balanced.
Would we be able to pull this of? Would we be able to leave a lasting impression on the judges and the audience?
It would be heartbreaking for all of us if we lost. It was the first time we were entering the Zalak dance competition. This dance was my personal favorite. We had always brought the house down with this routine. Conjuring up those happy memories, I tried to forget it was a competition, I lost myself to the music. It was one of my most spontaneous performances aptly captured by the Marathi Vishwa photographer. The combination of expressions, footworks, and imagery won us a deafening applause from the audience.
We were still not sure about winning. I realized that numbers doesn't matter. You can win with a small team. It is the confidence and technical skill of each dancer that counts. The judges were unanimous in their decision when announcing us the winners for Zalak 2009.
We had finally done it. We had won New Jersey's most prestigious dance competition. This was an unforgettable moment for Guru Mitra and Rhythms of dance and music. What a start to 2009!
Friday, November 13, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Portrait of a Dancer
Last week I had a very different offer from my friend. Instead of dancing, she asked if I could pose as a dancer in her art class. I have always been fascinated by oils but never had the patience to dabble in that medium.
Believe me, it was a challenge for someone who cannot sit still.
The artists had to paint in the north lights of the studio. The session was to last for 3 hours. Reaching early in the morning,it was interesting to see so many people turn out, all waiting for me to pose. I thought of doing the seemingly easiest dance pose, never realizing my legs would kill me.
It was interesting to see how each one of them had a different perspective, very similar to the same song being choreographed differently. Starting with a rough sketch, they moved towards the finer details of expressions and eyes. The play of light and shadow made me look different to each one depending on where they were standing.
In dance, we too move from a rough choreography incorporating basic steps and poses to fine tuning our expressions and deleting unwanted sequences. The first sitting is the hardest when the idea is taking shape,there after everything else flows like an endless stream of motion.
Well, it was an eye opener! Until yesterday,I never thought what a wonderful invention the camera was. Both the artists and the models deserve credit for sitting through portrait sessions. Imagine this was the done thing for centuries! Next time, I go to an art gallery,I am going to remember to appreciate the model.
Believe me, it was a challenge for someone who cannot sit still.
The artists had to paint in the north lights of the studio. The session was to last for 3 hours. Reaching early in the morning,it was interesting to see so many people turn out, all waiting for me to pose. I thought of doing the seemingly easiest dance pose, never realizing my legs would kill me.
It was interesting to see how each one of them had a different perspective, very similar to the same song being choreographed differently. Starting with a rough sketch, they moved towards the finer details of expressions and eyes. The play of light and shadow made me look different to each one depending on where they were standing.
In dance, we too move from a rough choreography incorporating basic steps and poses to fine tuning our expressions and deleting unwanted sequences. The first sitting is the hardest when the idea is taking shape,there after everything else flows like an endless stream of motion.
Well, it was an eye opener! Until yesterday,I never thought what a wonderful invention the camera was. Both the artists and the models deserve credit for sitting through portrait sessions. Imagine this was the done thing for centuries! Next time, I go to an art gallery,I am going to remember to appreciate the model.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Dancer's gym mantra
If you think dancing is enough you don't need to hit the gym, think twice.
I made that mistake once. 6 months sabbatical from the gym and it took me 18 months to get back in shape.Dance is a visual art. Besides being technically good,the dancer needs to be appealing, I constantly compare my old photos to check if I am putting on.
Dance tones the legs and arms but what about the abs? Nothing other than the dreadful crunches works. The odissi belt accentuates the waist.Unlike the saree, the dance attire isn't too flattering. Well,Protima Bedi with her perfect 10 figure popularized the dhoti style attire!
High intensity cardio like kickboxing, step and treadmill are excellent for stamina. 5 minutes on stage translates to 15 minutes of high cardio.Dance pieces like Battu and Dasabatar are killers.You have to work on building your stamina.
Weight training is good for bone density and muscle toning. I combine this cardio routine with yoga - vinayasa style. Yoga has increased my flexibility and calmed me.I don't have to hear Madonna to last through a weight class, I can exercise to softer instrumental music.
It's good to bring variety to your routine. A relaxing swim or latin dancing is what I do. Dancing in my own orbit and matching new choreography is so much fun. When I can dance in a carefree manner,it releases all the pressure of being on stage.I have been fortunate enough to train with one of the best Latin dancers of the state.
My mantra is eat right, exercise right but hit the gym anyway.
I made that mistake once. 6 months sabbatical from the gym and it took me 18 months to get back in shape.Dance is a visual art. Besides being technically good,the dancer needs to be appealing, I constantly compare my old photos to check if I am putting on.
Dance tones the legs and arms but what about the abs? Nothing other than the dreadful crunches works. The odissi belt accentuates the waist.Unlike the saree, the dance attire isn't too flattering. Well,Protima Bedi with her perfect 10 figure popularized the dhoti style attire!
High intensity cardio like kickboxing, step and treadmill are excellent for stamina. 5 minutes on stage translates to 15 minutes of high cardio.Dance pieces like Battu and Dasabatar are killers.You have to work on building your stamina.
Weight training is good for bone density and muscle toning. I combine this cardio routine with yoga - vinayasa style. Yoga has increased my flexibility and calmed me.I don't have to hear Madonna to last through a weight class, I can exercise to softer instrumental music.
It's good to bring variety to your routine. A relaxing swim or latin dancing is what I do. Dancing in my own orbit and matching new choreography is so much fun. When I can dance in a carefree manner,it releases all the pressure of being on stage.I have been fortunate enough to train with one of the best Latin dancers of the state.
My mantra is eat right, exercise right but hit the gym anyway.
Jagannath calling
On the eve of Vijay Dashami, 2007 I decided to check out the new temple in the nearby town of Wayne.During the course of my conversation, the President of the temple invited me to perform for Ekal Vidhyalaya Fundraiser.I was scheduled to perform that very evening for Kallol's Durga Puja.
If the timing was right, I knew I could handle both the events. Zee TV Chairman, Mr. Subhash Goyal was the guest of honor. Things were picture perfect! I finished my dance and went for a darshan. What a surprise! Lord Jagannath- the main deity of Odissi was in the temple hall. I knew I had his blessings.Elated, I drove to the next show in Central Jersey.
If I thought I was done, I was mistaken. The drama was not over.Driving back in the night, I was stuck with chronic toothache. Thank god! It was after the show. Next day, I went in for an emergency root canal.
Ever since, I have performed regularly for Rath yatra and other festivities at the Wayne temple.
Jagannath swami nayanpathagami bhavatu me
If the timing was right, I knew I could handle both the events. Zee TV Chairman, Mr. Subhash Goyal was the guest of honor. Things were picture perfect! I finished my dance and went for a darshan. What a surprise! Lord Jagannath- the main deity of Odissi was in the temple hall. I knew I had his blessings.Elated, I drove to the next show in Central Jersey.
If I thought I was done, I was mistaken. The drama was not over.Driving back in the night, I was stuck with chronic toothache. Thank god! It was after the show. Next day, I went in for an emergency root canal.
Ever since, I have performed regularly for Rath yatra and other festivities at the Wayne temple.
Jagannath swami nayanpathagami bhavatu me
Jai Ho Longi!
Going to the TV Asia studio in Edison was a spur of the moment decision. The weather gods usually don't cooperate on the days of my shows. We had been personally invited to the choreographers meet in Edison. There was no way we could back out.
Dressed traditionally, I drove with my guru Mitra to meet Longi Fernandez,the Bollywood choreographer of Jai ho fame.Longi was an amazing, down-to-earth personality, who won the crowd with his simplicity and ofcourse, his famed salsa.
We seeked his advice on how to balance traditional dance repertoire with new choreography. Speaking from his heart, Longi adviced us. Being classical dancers, we can't deviate from our core strength. We have to use our classical training to our best advantage, use our footwork, grace and bhava to enhance our dance. We must present our dance in a manner which appeals to an younger generation. There is no need to imitate other western dance styles or compromise on our classical technicalities. Ancient Indian dance has its own unique charm. We need to blend the old and the new.
We knew we were on the right track. Preserving the age old classical tradition is our mission but at the same time we need to incorporate new choreography, so that people are not overwhelmed by classical dance.
Jai ho Longi!
Dressed traditionally, I drove with my guru Mitra to meet Longi Fernandez,the Bollywood choreographer of Jai ho fame.Longi was an amazing, down-to-earth personality, who won the crowd with his simplicity and ofcourse, his famed salsa.
We seeked his advice on how to balance traditional dance repertoire with new choreography. Speaking from his heart, Longi adviced us. Being classical dancers, we can't deviate from our core strength. We have to use our classical training to our best advantage, use our footwork, grace and bhava to enhance our dance. We must present our dance in a manner which appeals to an younger generation. There is no need to imitate other western dance styles or compromise on our classical technicalities. Ancient Indian dance has its own unique charm. We need to blend the old and the new.
We knew we were on the right track. Preserving the age old classical tradition is our mission but at the same time we need to incorporate new choreography, so that people are not overwhelmed by classical dance.
Jai ho Longi!
Farewell gift
Singapore is my second home. I stayed for a brief period but it was one of the happiest periods of my life.Living in an ocean front condo and having a wonderful set of friends, life could't have been better.I was heartbroken at the thought of leaving everything behind.
As a farewell gift my friends got me a huge box. I was shellshocked at the size. Maybe it was a joke! They were probably trying to cheer me up. As I opened the package I saw a beautiful, bronze idol of Nataraja- the Lord of dance.I was in tears. I couldn't figure out why they had to make such an effort and scout Singapore to get me something Indian, when any paraphernalia from Chinatown would have made me happy.
Moving to our new home in New Jersey, I displayed the Nataraja very prominently in my living room. A few months later, I had this desire to pursue dance. I couldn't wait anymore! That's when I came across my Guru Mitra and resumed dancing.
There was a reason why Nataraja came into my life. Even if it means re-aligning my furniture, I practice in his prescence. My kids are contended to see me dancing while I am cooking or supervising their homework.
I am glad I am able to pass this love of Odissi to them. All thanks to my friends, who gave me the most perfect farewell gift- the Singapore Nataraja.
As a farewell gift my friends got me a huge box. I was shellshocked at the size. Maybe it was a joke! They were probably trying to cheer me up. As I opened the package I saw a beautiful, bronze idol of Nataraja- the Lord of dance.I was in tears. I couldn't figure out why they had to make such an effort and scout Singapore to get me something Indian, when any paraphernalia from Chinatown would have made me happy.
Moving to our new home in New Jersey, I displayed the Nataraja very prominently in my living room. A few months later, I had this desire to pursue dance. I couldn't wait anymore! That's when I came across my Guru Mitra and resumed dancing.
There was a reason why Nataraja came into my life. Even if it means re-aligning my furniture, I practice in his prescence. My kids are contended to see me dancing while I am cooking or supervising their homework.
I am glad I am able to pass this love of Odissi to them. All thanks to my friends, who gave me the most perfect farewell gift- the Singapore Nataraja.
Learning to Count
Rhythms of Dance and Music celebrated 20 years in 2007. Guru Mitra hired a world renowned choreographer to train us.
We spent over 2 months in a bootstyle dance camp- dancing from 10.00 to 5.00 every weekend.Many of us could be dancing in our sleep. Our choreographer was a hard taskmaster. Nothing short of perfect was acceptable. One mistake and everyone would have to repeat.No getting away with wrong footwork or mismatched coordination.He had his eyes on us at all times. That's when I learnt to count 100. We literally did the dances 100 times. I never again said, "I will practice it a 100 times."
I had finally learnt to count.
Our choreographer transformed our lives , our dance forever- all through hardwork and repeated practice. Each of us realized our true potential. There were no shortcuts. We had to push ourselves to the limit. Ever since, I have come a long way. I am a different person, a different dancer all thanks to our incredible choreographer who taught me the dancers math.
We spent over 2 months in a bootstyle dance camp- dancing from 10.00 to 5.00 every weekend.Many of us could be dancing in our sleep. Our choreographer was a hard taskmaster. Nothing short of perfect was acceptable. One mistake and everyone would have to repeat.No getting away with wrong footwork or mismatched coordination.He had his eyes on us at all times. That's when I learnt to count 100. We literally did the dances 100 times. I never again said, "I will practice it a 100 times."
I had finally learnt to count.
Our choreographer transformed our lives , our dance forever- all through hardwork and repeated practice. Each of us realized our true potential. There were no shortcuts. We had to push ourselves to the limit. Ever since, I have come a long way. I am a different person, a different dancer all thanks to our incredible choreographer who taught me the dancers math.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Second Chance
As a child, I grew up in the posh locale of Defense Colony in Delhi. I could count the doyen of classical dance, Sonal Mansingh as my neighbour. I would wait for hours to catch a glimpse of her. As I started learning dance, I grew up watching Kiran Segal and Ranjana Gauhar perform. They were dancers famed for their beauty and impeccable Odissi. They were my idols.I never missed their shows.
I didn't watch hindi movies. They were not cool. No one in my school did that. I am glad I spent all those hours watching dance. Somewhere deep down in my subconscious I developed a love for Odissi.
Going to college, priorities changed. My dreams were forgotten.On the eve of my wedding, I did a program on the local TV network.The interviewer asked me if I would dance after marriage? How would I balance family and dance?
Without a moments hesitation, I replied, "I can juggle kids, home and dance. I love dancing and I am sure my family is going to be very supportive."
It took me years to get back to dancing. There was always heart ache if I were to watch Odissi. Moving to New Jersey, I had to find an answer to my restlessness. God gave me a second chance when I found Guru Mitra, the most amazing dance teacher, right in my neighborhood. She became my mentor and Didi as she took on the task of teaching me, and giving me hope every step of the way.I hope to follow in her footsteps and continue this guru shisya parampara.
I didn't watch hindi movies. They were not cool. No one in my school did that. I am glad I spent all those hours watching dance. Somewhere deep down in my subconscious I developed a love for Odissi.
Going to college, priorities changed. My dreams were forgotten.On the eve of my wedding, I did a program on the local TV network.The interviewer asked me if I would dance after marriage? How would I balance family and dance?
Without a moments hesitation, I replied, "I can juggle kids, home and dance. I love dancing and I am sure my family is going to be very supportive."
It took me years to get back to dancing. There was always heart ache if I were to watch Odissi. Moving to New Jersey, I had to find an answer to my restlessness. God gave me a second chance when I found Guru Mitra, the most amazing dance teacher, right in my neighborhood. She became my mentor and Didi as she took on the task of teaching me, and giving me hope every step of the way.I hope to follow in her footsteps and continue this guru shisya parampara.
Dancers guide to Edison
If I were to resume dancing I had another challenge-the hour long drive to Somerset.Every Saturday morning, I would dread the drive. But I was made of sterner stuff. Before long, I was the driving maniac on route 287. Soon I was exploring New Brunswick and Princeton for shows and rehearsals.
I started getting restless on the weekends. I was missing my drive. Edison was one hot spot I hadn't been to. I had only been to rehearsals and eaten the mouth watering samosas of Oaktree road.
In a desperate search for dry cleaners I came across City Cleaners at Sugartree Plaza. They saved me the pain of lugging my dance outfits to India. I do over 12 shows a year. You can well imagine my desperation!
Another time, I had broken a tikli which is worn in the hair. I had only one piece and needed to fix it before my next show. In less than 20 minutes, my jeweler at Corals and Beads Gallery got it done. Of course, I had been their valuable customer, picking up beads during that time span.
For my dance photo shoot, I chanced to come across Precious Video Memories. It was sheer coincidence! Making use of the free public car parking on Middlesex road, I happened to spot this studio. It's been a great find, since they specialize in dance coverage.
All these sojourns haven't been purely dance related. I have squeezed in quality shopping time. Having been away from India for so many years, Edison is truly Little India for me.I can fulfill my chat cravings and shopping sprees at one destination.
I am looking forward to performing at the Edison public library next spring.
I started getting restless on the weekends. I was missing my drive. Edison was one hot spot I hadn't been to. I had only been to rehearsals and eaten the mouth watering samosas of Oaktree road.
In a desperate search for dry cleaners I came across City Cleaners at Sugartree Plaza. They saved me the pain of lugging my dance outfits to India. I do over 12 shows a year. You can well imagine my desperation!
Another time, I had broken a tikli which is worn in the hair. I had only one piece and needed to fix it before my next show. In less than 20 minutes, my jeweler at Corals and Beads Gallery got it done. Of course, I had been their valuable customer, picking up beads during that time span.
For my dance photo shoot, I chanced to come across Precious Video Memories. It was sheer coincidence! Making use of the free public car parking on Middlesex road, I happened to spot this studio. It's been a great find, since they specialize in dance coverage.
All these sojourns haven't been purely dance related. I have squeezed in quality shopping time. Having been away from India for so many years, Edison is truly Little India for me.I can fulfill my chat cravings and shopping sprees at one destination.
I am looking forward to performing at the Edison public library next spring.
Gypsy girl in Times Square
Banga Sammelan 2005 was a landmark event of my life. The convention was held at the prestigious Madison Square Garden.I was new to my Guru's team, new to the country. On the morning of the show I couldn't pass the chance to visit the ultimate tourist destination - Empire State building. I went with my kids to NYC's landmark attraction, never realizing how deceptive lines can get. We barely made it back by noon.
Being on a high adrenalin rush, I dashed off to the New Yorker for my costume change. Madison Square Garden was a different ballgame. Something so iconic that you cannot help being overwhelmed.
The dance was over in a blink of an eye. This was one place where you never wanted to stop dancing. The lighting and stage were so mesmerizing.
I dashed out in a skirt without bothering to remove my stage makeup. Everyone was making plans for their last night in the city. I was elated having performed at my dream venue. Walking through Times Square, a stranger found his ideal target. He waved a snake at me. I bet it was a fake one. I didn't scream. I had to give it back to this prankster. Gathering my wits, I smiled and told him I am use to snakes. Can't he see that I am a gypsy girl?
Had it been Jersey I am sure I would have freaked out. New York fills you with such a de-ja-vu that it feels like a different world.
Being on a high adrenalin rush, I dashed off to the New Yorker for my costume change. Madison Square Garden was a different ballgame. Something so iconic that you cannot help being overwhelmed.
The dance was over in a blink of an eye. This was one place where you never wanted to stop dancing. The lighting and stage were so mesmerizing.
I dashed out in a skirt without bothering to remove my stage makeup. Everyone was making plans for their last night in the city. I was elated having performed at my dream venue. Walking through Times Square, a stranger found his ideal target. He waved a snake at me. I bet it was a fake one. I didn't scream. I had to give it back to this prankster. Gathering my wits, I smiled and told him I am use to snakes. Can't he see that I am a gypsy girl?
Had it been Jersey I am sure I would have freaked out. New York fills you with such a de-ja-vu that it feels like a different world.
Breathless Nilanjana
We tried experimenting with a new song- breathless. The lyrics were hauntingly beautiful and so was the soulful rendition of the song. The challenge for us was to dance to this in our own inimitable Odissi style.
5 days were left before our show in Philadelphia Kali Puja, 2008. All other dances had been rehearsed. Only my solo was a last minute addition - a shocker. Would I be able to pull this off?
We worked on the choreography on Monday and I practiced day and night for the next 4 days. I could not pass this opportunity, the yearning to try something new. The other dances went on without a hitch. My solo was up. I told myself it didn't matter there were not that many people. They had seen my best dances, a 2 minute dance wouldn't make much of a difference. With that attitude I breezed through the song with confidence. Knowing fully well that confidence is the key to a performance.
The audience loved the song. It became the highlight of the show. I knew in my heart it wasn't my best. I confess we have rechoreographed it since then and done it to our satisfaction.
Never in a million years would I have guessed that TV Asia televised this entire dance on their special show, Dance Gurus which ran a feature on Guru Mitra. All the folks in Jersey congratulated "Breathless Nilanjana" on her success.
You don't know who is watching your show. A select few may make more of a difference than a packed hall.
5 days were left before our show in Philadelphia Kali Puja, 2008. All other dances had been rehearsed. Only my solo was a last minute addition - a shocker. Would I be able to pull this off?
We worked on the choreography on Monday and I practiced day and night for the next 4 days. I could not pass this opportunity, the yearning to try something new. The other dances went on without a hitch. My solo was up. I told myself it didn't matter there were not that many people. They had seen my best dances, a 2 minute dance wouldn't make much of a difference. With that attitude I breezed through the song with confidence. Knowing fully well that confidence is the key to a performance.
The audience loved the song. It became the highlight of the show. I knew in my heart it wasn't my best. I confess we have rechoreographed it since then and done it to our satisfaction.
Never in a million years would I have guessed that TV Asia televised this entire dance on their special show, Dance Gurus which ran a feature on Guru Mitra. All the folks in Jersey congratulated "Breathless Nilanjana" on her success.
You don't know who is watching your show. A select few may make more of a difference than a packed hall.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Poolside rehearsal
Travelling to Atlanta for Bangamela was a sweet experience.I am forever stuck with long commuting hours. Atlanta was no different! The cab ride to Gwinnett center was an hour long. I could only breathe easy on seeing the signs for the Holiday Inn.
The venue was breathtakingly beautiful, away from the hustle bustle of the city.
The boys went crazy seeing the hotel pool. I took advantage of the situation and plugged in my newly bought discman. Ofcourse, it wouldn't work well. The disc kept getting stuck. I had to practice my dance routine. I didn't care where. It was a mega convention attended by over 800 people. I was one of the very few solo performers.
So I started rehearsing my steps by the poolside, letting my kids splash in the water.
The next day my first grader wrote a sweet note saying, "I hope you did a good dance, mom."
I didn't let him down! I do not know what overtook me. I was lost in the music and could literally feel the power of the songs in my native tongue, Bengali. It turned to be my best performance till date.
The venue was breathtakingly beautiful, away from the hustle bustle of the city.
The boys went crazy seeing the hotel pool. I took advantage of the situation and plugged in my newly bought discman. Ofcourse, it wouldn't work well. The disc kept getting stuck. I had to practice my dance routine. I didn't care where. It was a mega convention attended by over 800 people. I was one of the very few solo performers.
So I started rehearsing my steps by the poolside, letting my kids splash in the water.
The next day my first grader wrote a sweet note saying, "I hope you did a good dance, mom."
I didn't let him down! I do not know what overtook me. I was lost in the music and could literally feel the power of the songs in my native tongue, Bengali. It turned to be my best performance till date.
There is never a dull moment
On the occassion of Kali puja hosted by NJPA in Monmouth Junction there was never a dull moment. Backroom action was enough to match the stage performances. The show started at 8.00 in the evening, that is way after my regular dinnertime. Since I don't eat before dancing, it was quite an ordeal to see others dig into their food. After waiting forever in my attire and commuting for over an hour with an oversized mirror, there had to be a good reason for me to dance.
After the opening act, I had a minute to change for my solo and wear my bells. In all the confusion, one of my props went missing. The music started. I looked at my guru Mitra and knew I had to improvise. I followed my heart and focussed on my expressions. This song was very dear to me. It's the dance we performed at Madison Square Garden 2005, Banga Sammelan. I had to do justice to my guru's faith in me.
Well, the drama continued. We had to go for costume changes in a span of 7 minutes.
6 dancers and one mirror. We had to do it. No time to fight over the mirror.
I had another challenging solo followed by a group. I had learnt my lesson. I clutched my prop this time. We kept up our spirits and danced our hearts out.It was one of my best performances.
The applause still echoes in my ears. This feeling of love and support from the community is what makes us go on with the hope that we have to top this next time.
After the opening act, I had a minute to change for my solo and wear my bells. In all the confusion, one of my props went missing. The music started. I looked at my guru Mitra and knew I had to improvise. I followed my heart and focussed on my expressions. This song was very dear to me. It's the dance we performed at Madison Square Garden 2005, Banga Sammelan. I had to do justice to my guru's faith in me.
Well, the drama continued. We had to go for costume changes in a span of 7 minutes.
6 dancers and one mirror. We had to do it. No time to fight over the mirror.
I had another challenging solo followed by a group. I had learnt my lesson. I clutched my prop this time. We kept up our spirits and danced our hearts out.It was one of my best performances.
The applause still echoes in my ears. This feeling of love and support from the community is what makes us go on with the hope that we have to top this next time.
No coffee needed!
I had a lecture demonstration at the Bergenfield public library on the 29th of September. The show was to start at 10.30 in the morning.It was a weekday, the kids had school. Being in the US you are forced to take on the super mom challenge.
I started getting into my traditional dance outfit at 6.30, something unthinkable for me. I had to be done with the dress and elaborate makeup in an hour before dropping off the kids to school. If that was not enough, the hour long commute on Route 80 heading towards GW bridge was surely going to be a killer.
My car was loaded with all kinds of props. I literally needed a shopping cart to unload. Well, guess what-more than 50 enthusiastic patrons turned up with their steaming cup of coffee waiting for their morning entertainment. Seeing so much enthusiasm in the crowd, I was charged up to make it a memorable session for all of us. I didn't need my morning coffee that day, the crowd gave me the adrenalin rush.
All I want is to be able to dance and never stop. The hours don't matter. I am ready whenever the curtains go up.
I started getting into my traditional dance outfit at 6.30, something unthinkable for me. I had to be done with the dress and elaborate makeup in an hour before dropping off the kids to school. If that was not enough, the hour long commute on Route 80 heading towards GW bridge was surely going to be a killer.
My car was loaded with all kinds of props. I literally needed a shopping cart to unload. Well, guess what-more than 50 enthusiastic patrons turned up with their steaming cup of coffee waiting for their morning entertainment. Seeing so much enthusiasm in the crowd, I was charged up to make it a memorable session for all of us. I didn't need my morning coffee that day, the crowd gave me the adrenalin rush.
All I want is to be able to dance and never stop. The hours don't matter. I am ready whenever the curtains go up.
The show must go on
The weather gods showed no mercy on Saturday,the 24 th of October. We were booked for a show celebrating the Diwali festival at the East Stroudsburg University, Pa, across the border of NJ. Nestled in the scenic Poconos, Delwater gap is my favorite fall destination. This time it was the worst day to be on the road with pounding rain and fallen trees. Nevertheless, we had a committment, the publicity was done, seats were sold out. Come rain or storm we had to go.
Maybe it's god's will that we went and danced before the multicultural faculty and students of the university. For many it was their first Odissi performance. We tried forgetting about the weather and instead concentrated on our theme- the welcoming colors of spring, something so appropriate in that panoramic settings of the mountains. It was a rare treat to dance along with our guru and mentor, Mitra Purkayastha. I was inspired to drown out the noise of the storm and go with the flow of music.
It turned out to be one of my best performances. I had a feeling of peace and tranquility as I performed my favorite pieces. This feeling of sheer joy and blissfulness - satchit ananad is what we Odissi dancers try to share with our audience.
It turned out to be one of my best performances. I had a feeling of peace and tranquility as I performed my favorite pieces. This feeling of sheer joy and blissfulness - satchit ananad is what we Odissi dancers try to share with our audience.
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