Well, this one was high on my agenda, but as with all things that i love...i somehow messed up this too. the workshop was to be held at the NGMA but the blind bat that i am i misread the brochure and went to the amphitheater. there was a marathi dance going on and though i am a fan of the lavani myself, that was not what i wanted to see!!!
immediately i cussed whoever came to mind and then did the next sensible thing, that is get the brochure out of my bag. and voila! there was my foolishness in full display. the bat that i was (refer to para above) i saw something else, the actual workshop was being conducted while is was fishing for the brochure in my bag. when i realised my folly, i cussed myself a l'il bit and then ran as fast as my two short legs could, to get to the NGMA.
i sneaked in quietly as class was already on and took a spot on the last tier. the instructor, Priti Gupta, was in a long red skirt and a black blouson with black suede shoes to match. the shoes were specifically made so that they made a particular sound when stomped on the wooden floor. with her was her assistant who name i couldn't catch. forgive me.
i learnt about two short basic routines. these routines included slapping your entire foot on the ground to make a 'thud', hitting just the ball of your foot to make a 'click' and clapping your hand to of course make a 'clap' sound. a mix and mash of these three movements, we made lots of sound in there. to me it felt a lot like kathak but with shoes on. the shoes are very fascinating...i kept watching here shoes constantly. i'm going to make a pair for sure.
next was a sure treat. Priti introduced her dancing partner Shannon Benjamin and together they performed what is called the 'Paso Doble'. this dance form resembles the bull fight. very vigourous, very gracefula nd very very beautiful. i'm a fan. want to learn it too. but i guess i'll wait a while for it.
Post the 'Paso Doble', one of the participants made a request for her to show off her Flamenco skills some more. the kind heart that she is obliged (she had performed the piece a day before when i had missed the workshop. and for her luck, in our midst was a flamenco guitarist.) Ricardo too obliged. and we had a very beautiful flamenco piece to savour. Flamenco music too, is very beautiful to listen and relish.
I've taken numbers to keep in touch with her so that i could join the next flamenco class that she conducts. What hit me most was the immense similarity that foreign dance forms have with Indian classical dance. they're just as graceful, story-like and beautiful.
Bon dancing!
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