Thursday, February 24, 2011

Dancing for Joy and Unity

If there is a reason why people dance, then this family dance group who call themselves ‘Blue Wings’ has a pretty good cause for tapping their feet to beat of music. Formed on September 17, 2006 ,  by a bunch of young girls, Blue Wings believe in dancing for joy and unity. The five-member group – Dzupalu, Vivi, Sheyetoli and Ca – were especially inspired by their elder sister Lily whose skills in dancing they grew up admiring.
They are mostly self-taught even as the leader of the group, Dzupalu, says – “We listen to songs and we incorporate ideas together”. She explains that before performing for a show, each member brings in 5 steps and then they sit together and choose which ones would best be put together.
And practice indeed has made of them promising dancers of the day. They have come a long way since they came together as a group. Giving time and effort, they have together nurtured their dream over the years. They have also familiarised themselves with all types of dancing, but when asked to choose one, they would most definitely pick hip-hop.
Grooming themselves every free time they get, three years on after the group was formed, they have performed in about 24 occasions making quite an impression even as they express themselves in the language of their art.
The five teens, who are presently studying in Nazareth School Pfutsero, performed their first gig at a school show following which they have taken centre-stage at church programmes, competitions and other social gatherings.
An interesting thing about the group is that they are all from one family – sisters and cousins. One of them excitedly says that their father has provided them a dance room where they can practice and learn new steps. Exceptionally happy about the encouragement from family, their leader says, “We wish to contribute to world peace through dancing.”
When asked how challenging dancing is, on of them replies, “We need to be confident to dance, especially for free styling; we need to learn the steps with passion and have expressive actions as well as relate to the music.”
She goes on to say that “dancing is like exercising our bodies” and adds cheekily, “if you are dancing, you don’t need to exercise to stay in shape.”
The leader of the group was earlier short-listed in a dance audition to be trained at Kolkatta but thought better of it since she wanted to complete her schooling first. However, the group as a whole are devoted to making a career out of dancing.
Blue Wings does everything themselves – from choreographing to selecting music and clothes. Although, of course, they seek advice from their mentor sister, Lily.
On occasions where they have won in competitions, they save the money for further enhancement of the group. One can see the passion they put into dancing when you see them in the act, up on stage.
The group believes that dancing can also be a means towards changing the world.
Speaking their young minds candidly, the girls said despite everything being said about prevailing peace and progress, there is no real peace in the State. They rued the dysfunctions showing up and questioned about regular ‘news of extortion’, domestic abuse cases and other social evils. They expressed the wish that “everybody’s heart is filled with love”.
This enlightened team also thinks politics should separate from money. “Even voters vote to get money,” one of the girls exclaimed adding, “We need to focus on the right leader and not the money. It’s not about NPF or Congress or any party, but to better our society, we need to vote for the right people.”
But when talk about dancing surface, their eyes glitter as they get into the mood of visualising their moves and steps. “Dance includes everything” they say even as they find a lot of positive outcome from dancing.
This promising bunch of girls also plans to stage a full show sometime this year.
True to the team spirit, they profess that wherever the future leads them, “we will continue to carry Blue Wings around.”
Confidence beaming in their faces and dreams of a better future sparkling in their eyes, it’s easy to believe that ‘Blue Wings’ is going to go places and dancing with the stars soon. The common goal and ambition that drives them together is also perhaps the reason why they feel so passionately about dancing and believe that it can play a big role in changing the world.

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