August 2024
Dancing with joy August 2024
Vanisha Uppal’s dismal attempts at performing on stage turn into an experience to cherish forever
After learning classical Bharatnatyam for five years, one day, I decided
to choreograph a Bhajan. I took many days to think about
how to set the beat. As it was my first attempt, I took a long time on
each line to feel the song and then to think of appropriate steps for it. After a month of
working for hours every day, I finally finished it.
Yet I was not confident
about how it turned out
to be. Although my
younger sisters liked
it, I was not sure.
What do they know
about dance!
One day my dancer
friend who had been
choreographing for
her temple festivals
came to visit me.
Dancing with joy
After lunch, I hesitantly told her that I had also choreographed something. When, on her request, I showed her what I had choreographed, she liked it so much that she wanted to learn the same choreography from me. She told me that she would perform it on stage. Now I not only felt confident but jealous too. Everyone would praise her and nobody would come to know who had choreographed the dance.
Wanting to perform
I felt a strong desire to dance on stage and show my talent to the world. Every day, I used to visit a nearby temple, which had a big auditorium. Often, it was filled with people on special festive occasions. I approached the concerned person, who put me on to another person, and this process continued, with nobody taking me seriously. I requested them, “Just give me a chance; it will take only two minutes.” I thought that although I was volunteering in this temple, working in the kitchen, distributing books, attending all the lectures, and serving at festivals, they were so inconsiderate.
Even after trying for many months, nothing worked, and I stopped pushing it. One day, a foreign dancer friend visited me, and she said, “If you introduce me to the temple president, I can convince him. Then we both can dance together.” I said, “It is a good idea, but I have been approaching them for many months,
and it is difficult to convince them. Instead of giving me a chance, they put up all the boring and worthless performances on stage.” She persisted, “Let me just talk to them once.” I took her to the president of the temple and left for temple kitchen work.
Getting the chance
After half an hour, she came to me and said, “It is done. They have given us two two-minute time slots at the end of the cultural program, starting next month.” I was happy that, finally, I would get to perform on stage. Also, I was surprised how my friend managed to do what I could not!
For a month, we practised for two hours sincerely every day. We got the best jewellery and the best dress design. Finally, the big day arrived. We both went five hours before the program started. The green room was filled with children who were going to perform before us.
After lunch, I hesitantly told her that I had also choreographed something. When, on her request, I showed her what I had choreographed, she liked it so much that she wanted to learn the same choreography from me. She told me that she would perform it on stage. Now I not only felt confident but jealous too. Everyone would praise her and nobody would come to know who had choreographed the dance.
Wanting to perform
I felt a strong desire to dance on stage and show my talent to the world. Every day, I used to visit a nearby temple, which had a big auditorium. Often, it was filled with people on special festive occasions. I approached the concerned person, who put me on to another person, and this process continued, with nobody taking me seriously. I requested them, “Just give me a chance; it will take only two minutes.” I thought that although I was volunteering in this temple, working in the kitchen, distributing books, attending all the lectures, and serving at festivals, they were so inconsiderate.
Even after trying for many months, nothing worked, and I stopped pushing it. One day, a foreign dancer friend visited me, and she said, “If you introduce me to the temple president, I can convince him. Then we both can dance together.” I said, “It is a good idea, but I have been approaching them for many months,
and it is difficult to convince them. Instead of giving me a chance, they put up all the boring and worthless performances on stage.” She persisted, “Let me just talk to them once.” I took her to the president of the temple and left for temple kitchen work.
Getting the chance
After half an hour, she came to me and said, “It is done. They have given us two two-minute time slots at the end of the cultural program, starting next month.” I was happy that, finally, I would get to perform on stage. Also, I was surprised how my friend managed to do what I could not!
For a month, we practised for two hours sincerely every day. We got the best jewellery and the best dress design. Finally, the big day arrived. We both went five hours before the program started. The green room was filled with children who were going to perform before us. A temple lady, a non-professional, had organised the dance for the children. She rudely refused to allow us to use the green room.
My friend told me to follow her. She took me deep inside the temple, into a dark room. What room is this? I thought. It seemed like a new auditorium was under construction. She used her mobile phone torch and told me to come behind the chairs. I followed her. We changed our dresses somehow and wore makeup without the help of a mirror.
Performing at the last
The program started. One after another, all the performances were boring. The auditorium was filled with people, and there was no place to stand. It seemed the audience had never seen a good performance before. I was getting anxious and excited. It was getting late, and the boring program did not seem to end.
At 10 p.m., finally, our names were announced. To our surprise and dismay, people started to leave the auditorium. There was free prasad being served after the program, and people were hungry. Almost everyone left except four people: my aunt, one boy, the temple president, and one lady who organised the children’s program. She was curious to see how we would perform.
I was disheartened, but my friend cajoled me into dancing, and I followed her. I danced with all my heart and enjoyed every minute. After that, I came out of the auditorium fully satisfied and went to have dinner at the temple. The president of the temple came to me and said, “It was a pleasure to watch. Both of you performed so beautifully. Sadly, people left before your performance began.”
All’s well that ends well
But I did not regret it. It not only made me very happy, but it remained with me to date. The temple lady who watched me dance gave me many chances to dance and choreograph with the temple children! Later, I performed solo many times.
God can do anything in the blink of an eye. In just a moment, the whole game changes—failure turns into success. This process is so beautiful. Feel it, live it. It is meant to be enjoyed. There is a pleasure in uncertainty and doubts because then we explore more and learn more about ourselves. In the end, we have a great story to share.
Vanisha Uppal has been a disciple of Kriya Yoga Master Per H Wibe, for the last four years. She organises retreats for him in Ramgarh, Delhi and Goa.
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