A cheerful spot up on the mountains from where I like to look at the world..
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Chennai Sangamam 2011 video
Here is the video of the finale of the Vaanam Vasapadum musical drama showcasing all the dance, music, and martial art forms in Tamil Nadu. Turn up the volume so that you can hear the percussions. Awesome energy to hear that live!
Don't miss Ms. Sushma the singer dancing at time 3:35 and Smrithi the heroine at time 4:20.
Got a chance to watch one of the Chennai Sangamam programs last night at Island Grounds. I went there primarily 'cause a couple of people we know were performing in the musical dance drama called Vaanam Vasapadum. I was quite apprehensive and was mentally prepared to get bored as I usually don't have much patience for this kind of stuff. But I was pleasantly surprised. There were lots of folk artists and even Hot Shoe Company dancers. The lady director Prasanna had done a very good job of mixing folk stuff with city stuff that you and I connect with, and put up a very good show. The energy levels of the musical was AMAZING. It was very high, and gave me a super thrill. The sound of live drums, and all other traditional South Indian instruments accompanied by live singers and the play actors and dancers was enthralling. I'll try to put up a video clip which one of my friends shot. Many of our city dance schools and play groups can definitely pick up a few leaves out of this book.. on how to maintain a very high energy level and get the audience hooked on to the program!
I'm a little disappointed that I'll be missing the finale on Bessie Beach on 17th. Work travel gets in the way.
But I strongly recommend this for people who're looking to try out something different in Chennai. It's worth it.
Cuban is my favourite style of Salsa, and the Rueda de Casino gets even more interesting because its dancing Cuban Salsa style in a circle with a group. If any of you have seen the movie Dance with Me, there is this particular scene where Chayanne and Vanessa Williams go to a Salsa Club. The dance they do there.. that's Cuban! :-)
Lots of people wonder what the difference between Cuban and LA style of Salsa. LA Style is all about the couple, and its about style, and how agile and fleet footed you are.
Cuban style is more community oriented. In Cuba, the dance evolved as a community outing. People go to dance with their friends and family, and hence it's more street style. It's more fun. It's more homely. It's about dancing with everyone in the community. And.. it's much easier to learn than the LA Style
Typically there is a King or the leader who calls out the moves in the Rueda, and everyone dances to the calls. Looks damn cool when people keep changing partners. Age/Sex/size.. none of it matters. The beauty of it all lies in the group..
Addicted 2 Dance (A2D) in Chennai teaches authentic Cuban Style. Infact, it's probably the only dance school in India which teaches authentic Cuban Rueda. I've been going there for the last few weeks and it has been great fun. I can't wait for the day when we take over Havana's dance floor on a Wed night and dance a Rueda!
Activecities.com carried a small feature on Eric Freeman (my Salsa guru) and his dance school Salsaville. Pretty cool video! The bunch of people shown dancing are the people who I learnt my Salsa with. Anyone who watches this video will easily be able to appreciate how good Eric is, at teaching Salsa. Kudos!
Eclectic mix of marketeer, tech geek, dancer, photographer, Ultimate Frisbee player, Indian, Tamilian.
My life has come a full circle
SMA (Chennai, TN, India) > SVCE (Chennai, TN, India) > NCSU (Raleigh, NC, USA) > Seagate (Longmont, CO, USA) > ISB (Hyderabad, AP, India) > Chennai once again.
