Abilities Unlimited
An unforgettable evening that lives in my mind!
The synchronized movements of classical dance performed
to professional precision and perfection are always a mesmerizing treat for the
eyes and soothing to the soul.
The experience is all the more divine when performed
by artists who are differently abled. It is a blessing to be gifted with an
opportunity to witness the abilities of those who are specially abled on a
stage that vibrates electrifying enthusiasm.
It was one such evening that I was fortunate to be
part off, to truly get immersed in the pleasure of passion which showcased the astounding
confidence, flair and professional presentation skills of the artists who are
otherwise referred in society as “persons with disabilities”. The grounds of
Vellaichamy Nadar College in Nagamalai Pudukottai was the place that opened new
vistas for the dancers to delight the audience with a once in a lifetime
program that was star studded with each and every member of the team.
Better late than never:
I must confess that the evening that I am referring
here was not something that happened recently, but it did happen in the year 2017.
I had enriched myself more than adequately that evening by witnessing the unlimited
abilities of the differently abled persons and treasured those memories with
some photographs that I was able to shoot during the event.
It needed a special time and occasion to do a write
up and on 25th March 2020 when the whole world is confined to their
homes with a deadly virus that has and is threatening mankind, I thought it fit
to do this write up to emphasise that the human connections are very much
powerful and valuable than compared to any other connections.
Live performance
with life:
The manner in which the Visually Impaired dancers enthralled
the audience with their perfectly synchronized bharathanatiyam dance sequence
holding lamps in their hands was unimaginable to be honest. The reason for me
to term it as ‘unimaginable’ is simply because I did have a question in my mind
whether it was a real onstage live performance or an animated movie sequence
that was screened on a big stage.
If the bharathanatiyam enthralled, the wheel chair
bound dancers of Sufi music got the audience to the edge of their seats. It calls
for great strength and determination to be on public view straddled on a wheel
chair, but here the men came dressed in white with their exceptional skills for
a wonderful performance of Sufi Music Sequenced Dance.
The feel was so lively
that one could easily identify themselves of being part of a dance item that
was new and unique in style and substance. The impeccable lighting and the
audio literally took everyone out of the auditorium into a flight fantasy.
It takes two for a tango goes the saying, it was
very touching to witness a classical dancer only with her left leg give us one
of the boldest demonstration of bharathanatiyam during the evening. It was not
only a dance that got many locked on to the stage, but more importantly a
message that what one could do in life with what they have, not just living
complaining of what they have not.
The dancer was so graceful that one did not
notice that she was just dancing with only one leg. She gave a graceful
depiction of the classical dance that conveys much through muthras and
abinayams so delightfully that one could easily relate to the theme of the
dance and the presentation in appreciation.
What is
music to the hearing impaired?
The world will go gaga with music that is blasted with
a high decibel on professional speakers. So what?.....it is not something
unusual may be the common comment from anyone. Quite unexpectedly the evening
ended with a standout performance by a hearing impaired female dancer combing
with wheelchair bound dancers to give one of the most passionate and powerful
performance that got sound raptures in the form of nonstop clapping from the audience.
If one were to look at the photos without bearing in
mind that that the female dancer was actually a hearing impaired person, they
would not believe their eyes. Taking a second look and observing the facial expressions,
the synchronised pose and formation of the dancers, would blow you out of your
wildest imagination as to whether was it possible? Yes!, it was the crowning
glory of the splendid performance that came through effortlessly but punctuated
with great poise and an excellent piece of choreography that let the passion
rule the stage.
How did I
get there in the first place?
It was my good friend Shri. T. Kumar, the Director
of Physical Education and NCC Officer of NMSS Vellaichamy Nadar College in
Madurai who invited me for the very special evening which was celebrated in
their college campus as a social responsibility day.
‘Virutcham’ an initiative by the NCC Cadets past
and present of the college has taken up the social initiative to extend support
for the deserving sections of the society. This was an annual event that gave
out socio- economic benefits to the deserving sections of the society. A great initiative from the college which is
described as a great motivation and encouragement from only with the support of
the College Management, Principal Staff and Students says the founder of
Virutcham Shri. T. Kumar.
The evening would very well go into my frame of
mind as the one that dispelled the darkness on the question of the abilities of
the persons with disabilities. It is not just a matter of mere words just for
the sake of mentioning, but instead it comes directly from the deepest bottom
of my heart that those dancers not only brought light on their abilities but
very effectively convinced the audience that abilities are not to be limited on
physical ailments or impairments..... Abilities are a mater the mind and heart
and it shall spread light whenever there is a conducive atmosphere in the
society.
The team that relegated the audience and shook me
off my foot was mentored, trained and guided by Guru Dr. Syed S Pasha, a
renowned therapeutic theatre dance choreographer from ability unlimited in New Delhi.
Nicholas Francis
