This one is about not just Raas. It is about love. It is about longing. Longing for old friends. Longing for some one that is gone. Lord Krishna did Raas with his celestial lovers, the Gopis who were hand picked to take birth when he was on this earth to experience true love and longing.
Some times things don't work out in love and in life. Some times people move on. This is about one such soul who moved on. His name is Sachin. Sachin Shah to be exact. Late Sachin Shah to be precise. He died in a car accident. He loved to dance. Here is what his friend Suneet has to say about this fun loving young soul (As a parent I would never want my kinds to die when I am still around. It must be really tough for Sachin's parents).
"In high school, I danced with Sachin on the "Mitwas" team. We competed in two competitions in 2002. The CCF (Charitable Care Foundation) competition in Hayward, CA, where we won first place. The same team also competed at the Neema Sari Palace competition in LA, where we also won first place.After high school Sachin went to UCSD where he competed on the UCSD team I believe in 2003, 2004 and 2005."
Sachin's friends on the Berkeley Raas team have been selling T shirts and raising funds for charity. The family has also created a web site. They are also trying to raise funds for charity. The URL for the t-shirts is:http://www.suneet.com. The website for the charity, The Sachin Shah Cares Foundation, is http://www.mysscf.org . They are a non-profit and have a tax-id, etc.The website, suneet.com, contains all the information about the team and why they are selling the t-shirts, and the mySSCF website has more information about where the money will be spent, etc. The photographs on the web site are absolutely heart breaking. Here is this handsome young senior who is suddenly gone.
Kudos to Berkeley team for raising money by selling T shirts. They look kind of cute.To me, this team is the real winner. I don't care what happens at BOB 2007.
I just bought the T shirt. I bought the large size, even though I am a small guy. I guess my "beta" can wear it too. I hope you buy one too. I will wear it with pride and pray that no young person die before their time. A word of advice; if you lost at a competition, don't be too mad or too sad. There are worse things in life. Dying young before your dreams are fulfilled. Having to raise funds for a buddy who died before his time. Never drink and drive. Party in moderation. Don't put down other teams; lose or win, be a gentleman/lady.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Lahori Choreographer
Omar was his name. It was year 2005. I had just gotten lost on a rainy Friday early evening driving from Baltimore to Washington D.C. With my family in a rental car. I was driving towards downtown D.C. hoping to make it to Raas Chaos on time. My son (who did not have a clue about where I was) was trying desperately to help me get to the place. My wife tells me I have a keen sense of direction. I can "smell places" and drive like a hound to my destination. I guess it is a matter of instincts. I am about to talk about a truely instinctive man.
I made it to the auditorium on time, even got a great parking spot with no help and a Small map. With my old training from the city (Manhattan I mean), I managed to squeeze in.
Place was loud and crazy. One could smell alcohol on some of the patronls breath all around. I felt as if I was at a kick boxing event. I even managed to get hit on the back of my bald head with a bottle by some disgruntled fan who did not care that I was cheering for some one other than his team. I was not hurt. Like all the good uncles I had my video ready to film my little "Beta" showing his skills. Skills he did show. GW won.
I was introduced to "Omar", the unlikely choreographer of this Raas team. "Where are you from in Pakistan?"I asked. I was warned earlier that this choreographer was a Pakistani kid. I assumed he must be son of some Muslim Guju from Karachi, where lot of Gujaratis have settled. Boy was I wrong. "Lahore" he said. "He knows Bhangra" my son informed me. Omar was a lovely soft spoken unassuming young man. I had to wear my uncle hat and start asking him all sort of questions. I did not care if my son was embarrassed. Besides we had come all the way from Dallas. I was even ready to feed the team like a good uncle should. I felt entitled to ask these questions. After all I was not sure If I ever will see a Lahori Raas choreographer in my life time again. It turns out that he did not see this as a big deal. He did not see that the big issue was about going from up and down step of Bhangra to Baroda style skipping (probably my son's gift to this his team as my wife always made sure that all her students learned skipping).
After talking to Omar Majid and his team it was obvious that this man survived and prospered on his instinct about dance. He knew what was traditional and what was not by his gut feeling. Other participants looked up to him and worked hard under his leadership. Participants came up with Individual steps but he put it all together. He opened the Raas with music from one of A.R. Rehman's drumming piece. It felt as if you were in the middle of "Urs" or "Tajia" (Muslim functions from my home town of Bhavnagar India) for a few seconds. It felt spiritual just as a deep night Navratri Raas would. After all Urs and Tajia are quite intense experiences. It was not a typical Gujju 8 beat peace. It was five beats in a four. Skipping was fast. How this man came up with what he did will always be a mystery. They went on to come second at GWA and first at BOB. Next year Omar was gone and the 2006 team did not do well. Omar was a Bhangra guy but his Raas did not look like Bhangra. you can find him on youtube.com/omarmajid. I assume that is the guy because he has the 2005 GW videos on his site.
I wish I headed a foundation that could pay for the Omars of America to visit some distant place in Gujarat and expose them to more traditional Raaas groups. They are still out htere. What may evolve from that may truly be great Raas.
I made it to the auditorium on time, even got a great parking spot with no help and a Small map. With my old training from the city (Manhattan I mean), I managed to squeeze in.
Place was loud and crazy. One could smell alcohol on some of the patronls breath all around. I felt as if I was at a kick boxing event. I even managed to get hit on the back of my bald head with a bottle by some disgruntled fan who did not care that I was cheering for some one other than his team. I was not hurt. Like all the good uncles I had my video ready to film my little "Beta" showing his skills. Skills he did show. GW won.
I was introduced to "Omar", the unlikely choreographer of this Raas team. "Where are you from in Pakistan?"I asked. I was warned earlier that this choreographer was a Pakistani kid. I assumed he must be son of some Muslim Guju from Karachi, where lot of Gujaratis have settled. Boy was I wrong. "Lahore" he said. "He knows Bhangra" my son informed me. Omar was a lovely soft spoken unassuming young man. I had to wear my uncle hat and start asking him all sort of questions. I did not care if my son was embarrassed. Besides we had come all the way from Dallas. I was even ready to feed the team like a good uncle should. I felt entitled to ask these questions. After all I was not sure If I ever will see a Lahori Raas choreographer in my life time again. It turns out that he did not see this as a big deal. He did not see that the big issue was about going from up and down step of Bhangra to Baroda style skipping (probably my son's gift to this his team as my wife always made sure that all her students learned skipping).
After talking to Omar Majid and his team it was obvious that this man survived and prospered on his instinct about dance. He knew what was traditional and what was not by his gut feeling. Other participants looked up to him and worked hard under his leadership. Participants came up with Individual steps but he put it all together. He opened the Raas with music from one of A.R. Rehman's drumming piece. It felt as if you were in the middle of "Urs" or "Tajia" (Muslim functions from my home town of Bhavnagar India) for a few seconds. It felt spiritual just as a deep night Navratri Raas would. After all Urs and Tajia are quite intense experiences. It was not a typical Gujju 8 beat peace. It was five beats in a four. Skipping was fast. How this man came up with what he did will always be a mystery. They went on to come second at GWA and first at BOB. Next year Omar was gone and the 2006 team did not do well. Omar was a Bhangra guy but his Raas did not look like Bhangra. you can find him on youtube.com/omarmajid. I assume that is the guy because he has the 2005 GW videos on his site.
I wish I headed a foundation that could pay for the Omars of America to visit some distant place in Gujarat and expose them to more traditional Raaas groups. They are still out htere. What may evolve from that may truly be great Raas.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
BOB 2007 Out on a limb with my foot in the mouth
I did some thing terrible. I saw videos of Penn state and Michigan. I had seen Berkeley live at GBA. who will win? one of the three for sure. I have to say that my opinions are based on poorly shot videos from audience (thanks U tube, even with Google stock being down).
Penn: Very good choreography. Choreographer is not afraid to "go slow". She or he knows that his dancers are able to show grace no matter what is the speed of execution. Best music selection. a traditional judge would score them high.
Michigan: They won DD. Not an easy task. Berkeley was there if I am not mistaken. I don't know what to make of this one. Vegas theme seemed odd ( I hope I am talking about the right team). I was under the impression that UI Urbana won that competition, but I guess I am wrong.
Berkeley: I have commented about Berkeley in the past. Almost got in trouble for that. If judged by younger judges or non traditional judges, Berkeley is a winner. They did have more energy than Penn. Creative choreography in a different way. My sense is that the "flow is about to change as newer judges come on the scene and help create new traditions.
Penn has better music, more creative but closer to traditional choreography. Berkeley, very energetic, creative but departing from tradition.
All three teams are close and should be proud of their performance. My favourite all time winner? 2005 G' dawgs; George Washignton from D.C. (choreographed by a wonderful young Muslim guy from Lahor Pakistan who was originally a Bhangra choreographer, but really understood dance. God bless him wherever he is. More about him later.)
Penn: Very good choreography. Choreographer is not afraid to "go slow". She or he knows that his dancers are able to show grace no matter what is the speed of execution. Best music selection. a traditional judge would score them high.
Michigan: They won DD. Not an easy task. Berkeley was there if I am not mistaken. I don't know what to make of this one. Vegas theme seemed odd ( I hope I am talking about the right team). I was under the impression that UI Urbana won that competition, but I guess I am wrong.
Berkeley: I have commented about Berkeley in the past. Almost got in trouble for that. If judged by younger judges or non traditional judges, Berkeley is a winner. They did have more energy than Penn. Creative choreography in a different way. My sense is that the "flow is about to change as newer judges come on the scene and help create new traditions.
Penn has better music, more creative but closer to traditional choreography. Berkeley, very energetic, creative but departing from tradition.
All three teams are close and should be proud of their performance. My favourite all time winner? 2005 G' dawgs; George Washignton from D.C. (choreographed by a wonderful young Muslim guy from Lahor Pakistan who was originally a Bhangra choreographer, but really understood dance. God bless him wherever he is. More about him later.)
BOB Chicago 2007 who is there?
I would love to hear from all of you who know anything about the four teams. I heard that Penn State is very good. I heard that there is a team from Chicago area and some on from Michigan. I would love to post more information. If you happen to have videos, please give me the link. I would love to comment or post them here.
Berkeley and Tripple stepping
In his or her response, some one mentioned "triple stepping". Now I know skipping as they do in Baroda style. I know "Thes" as in Saurashtra style and I know that north Indians like to kick their legs in front. But American Raas seems to have developed its own terms. What exactly do you call tripple stepping? Are there any other terms that others are using? I would like to know. Please help me in documenting these terms. By the way, if you are not skipping, you are too slow. Skipping helps you cover more ground and it looks very graceful. If you bend enough it looks very powerful too. Please tell me names of more terms and also reference with some videos.
Monday, February 26, 2007
BOB 2007 Response from Berkley
What a refreshing view from Berkley Raas team! I am proud of you guys and I respect you and all the other Raas team for the following (These are called affirmations I suppose).
1 I know you guys work hard; all of you including ones who did not make it to any competition.
2 Raas keeps you closer to your culture.
3 You don't get paid for doing it. You do it because you love it.
Now coming back to your comments. Please do not apologise. People have right to their opinions. Some get very emotional. 70% of participants generally leave the auditorium unhappy after any competition! it would be nice if we are polite and kind to each other. The point I was trying to make was that the judging on east and west cost is very different. Judging is very different if some of the judges are not familiar with the original Raas. This is the reason I wrote two blogs on history of Raas. I mostly agree with where you are coming from.
I think time has come to where some one will differentiate between traditional and non traditional and eliminate the props (except for props that represent the school). Props distract from the dance itself. I still remember the huge back drop that Stanford used a few years back. Reminded me of "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam".
One thing I hope Rass teams would consider not doing. Opening mouth and showing your tongue is considered an insulting gesture in Indian culture. In some cultures such as Polynesian culture, it is done during dances to scare bad spirits. It has not place in raas. I saw this being done in some dances recently.
Again, for a guy who used to dance in college ** years ago and someone who managed winning teams in F.O.G.N.A. for tem plus years, I am jst happpy that you folks are dancing.
Any comments from judges?
1 I know you guys work hard; all of you including ones who did not make it to any competition.
2 Raas keeps you closer to your culture.
3 You don't get paid for doing it. You do it because you love it.
Now coming back to your comments. Please do not apologise. People have right to their opinions. Some get very emotional. 70% of participants generally leave the auditorium unhappy after any competition! it would be nice if we are polite and kind to each other. The point I was trying to make was that the judging on east and west cost is very different. Judging is very different if some of the judges are not familiar with the original Raas. This is the reason I wrote two blogs on history of Raas. I mostly agree with where you are coming from.
I think time has come to where some one will differentiate between traditional and non traditional and eliminate the props (except for props that represent the school). Props distract from the dance itself. I still remember the huge back drop that Stanford used a few years back. Reminded me of "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam".
One thing I hope Rass teams would consider not doing. Opening mouth and showing your tongue is considered an insulting gesture in Indian culture. In some cultures such as Polynesian culture, it is done during dances to scare bad spirits. It has not place in raas. I saw this being done in some dances recently.
Again, for a guy who used to dance in college ** years ago and someone who managed winning teams in F.O.G.N.A. for tem plus years, I am jst happpy that you folks are dancing.
Any comments from judges?
Friday, February 23, 2007
BOB 2007
Does any one know who is going to BOB 2007? If the teams could give me some information about themselves I would like to post it here. I would like to know your views about your regional competitions. You can also send me other website information.
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