I have a dream. But I believe in having unattainable dream. Because that unfulfilled and impossible dream makes me want to wake up every day with the hope that… what if!
I saw glimpses of a musical ‘CATS’ by Andrew Lloyd Weber (in news). That name, was etched in my memory and so was the song MEMORY! Then I made up my mind that… before I die, I will star in an Andrew Lloyd Weber Musical! Yup, my unattainable dream!
My unattainable dream of wanting to star in a musical made me look for more such musicals and I was introduced to a whole new genre and style of music and not just that; even a whole new style of dancing.
One could and it was allowed to dance as loud as possible with the loudest of expressions. Stomping on stage, swirling, speaking to a tune was all a BIG YES! And then began my Musical Journey.
Tuned into: 'Cats' took me to tune into Wizard of Oz – Mary Poppins – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat.
Watched: When I was old enough to travel and make my own choices of what I would like to watch, I chose to watch some LIVE Musicals here in Mumbai and trust me, we did a great job! I watched 'Man of La Mancha' (for Dhilip Tahil) & 'Jesus Christ Superstar' (for my brother from another mother - Sherrin Verghese) and recently watched 'What Planet are you on?', directed by Akarsh Khurana.
Investment: In the early days of my growing up watching content online wasn't an option. So, I had carefully invested what I earned into dvd and vcd of some lovely musical films, like 'Fiddler on the Roof', 'West Side Story' (you may know this as the SRK starrer – ‘Josh’), 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers' (you may know this as the Big B starrer ‘Satte pe Satte’, 'Singing in the Rain' and 'Sound of Music'.
Starred: I did star in 3 Musicals here in Mumbai; 'Oliver Twist' (under ACE Productions), 'The Lion King' (under Element Theatre) and 'The Wedding Photographer' (under Company Theatre) NO, they did NOT let me sing, but I danced my part, like really small parts. Oh, I also choreographed a Gidda to a Beatles song 'Here comes the Sun' for an AK Various Productions called 'Once there was a Way'.
Films: I visited Theatres to watch few others like; Grease, Chicago and La La Land.
Television: Some I watched on TV like; 'Evita', 'Les Misérables', 'Moulin Rouge'.
In News! And some I followed as they were in the news like; 'The Greatest Showman' & 'Dear Evan Hansen'.
As I still wake up with that unattainable dream in me, I know that these Music and Musicals will always be a part of my life and keep me company.
It would be wonderful indeed to see more support and opportunities for creative pursuits like dance in India. As interests and cultural influences evolve, there's potential for a broader appreciation of diverse dance styles beyond traditional forms. Just as sports like football have gained popularity over time, perhaps dance forms like ballet, tap dance, and others will also find their place in India's cultural landscape. Encouraging more access to training and appreciation for these art forms could foster a vibrant dance community across the country.
Tune into the playlist below on #spotify #spotifyplaylists if you want to listen to string of my favourite Musicals!
-SuVi
ความคิดเห็น