“Two
years back, many had doubts about what Ican
achieve through dance. Today, I have earned my share of respect and
wherever I go, I stand tall,” says Cecille Lee Rodrigues, a mother
who reached the pinnacle of her career by winning the first runner-up
position on a popular dance show on Indian television.
Taking
up dance as a full-time career is a risk for many but like the famous
English saying, the bigger the risk the sweeter the reward. For one
to be a success in this field, a dancer must outline his or her
mission. Some might be inclined to teach, while others to compete.
There will be some who do it to promote and create new styles of
dance. Cecille, for example, quit her day job not only to dance and
promote it, but to also make time for her son. It is an experience
she cherishes every day, because it keeps her happy on a personal as
well as professional front. “At times, the monetary returns are
lesser than expected. But the joy of sharing the knowledge of dance,
and getting adults as well as children to groove, is a blessing by
itself,” she adds.
“Converting
my passion into a career was a struggle by itself. I didn’t know if
I would be successful but I had to try. When you think dance, you
generally think Mumbai; but I am a Goan. I was not professionally
trained, and to have made it to the semi-final round of a national
talent show on television was lady luck mixed with dedicated
training,” says Darryl D’souza. Darryl organises various
workshops in the state, bringing down dancers from around the
country. His advice to anybody who wants to make dancing a profession
is: “The initial stage requires a lot of effort. You must train
hard and think less about the money. With time, you will receive
phone calls for work and money will come running after you.”
Another
charismatic dancer, based in the south but continuously travelling
and conducting workshops around the country, is Shane Mendes. He is
one of the pioneers of the break dance movement, not only in Goa, but
also in India. In recent times, he has combined the art of b-boying
with the grace of contemporary dancing, so that every move describes
the lyrics in all its depth. “The struggle is consistent,
especially when you are creating your own style of dance. Much has
been achieved, and the scene in Goa keeps growing every day. I would
like to conduct more workshops in my state, so that I can share all
that I have learnt and created. Aspiring dancers should know that it
is possible to make ends meet, if they choose to travel, train and
teach like me. At the initial stage, it is difficult. But waking up
every morning knowing that they want to dance will keep them going.”
To
quote the lyrics of a famous dance record from a Swedish trio that
split in 2013. If dancing is truly your calling, “Don’t you
worry, don’t you worry, child. See Heavens got a plan for you.”
