Dancing DUO By Thomas S
Call them the dancing sensational or the dancing professionals, Jason Viegas and Sylvia Fernandes are indeed two of the best dancing partners or instructors on the Goan scene today. Having finished a creditable fourth in the International Asian Salsa dancing competition (couple dancing) at Hong Kong last year, they are all set to get Goans dancing to a new rhythm. Yet their entries into the dancing arena were totally different. Sylvia started off as a model, doing shots for Wendell Rodrigues and Femina. Says Sylvia, 'I was never into dancing although I had a passion for dancing. It so happened that on one occasion Jason was a judge when I was modelling. After the show he asked me if I would be interested in dancing, and we took off from there. Formerly I was learning Bharatnatyam. However, if one desires to do ballroom dancing then you have to give up Bharatnatyam as it makes one flat-footed.' Jason on the other hand was into dancing right from his college days and would take part in break dance and jive competitions. In fact he says with pride, 'I even defeated Toby, the last year's winner of Jhalak Dikhlaja.' The only source of formal training he had was from a foreigner who was giving some dance classes and was on the lookout for an assistant. Jason accepted the job and not only learnt the nuances of dancing but also was also able to understand the methods of teaching. And it is now almost 15 years since he has been training children and adults alike how to dance. 'Sylvia joined me somewhere in 1999, and ever since then we have been conducting dance classes, workshops, dance exhibitions and competitions', states Jason. They teach social dancing as well as competitive dancing. Points out Jason, 'Goans have a sense of music in them and can differentiate between different types of music. However, Goans have to bring about a change in their mental attitude and be more focused and committed towards dancing. Whenever a show is held outside Goa and if we wish to take our Goan boys or girls for the show there is always some impediment which prevents then from coming along.' In agreement with Jason is Sylvia who too feels that Goans have a lot of potential as they follow music very well. 'Yet dancing is all about grace and style as each dance is based on its own music', she adds. When quizzed as to how they teach an adult who has already developed his own style of dancing they reply in unison that first and foremost they try to make the student comfortable as the student has to be used to the instructor, the music and the environment before he can grasp what is being taught. Apart from winning the fourth place at the Asian salsa competition last year, in the year 2005, they also participated in the Asian championships in Hong Kong where they had to perform the five disciplines of Latin dancing. Says Jason, 'To qualify for the Asian championships we had to qualify from India and we qualified by standing second in the Nationals'. They also have participated at the World Latin European Open in Lisbon, Portugal where they competed with the best of dancers from Europe. 'We always idolised them and to be actually dancing alongside them was something incredible', states Sylvia. 'If Goa wishes to compete with other states in dancing then dancing classes have to take a professional approach', puts in Sylvia. Their message to Goans is simple and straight from the heart. Train well, be sincere in your dancing, and with the talent and skill that one possesses, one can certainly go places in the days to come. We wish Jason and Sylvia all the very best and hope that they are able to influence people to dance to their rhythm.http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=112448 -- Gabe. COMMENT: In our London Goan circle, everyone's a dancer. The dance craze (Ballroom) has been revived after several years in slumber land, with the ever popular, Strictly come dancing show. This show is watched by an audience of 10 million and several thousand Goans ! The unfortunate thing is that most of the grand ballrooms have gone. The Empire ballroom in Leicester Square, the lyceum on the Strand come to mind. The big bands too have gone into oblivion. Time was when we used to regularly go dancing. Not many people know the etiquette involved now a days. Some tend to hog the whole floor, there is a strict rule and people are required to go in a circle, counter clock wise. If this is not done then all are in a mess ! -- DEV BOREM KORUM. Gabe Menezes. London, England
