Centre stage

The stage was set. The music was in place. The audience sat waiting for the performance to start. Our group was nervous yet excited. This was the D-Day. The day we had been waiting for since the day we came together as a group.

I was getting the jitters in my stomach. Breathing, walking, jumping, nothing helped. I thought of the innumerable things that could go wrong with the dance – what if the costumes ditched us at the last moment? what if the CD didn’t play? what if some of us forgot the steps? what if I forgot the steps? and since disturbing thoughts always seem to linger in my mind for much longer than positive thoughts, I was convinced that we were goners even before stepping foot on the stage.

I peeked my head out from the backstage to have a look at the audience. They intimidated me even more. My group was trying to be confident but you know it when one is just faking it when they talk as fast as one of those Insurance disclaimer readers, and smile constantly like a bride before the jaymala ceremony.
Basically, we were all nervous.

Our introduction was given and it was time for us to perform. My friend and I stepped onto the stage from either sides and gave each other a reassuring look before moving ahead. I forced myself to drop the nervousness and focus on, ‘We’re going to rock’.

Positions were taken. The music started and before I knew it, we had taken the big plunge and were dancing before the audience. It took about a minute for me to stop my legs from wobbling like jelly. And then slowly the surroundings became irrelevant and the passion for dance overcame the fear. The steps became clearer and I could sense the coordination falling into place. Our feet and hands moved in sync and that was the moment I knew that yes, a group performance was happening.

It got over the moment it started. As we ended the dance, the auditorium erupted into a huge round of applause – one that was perhaps the loudest that I had heard in this school. The auditorium echoed with the energy that we brought forth on stage.

As we made our way back towards the changing room, we didn’t realize what we had done. There was a certain amount of satisfaction – we knew we did well, but actual realization happened when we opened the door to a huge wave of compliments. I was genuinely surprised because people who were absolute strangers to me were walking up to us and telling us how wonderful the performance was.

Old teachers, new teachers – you name it, everyone came and said that we rocked it. It was then that all of us felt like jumping into the air and screaming, ‘We did it!’

My mom was there to watch the function and she told me how she couldn’t contain the excitement she felt while watching us perform. She said we were so energetic that the audience almost wanted to get up and dance with us. The director acknowledged me in his speech. He expressed how happy he was to see new and such good talent perform on stage.

All of us had a huge grin on our faces that refused to be wiped off for a very long time. The principal herself came up to us and complimented us. She also said that the head of the primary section liked it so much that she wants us to perform for the smaller kids again. It was an extremely humbling moment for all of us. It was like tasting stardom after a lot of practice, but after just an overnight show.

Compliments continued to pour in from teachers and students alike, for the rest of the day. I couldn’t focus in class and the dance must replayed in my mind at least 10000000000000000000000 times.

We set a standard that day. I wanted to show the school what ‘dance’ really is. And I did. Our school sucks major fucking ass when it comes to dance, but now, anything below this new standard will at least be considered bad, and will not be accepted just because. We have had to face a lot of shit along the way but in the end, it all fell into place and it was worth it. Every bit of it.

The entire week sped past like a bullet, but I remember each and every moment as vividly as a painting on the wall. Bunking classes, looking for costumes, yelling at the group, brainstorming about the next step, fighting with the other dance group and rejoicing after getting a step right. It was hell of a hectic ride, but I’ll cherish this entire week for a long time.

I’m still giddy and week-kneed. Yes, even after 2 days. It feels awesome to have accomplished something that you dreamt of for 10 days, day in and day out. The feeling is bittersweet too, because now that it’s over, I don’t want to let go of the dream.

3 CHEERS TO US.