spokesNspin

Way back in September RBK had a post that included a U-Tube video showing a Bhangra performance.  In a comment I asked if it was possible to see such a performance in the D.C. area.

Earlier this month my question was answered and RBK invited me to the Bollywood Musical Journey by Washington Shruti.

I would just like to add a disclaimer that nothing I say here is meant to offend.  If it offends it is the result of a sheltered Idaho farm boy talking about an experience that was different than most he has experienced.  If I make incorrect comments I am sure that RBK will verbally slap me back.

What an event!  It was very entertaining.  It was a musical variety show but the casualness also made it feel at times like a big family reunion.

The event was supposed to start at 5:30 and go until 10:00.  It didn’t actually start until about 6:15.  Then there was a constant stream of people coming into the high school auditorium for about 45 minutes.  No concern or thought seemed to be given to the fact that they were in the way of the people who were seated and watching the show.

Is this cultural or just how this event was organized?  I theorized that given the dense population of India that maybe the concepts of personal space and worrying about being in another person’s way have less meaning to Indians.

The music was great and the dancing was good.  I of course loved seeing all the pretty ladies in their Saris.  That includes adorable little girls.  Many of the men were also wearing what I would call for lack of a better word traditional Indian tunics.

The band was not small. I didn’t count but there were probably 12-15 members.  The instruments ranged from traditional to the latest in electronic synthesizers.  And as the band leader introduced the members he mentioned on more than one occasion that the member played “excellently well”(Think here of Apu from the Simpsons).

Being an old percussionist I was particularly interested in the Indian drums.  Basically they were bongo type drums.

As stated, people were coming in for the first 45 minutes of the program.  Then 30 minutes later it was time for intermission.  Indian food was available in the lobby.  It was curried rice(I think), chick peas(I think) and some type of flat bread.    For those of you who have been in the west and had Navajo fry bread it seemed to be the same thing. 

The food was very good but also very crowded standing shoulder to shoulder trying to eat standing up.  I felt as if I stuck out like a sore thumb.  I think I was one of maybe four pale faces in the crowd.

Now here is one of the most entertaining things of the evening.  RBK was seated to my left.  Two other woman were on my right.  I will call one of them Usha.  Here is a conversation that took place during the intermission.

Usha to RBK:  I have a top just like that

RBK: Oh yes I really like it.

Usha: Did you get it in New Delhi?

RBK: Yes, I got it from… blah blah blah

Usha:  Oh I just love their stuff.  It is very nice but not so expensive as blah blah blah….

RBK: Oh that is true and their accessories blah blah blah….

Here I am in Oakton, VA listening to two women discuss clothing and boutiques in New Delhi as if the stores were just around the corner.  Yes women are the same the world over.

The second half of the program started and it was getting late.  So they decided to bring the children on stage for their number.  One cute little girl walked on to the stage rubbing her eyes like she was ready for bed.   But when the music started the children jumped right in and sang with enthusiasm.

By now it is after 9:00 PM.  Just as it was in beginning, people  started streaming out during the performances.  Nobody seemed to give it a second thought.   The show must go on and they pressed forward to get every number performed.

This was a fund raiser so from time to time door prizes were given away by a man that looked like an Indian version of Mr Burns from The Simpsons.   He could go on forever seemingly oblivious to the fact that it was getting late and people were leaving.   By the last performance there were probably only a dozen or so people left in the audience.

I didn’t want to leave for fear of missing something.   There were some amazing dances.  There was a Bhangra. 

There was also a dance by three teenaged girls that were dressed in what to me appeared to be more of a traditional peasant dress. They danced with veils.  RBK informed me that they were not veils but scarves. What would you call scarves draped over the head to cover the face?  They could really wiggle those hips.

I of course could not understand most of the lyrics but it was still entertaining.   RBK translated the general meaning of the songs.  Wow!  Some of those songs were rather…what’s the word?  If I recall I think the lyrics were something about giving in to passion and two bodies becoming one.

It was very fun.  I have since googled for Indian entertainment in the D.C. area there is actually quite of bit of it to be had.

It was a fun evening.  I think the bright colors of the traditional attire  represents  just the beginning of a culture that seems to do everything with gusto and fun.

Thanks to RBK for the invite.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 at 4:42 am and is filed under Misc, Politics, News & Social Commentary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.