ZUMBA HEY! - ADITI

It's the new dance cum fitness craze in town! That's right, I'm talking about zumba. This Colombian fitness dance program started in 2001 by Alberto Beto Perez. It is a fun mix of salsa and other latin dances, hip hop, Bollywood, and some belly dance moves too! The fun thinga bout zumba lies in the dance element. You pick up new steps that one could add to his or her repertoire. And you also at the same time shed those extra calories that have been weighing you down!

The class starts with a warm up, followed by the fun intsense dacing and a cooling down session that mostly comprises stretching.

There are minuses to this fun filled exercise regimen as well! Apparently, zumba is meant only for toning of muscles. So people who come to such fitness programs to lose weight don't benefit as much. I am of the opinion that zumba is a fun way of losing weight because you learn new dance moves and exercise your entire body.

A host of celebrities have taken to zumba, some of which include Victoria Beckham, Emma Watson etc. I say, if you want to have fun and be healthy at the same time, give zumba a shot!

DIONNE SHED LIGHT ON THE GHUMAT

There is an old saying in Goa that 'a Goan is said to be born with music in his blood and music accompanies him from his cradle to grave'. But the ghumat must never be lost. It is the symbol of the Goan essence.The Ghumat is played differently at the Shigmo, festivals, marriages, mandos, Ganesh aarti etc.

Ghumat is a percussion instrument of earthen vessel having both sides open; on the bigger opening a leather of monitor lizard is mounted secured with cotton string. The ghumat is suspended from the neck or tied to the waist of the musician. It is the most common folk percussion instrument in use. Generally ghumat is accompanied by 'samel', another traditional instrument with wooden drum and goat leather mount. This instrument is still very popular amongst by the Konkani diaspora. Ghumat forms an integral part of Goan folk, religious and temple music. It serves as an accompaniment to the folk songs and to the 'mando' music. But most importantly it plays a vital role in the muic played in Goa during the Ganesh festival. It also used in most of the Goan temples during the spring season in an orchestra called as Suvari Vadan.

For
the Goan traditional folk music, the ghumat is the most popular musical
instrument used since the hoary past. While defining the border of Goa,
the folk artists proudly says that wherever one hears the beats of
ghumat is the land of Goa. However, today, as the trade in monitor
lizard skin reaches its height a month before Ganesh Chaturthi, the poor
reptile is on the verge of extinction.
Every year more than
thousand ghumats made with the skin of monitor lizard are sold in the
various parts of Goa. But, whenever, Goa's forest department with the
pressure from the wild lifers has raided shops or centres where the
sales of these ghumats are taking place, they have seized more than
50-60 ghumats with the monitor lizard skins, mainly in Bardez and
Phonda.

RAISA CHATS UP DANCER ANSAR KHAN

Ansar khan says he was born to dance. “Ever since I was a kid I loved dancing,” states Ansar. When he completed standard X, he joined David Furtado as a dancer and within a year’s time he moved up to being an instructor himself. Ansar then moved to Mumbai where he worked with Bosco, Caeser and Geeta Kapoor and tried to pick up a few dance moved by himself. A few years ago Ansar launched his AK Dance Academy alone with a friend Aryan who helps him manage classes. Ansar teaches different dance forms from ballroom to hip hop and has now started Zumba in Goa Velha. Over the years Ansar has participated in the auditions for the Dance India Dance where he cleared the theatre round. He also won first place at the Slipdisc All Goa Dance Competition and was selected for a Zee Marathi Dance reality show. He has also quite literally danced with the stars having worked with celebrities like Saif Ali Khan, Shahid Kapur, and Bipasha Basu at Stardust event and has also choreographed a dance for a Marathi film. Ansar hopes to have dance classes all over India in a few years and be known as the best choreographer. He believes that he has a long way to go and has dreams aplenty.

HAND IN ART - DIONNE

When your “style” is personal content, the images you make can only be original.  It demands you be open to thinking in new ways, reassess your drawing and painting skills, put your creativity on the line and free  your imagination.

In today’s world people are becoming aware of eco-friendly items.For instance as Fine Arts is gaining importance students who are creative set up amazig decorative items as take-aways and centre pieces for weddings and occasions.Hence  we find many exhibitions in goa featuring jute items, handicraft artices, home-made items which makes it affordable and environtmental-friendly.One notices a lot of workshops being held to train students and house –wives to portray their creative ability. It can also bring economic benefits to certain areas even to boost tourism.

While these sound good, there are some who say that there are advantages.One such festival was Lokhatsav wherein articles from various states were exhibited. We even have jute exhibitions recently held where a variety of products like bags, slippers ,holders made of jute were displayed. Jute is bio-degradable fiber which is 100% eco – friendly. The golden fiber is used extensively in manufacturing sacks or bags which are used as packaging material for agricultural and industrial products. Since in India jute is produced in wide scale, the price is competitively less comparing to other country. Jute is not only used for manufacturing textile products but is ideal raw material for non textile product. Unlike other materials, manufacturing of jute items do not produce harmful chemicals and thus reduces global warming.Jute is considered the eco-friendly alternative due to its bio-degradability and recyclable property. Other features like soft & silky texture, high tensile strength and heat resistance to heat makes jute as ideal fiber for manufacturing fashion items, different baggage, home furnishing, decorative and textile 

If you are interested in an eco-friendly rug, natural fabric carpeting is an ideal option. Unlike synthetic rugs, natural fiber carpets are biodegradable so they create less wasteBeing creative helps in a big way as we can avoid having event-management people to cater to parties and avoid huge bills to be paid to them. Paper –bags, simple wall-hangings made of paper, recycled waste can be put to use for decorative purposes.  In these fields, originality is considered to be a sufficient condition for creativity, unlike other fields where both originality and appropriateness are necessary. Within the different modes of artistic expression, one can postulate a continuum extending from "interpretation" to "innovation". And turning  your favourite hobby or craft into a profitable part-time business is handy.If you can create something that's special or out of the ordinary, you could soon find yourself in demand, such as supplying unique or customised Birthday, Christmas or Wedding gifts. Craft sales have become more popular with the advent of ebay - it's easier than ever to sell to anywhere in the world, so no matter how unusual your product is, you're likely to find someone somewhere wants to buy it!If you're already experienced in a particular craft or hobby, you'll find it much easier to turn it into a money-making small business, plus you get paid for something that you're already doing for enjoyment and fun.Embroidery can be used for decorating cushions, clothes and soft furnishings, with a popular earner being adding value to plain items with the addition of appliqué or embroidered designs. Embroidery skills can be used to personalise gift items, or to embellish simple clothes and give them a unique look. There are lots of resources online for the home embroiderer which cover sewing tips, techniques

Batik and Tie Dyeing as an art-This century old craft is basically a technique where you put wax on fabric, silk, cotton, wool, linen, muslin, paper or even wood and ceramics where you don't want the colour to go and then dye the item. Synthetic fibres are not suitable as they cannot hold dye sufficiently. For more elaborate designs this technique is repeated using different dyes. The wax is then removed. It is a good idea to learn this craft technique in classes or a craft workshop.Tie-dye can be used for clothing (not just retro 70s T shirts), accessories, hangings, soft furnishings .Another piece of art would  would be calligraphy-Even in the age of desktop publishing, there is a steady demand for the work of the calligrapher. Despite the ready availability of computer created graphics, there is a requirement for hand-drawn items, such as presentation and commemorative scrolls and certificates, awards, greetings cards, wedding, christening and party invitations, business cards and books. Advertise your skills locally with cards in shops, ads in local papers,

Also try creating home-made candles for special occasions, or simply creating a special ambience - filling your home with a beautiful fragrance. Scented candles have really caught on over the past few years, and people don't mind paying a little extra for quality hand-made items.Aromatherapy candles containing essential oils are very popular and can promote an improved feeling of wellbeing with calming, uplifting, energising and relaxing scents using natural ingredients, such as: lavender, rose, geranium, cinnamon, patchouli and sandalwood. Essential oils are more expensive than basic fragrance oil, but if you have decided to make quality scented candles they will give you a good result and will command a higher price.
Taking a class in candle making before you start is highly recommended, for your own safety and to perfect your technique. There are lots of sites offering free tutorials, forums and advice.

Ceramics and Potttery,this encompasses everything from planters to plates, if you can produce eye-catching and attractive designs, you've got it made. Ceramics is one of those things that everyone thinks they can do but very few can do really well.Sculptures can sell for hundreds, but creating useful one-off plates, bowls and vases can be a good earner. You can create cups and bowls on a wheel, or hand model them before firing in a kiln.There are a wide variety of electric and and mains or propane gas-fired kilns available for the hobbyist, but it's essential that you do some research before you buy so that you get one that's suitable for your needsThe easy one would be Card-making where home-made cards say so much more personally than the manufactured variety. Offer customised cards with pictures, calligraphy, scents, sounds or a local interest. You could also make custom scrap books for birthdays, anniversaries and retirements etc - a well-presented scrap book makes a really special present. With the internet it is now much easier to get reasonably priced quality supplies for card making at home, such as unusual paper, stickers, beads, feathers, ribbons, decoupage, gems and other embellishments 

Caricatures, Cartoons, Drawing and Painting lovers  If you have the artistic ability, then creating caricatures can be a good earner. If you live near somewhere with a good footfall of potential customers, you can set up shop and wait for the customers to arrive. These days you can also work off photographs sent via email or post. Don't forget to do some pictures of famous people first so your potential customers can see what they're getting.Drawing and painting local attractions and beauty spots can be popular in tourist areas. Talk to local cafes, restuarants, pubs and craft and souvenir shops about displaying your work, and selling on commission on a sale-or-return basis.Another one is Someone who has been artist all his or her life does not see being an artist the same way than someone who is just becoming aware that being an artist is a possibility.

In the end all artists are unique individuals and each of them has a different idea of what an artist is.

DEKNI - CIRAGAL

Dekhni Dance Goa is a form of a Devdasi dance performed by women in temples and social ceremonies. Dekhni is a semi classical Goan dance form. Dekhni represents mixture of Indian melody and Western rhythm, performed by girls adorned in Indian dress. It is a song cum dance popular in Goa. The word 'Dekhni' means 'bewitching beauty' in Konkani language. It is performed exclusively by women-folk to the beat of the Ghumat, a folk drum. Dekhni Dance usually enacts the life of a Devdasi girl meaning servant of God. Their job is to perform dance in temples and social ceremonies like weddings. One of the popular Dekhni songs is Hanv Saiba Poltodi Vetam by Carlos Eugenio Ferreira.

The theme is of a Devdasi girl who comes to a riverbank to take a ferry to reach the other side where she has an appointment to dance in a wedding. She requests the boatman to take her to the other side of the river. The boatman rejects and says as the water id rough it would be unsafe to travel. The Devdasi keeps requesting him and is even ready to offer him her golden earring for taking her across urgently. So the dancers dance for the boatman and this time he ferries them across the river.

The dance is set in combination of western rhythms and Indian melody. The performance becomes graceful by the conversation between the girl and the boatman in the form of a lilting song. The dancers carry pantis which are small clay lamps with a wick floating in oil or even artis. Only two or three dekhni songs that were composed and scored a long time ago are still existent.

This dance is much performed throughout Goa.

WESTERN DANCE GAINS IMPORTANCE IN GOA - DIONNE

The state of Goa is rich in culture and heritage, and art - especially performing art in Goa - in a unique feature of the state. Though all these forms fall under the wide classification of dance, drama and music, yet the Dance in Goa has a distinct Goan flavor and can be easily be distinguished from those of the other states. Dance is a type of art that generally involves movement of the body, often rhythmic and to music. It is performed in many cultures as a form of emotional expression, social interaction, or exercise, in a spiritual or performance setting, and is sometimes used to express ideas or tell a story.

Many youngsters have deviated from their studies to cultivate their passion for dance.The famous dance sports of Goa by Dr.Flossy and Martin trains students wherein it sets the mark for these youth as they discover their talent .Dr. Martin makes every effort to learn, practice and teach with perfection authentic ballroom dancing, all this between his work and his family. He hopes that in future Goans will dance the International Style of ballroom, the authentic ballroom and that Goa will always be National champions. The Sports Authority of Goa needs to recognize this achievement and encourage team Goa financially .We also have Jason and Sylvia ,the x-tremers dancing schools through which new choreographers emerge. Lately schools too have been training their students to evolve as budding artists and even in Indian styles .Many students go for regular classes and participate in various competitions within the state and all India .Many have brought laurels to our little state and rising to the level of the West in Ballroom,Chacha-cha,Tango,Jive,Salsa. Of late Goa Trance has also made an impact in the international music circles. The music is so much in demand in parties that they are now called the trance parties. 

The most significant part about the Dance in Goa is the fact that it colorfully illustrates the unity in diversity of Goan heritage

CIRAGAL TALKS ABOUT FUGDI AND MANDO

Fugdi is a Goan folkdance performed by women in the Konkan region. These dances are performed in many Hindu religious festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi and religious occasions. Fugdi is an art form that can be traced to cultural traditions of Goa.

Fugdi is usually performed in the month of Bhadrapada the women sing and dance. Fugdi has two major variations; it is danced in a circle or by rows of dancers. In the villages they have a dance in a circle but forest settlements have it in rows. The dance is performed by enacting few fixed steps and hand laps. The dance begins with invocation to Hindu Gods. The pace is slow in the beginning but soon gains momentum finally reaching climax. The dance is not accompanied by any instrument. Fugdi songs are innumerable and the songs relate Puranic stories, family life, complaints, rivalries or people. The dancers blow air through the mouth at maximum pace. This sounds as 'FOO' hence the name Fugdi is kept.

There are diffrent types of Fugdi. Kalashi Fugdi is performed before Goddess Lakshmi during the vrata. This form of dance is performed to break the routine work of fetching water from long distances. The dance is not accompanied by any songs. The women would carry the large vessels called kalashi or and blow into them rhythmically as they spin around. Katti Fugdi is another popular form, performed with coconut shells in their hands. Altogether twenty-seven types of fugdi have been found in Goa so far.

Mando or Manddo is a musical form that evolved during the 19th and 20th century among Goan Catholics of Goa. It represents the meeting point of Indian and western musical traditions. The music has elements of both Indian and western culture. The males wear formal coats, showing Portuguese influence, while females wear a unique Indian costume torhop-baz worn during the mando dance was of velvet or silk, red, blue or green in colour, embroidered with gold threads. A white or blue shawl was worn. The socks had to be white and the slippers ornamented. This was all graced with a fan, which enhanced the lady's mood with a charm during the dance.Now a days mandos are highlighted with their dance respective of their song. The plural of manddo in Konkani is mande.The major theme of mandos is love, the minor ones being historical narratives, grievance against exploitation and social injustice, and political resistance during the Portuguese presence in Goa.

The dialect used in the classical mandos is Salcete, particularly as spoken in the villages of Benaulim, Curtorim,Loutolim, Chinchinim, Assolna, Betul, Velim, Cuncolim, Navelim and Raia where most of them originated. It is the most musical of the Konkani dialects. One of the characteristics of this dialect is that words are stretched out in pronunciation with the addition of an extra vowel sound either in the middle of the words or at the end. Thus the word dista is lengthened to disota and sanddlear into sanddilear. The possessive pronouns in the mando have the Salcete form, as tugel´lem for tujem, mugel´lem for mujem or mojem. Shorter forms are derived when the music needs to cut off a syllable, e.g. tuj´ kodden (koddem) instead of tuje koddem and mak´ naka instead of maka naka. Not only the phonetics correspond to the Salcete dialect but also words like masoli (masli) for “fish” instead of nishtem, e.g. “Dongrari fulo nam, doriant masli pun nam”. The Brahmins address a girl or a woman with “rê” instead of “gô” and use the pronoun “ti” instead of “tem”.

The mando is mostly a monologue, in the first person singular or plural, except for the historical narratives. In some mandos, however, one person addresses another, who in turn replies. Singing is accompanied by gentle turning sideways to the rhythm, thus creating both a visual and auditory performance.