Bollywood Part Three

I hate to admit it but I actually had fun last night at Bollywood class. The instructor apparently knows my name too. She asked if I was going to keep with this class. I said I wasn't sure. But the song we're learning now, Chaiyya Chaiyya (from Dil Se), is really fun. And I actually remembered the steps this time. So I'm torn...I could just buy another 4 pack of classes for $40, and go the next couple of times and then attend again after the new year. Because classes are good for a year from the date of purchase. And I'd actually like to try the Bhangra class but I can't do it because I don't get off of work till 5:30, and class starts at 5:15, and I feel guilty asking my boss to leave early on those days just for a dance class. A paycheck is much more important.

But back to last night's festivities. After we learned the first part of the song, we gathered around and listened to our instructor tell us about Diwali, and background of it. She also showed us a tray of stuff on there and their significance. She had two figures on it, a little container filled with rice, and other with some red stuff, and a candle. She showed us the blessing that they traditionally do which includes dipping your ring finger in the red stuff and then putting a dot on your forehead and then adding rice to your dot and then you take your hands and wave the fire towards you as a blessing for the new year. I was completely fascinated by this and took part in it. It was great to be apart of such a thing, even if I'm not Indian. And I think I appreciated it even more because I majored in Cultural Anthropology, so I was totally loving that aspect of this whole ritual too.


After the blessing, she gave us each our own deepa, which is a small pot that you put oil in and then a wick and then light. She even let us keep them! (Image is courtesy of Wikipedia) How sweet of her! She explained that during Diwali, it's ritual to light these. Supposedly, the brighter your house is the more apt you are to receive the gods' blessing. We filled our deepas with mustard seed oil, and put in a little cotton ball-looking wick, and then lit them. She also added that many people gamble on Diwali because they want to make money for their family and for the new year. Sounds fun!

Once we lit our deepas, the entire class went outside in the parking lot and lit both American and Indian sparklers and danced around. When we came inside, the instructor laid out special treats that she had shipped from a store in Queens, NY. Again, she told us what they were called, but I forget. The one I tried was a ball size of dough, yellow, and had cucumber seeds, crushed up nuts, and sugar and flour in it. There was one that was made from chick peas and cashews, and another that had saffron in it. I saved half of my treat and gave it to M for her to try. It was just wayyy to sugary to eat it all at once! And I learned that one of the girls in my class, she studied abroad in India for a semester. No wonder she's like bffs with the instructor.

Overall, it was a great time. I wish every class was like this!

Diwali

I have my last Bollywood class tonight. Apparently we're going to be dancing around and eating candy tonight to celebrate Diwali. Wikipedia's definition is written below.

Diwali (or Deepavali) is a major Hindu holiday, and a significant festival in Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism. ^[3] Many legends are associated with Diwali. Today it is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs across the globe as the "Festival of Lights," where the lights or lamps signify victory of good over the evil within every human being. Diwali is celebrated on the new moon day (approx fifteenth day) of the month Kartika.

Last night on my way home from King Soopers, I finally went to the Indian store I had found via Google. Turns out they had Hindi movies! While of course they were pirated, I didn't mind paying $2 a piece. I got three, all recommended by the clerk--Hello, which is apparently a spin off of Bruce Almighty; Love Story 2050, which seems like a Matrix type movie--futuristic at least; and Dhaamal, which is apparently a comedy and really funny. Hopefully I will get to watch one or all of them soon and let you know what I thought of them. Now that I know they have movies, I want to go back and get some of the ones that we danced to in my Bollywood class.

Bollywood part two

Bollywood class last night was good--we finished learning the choreography to the 7 minute song. But before class, an awkward exchange took place between me and the instructor.

Class is supposed to start at 6:15, and I don't like being late, I like to be early. So I got out of my car at like 6:10, only to find that the door to the studio was locked. So of course I rolled my eyes and sighed and then walked away. Well, there was a car parked in front of the door, and I thought the lady in the car was someone I had met in a previous class. But it turned out to be my instructor. She was on her Blackberry. She and I made eye contact and she held up her finger as to say 1 minute. I of course gave her space and walked away from her car and waited.

Her: (gets out of her car, acknowledges my presence) Oh hi!
Me: Hi
Her: Sorry about that I was just finishing up an e-mail
Me: Oh no problem, I didn't realize the studio was locked because everytime I've come here it's always unlocked.
Her: Yea, sorry, i was typing up an e-mail.
Me: Oh yea, no problem...I guess I must be early today because it was locked.
Her: I KNOW I WAS TYPING UP AN E-MAIL (and says this while giving me a death stare)
Me: Oh no problem.
Her: unlocks the door
Me: awkwardly walks in and stares at bulletin board of dance flyers until other people walk in the studio. Then listen to her talk to all the other attendees about her daughter.

I seriously didn't mean to make her mad or feel bad about typing up her e-mail. I'd like to think the reason why she gave me such attitude was because she might have had a long day or might be stressed out. It's better to give her the benefit of the doubt, right?

I was so happy to be done with the class last night. That is until I got an e-mail from my instructor today saying that I have one more class left. Figures--just my luck. I don't wanna go! I'm tempted to e-mail her back asking her to double check her records, but I don't want her to email me back with attitude. So I might just have to suck it up and go again for the last time. For realz.

Bollywood

Tonight is my last Bollywood class. No, the classes aren't over or anything. I've just run out of classes. I only signed up for a 4 class package, because I wasn't sure if I would like it enough to do more than that and I didn't really have $100 to blow. I have mixed feelings on this whole Bollywood class. On one hand, I like it because it's different. I love, love, love, to try new things. And my college roommate Tina and I used to watch Hindi movies together freshmen year. So maybe I am doing this to remind me of those good times. And the songs have been fun, and I want to rent one soon. Not sure if anyone knows wheres abouts in the Denver-ish areas I can do that?

But I don't like the instructor. I used to dance but haven't in awhile. I guess I expected her to be more patient. But I feel like once you're on her good side, you stay there. And I haven't put in the effort to do so. So, I won't miss that part of Bollywood class. But I'll miss the music. At least there's always the website, and maybe I will go back and do more classes.

What should I try next?