This entry is coming straight from my Travel Journal, after I got home last night.
I have had the most amazing birthday ever!
It was nice to wake up and open my cards and present from home, Shem text and I had a load of messages from friends on fb.
This morning teachers and students were coming up to me, shaking my hand, saying Congratulations or "Many happy returns of the day." Ashok gave me a Birthday card after asking Ruby's permission to do so - what a total sweetheart.
Rehearsals this morning were very thorough and a lot of hard work. But it was nice to see the kids wanting to practise againa and again and getting excited about performing.
Tonight went very well. The running order was:
CONTEMPORARY DANCE
SHINE
TAP
TOP OF THE WORLD
BASKETBALLERS
I was so proud of them all, Contemporary was perfect, they were spot on and their style was great.
Shine was hilarious! Our Hursh kept grabbing the mike, shouting the lyrics and the other two must have left their English minds at home cause it was all jibberish!It was adorably funny though and the dancers were brilliant, as they have been from the start.
My Tap routine was a shocker as it was announced one act early - I didn't even have my shoes on when they called me to the stage! Earlier on I had realised that Tap Shoes on the stone stage was a close second to fingernails on a blackboard, so guess what... I danced on this huge table, center stage! A little scary but I so enjoyed it! I've alwasy wanted to do a piece without music and everytime I paused the audience all clapped before I started off again.
Top of the World was great, especially considering we only finished this routine two days back. Elizabeth sang well.
And the basketball boys were perfect to bring something new to the place; I know most of the audience had never seen Tap live and I don't think many had seen Basketballs used in dance either. The boys confidence really shone through.
After a short, unplanned speech from us, the kids came onstage for their final bow and gave me a beautiful, big, chocolate "Happy Birthday Vikki" Cake, a necklace I'd seen weeks ago with Ruby and two certificates of thanks for Bryony and I for our time at the school and the sponsorship money. Jagu and Vundenar bought me a really cute orange and gold Indian style top too, which was sweet. Jagu's two nephews were born today, on my Birthday, too.
After our acts followed some surprsie performances in honour of my 19th and our last day at school. Jignesh and two other teachers performed an amazing Indian and Hip Hop clash which got the whole crowd going. And ten ladies from the Nursery (including our very own Wunderbar) performed a beautiful traditional and modern mix of Indian dance in their lovely costumes. Ruby enjoyed it so much she announced after their ten minute performance that they would all receive 5000 rupees each!
There was a belly dancer too and Brij - from our Contemporary group - had kept quiet that he was doing a surprise Michael Jackson style Indian routine by himself. What a star!
I recorded all the performances, it was such a great atmosphere.
Shanil and Sappy turned up towards the end with a bouquet of roses for me!
After the show the 100+ people from the audience joined the cast and special guests for food and our kids tried and tested our chocolate cornflake cakes.
We had some nice 'snaps' taken with the kids, Malay, Ashok, Ruby and Kirit, Raji, Vundenar, the Indian dancers, Sappy and Shanil and the school staff. So much was going on I had to phone home every few hours to give updates!
I really enjoyed the entire night and was still on a bit of an adrenaline rush when we got home and Ruby gave me a beautiful sparkling ankle bracelet - something I've wanted since our arrival here, can't wait to wear it back home and be reminded of a totally fantabulous night.
