A few days ago, Koala Bear came home with a beautiful dress in her bag. There was no note, no information. Just a glittering dress in a wrapper with a marker written name that was close to, but not quite Koala Bear's name. We asked her what it was for and if it was someone else's. She explained that no, it was hers because "the tailor came to school to measure and made it for me." That prompted more questioning and as the night continued we found out that she was performing in a HUGE event called Incredible India. We had no idea. We were not even planning on going to the event!
A few quick emails out to dance instructors confirmed that she was, in fact, dancing and they gave details of where to have her. It would have been nice to have that information beforehand...but hey, at least they sent her home with a dress so we knew to ask questions! HAHA. This also gave us another reason to get some more sparkly clothes to wear!
We thought the event started at 1730 and we rushed over. But, of course we were the only ones there. It did not start officially for another 30 minutes and in Indian fashion, it really didn't start for another hour. That meant we had plenty of time to choose the best seats, explore the stage and meet some of the vendors selling their handmade crafts.
We watched them put on henna. Koala Bear was OK watching, but she had NO desire to have it put on her arm.
Backstage waiting for their turn to go on. Of course dance props become swords...why else have a stick, right?!
To say I was proud of this little girl is an understatement. She is very social, but she does not like attention drawn to her. We have known this since she was old enough to express herself. Yet, here she was shaking her little bottom to the rhythm of Bollywood music. She later told us that "once the music started, even with all the people, I was not nervous any more!" We all cheered and told her how much we loved it for the next several days we tried to re-enact the dance much to her laughter and annoyance that we were not even close to getting it right!
The guy in the middle has no idea who we are, but we know who he is...he is one of the two other Polynesians we know here in Mumbai...so he is kind of a hero to us--even if he doesn't know it!
Some of Lady Hiva's friends showing off their skills. Lady Hiva was not joining them for this event, but she will be joining the Bollywood dancers with her debut in a few weeks with a different group! (I will take photos, so you can see of course!) So India is pushing us all to try new things and learn to enjoy aspects of life we have never learned before.
This guy was making resin bracelets. It looks like a skill he has learned and been passed down from his family. He melts the resin over coals, the adds color in and rolls it until it becomes bracelet. We sat and watched him for a very long time so Koala Bear could get one. Lucky Dragon was VERY offended when he asked for one and the guy curtly told him "only for girls!" We then had to have some conversations about culture and gender roles because he was still confused as to why only girls could get them. Then a really cool teenager must have heard our conversation and gave Lucky Dragon hers with an almost non-committal, "It is too small for me anyway." I wish I knew who she was, or who her parents were. They raised an alright person in my eyes. She made his day!
