Hillary Clinton to get a taste of City of Joy

KOLKATA: “Move faster and match your steps to the beats… That’s correct. Remember, there’s no room for error. We can’t afford to mess it up. Tomorrow, the world will be watching you perform.” Even as she shouted instructions to a band of seven girls who were busy practising their dance, Sohini Chakraborty looked a little anxious. She had reason to be tense, for her troupe will be taking the stage to welcome US secretary of state Hillary Clinton at the ICCR on Sunday.
It’s just a four-minute presentation that will be a part of the inaugural programme in honour of the former US first lady. And it has been rehearsed at least a dozen times over the last three days, she concedes. But Sohini — founder-director of NGO Kolkata Sanved — was still worried about getting it right.
“Our girls are survivors of trafficking who are now in the mainstream. It’s through dance that they have healed themselves and crawled back to normal life. I have told them that this is their chance to showcase their talent and share their inspiring story with a woman who represents power, equality and liberation. And that they should also draw inspiration from her success,” said Sohini, keeping an eye on the rehearsals at Kolkata Sanved’s Jodhpur Park office.
It was a busy Saturday morning for her and the dance troupe — Mehraj Khatun, Sabita Debnath, Srija Debnath, Jharna Naskar, Amina Khatun, Jhuma Das and Durga Madakar. They gathered at the Sanved office at 7 am and were ready to rehearse within the next 15 minutes. For almost two hours thereafter, they went through the steps and movements over and over again, till all of them were satisfied that it couldn’t be better. The girls even rehearsed the way they would be folding their hands to greet Hillary from the open space at ICCR where they are scheduled to perform.
“It has been hard work for all of us, but we have all been enjoying it immensely,” said Sohini. Sanved, she explained, uses dance movement therapy for psycho-social rehabilitation, something which the US secretary of state should be aware of. “I would love to tell her about our work and the girls if we get a chance,” she added.
Even if they don’t, just a glimpse of the “great lady” was motivation enough to put up a great show, said her troupe members. Some still in their teens and others in their early twenties, the group was all fired up for the big day. For all of them, it would be their first brush with a VIP. They have been practising like “women possessed”, said 20-year-old Mehraj Khatun. She hasn’t been able to sleep well ever since she came to know about the show, she said.
“We are determined to make it a memorable show, laced with passion and vigour. We shall put in everything that we have learnt from Sohini-didi all these years. After all, you don’t get to dance before Hillary Clinton every day. How many, in fact, can claim to have even seen her in flesh and blood. I wish I could shake hands with her tomorrow,” gushed Mehraj, a resident of Park Circus.
Sabita said she was excited about meeting someone whom she has admired for long. “In her photographs, she comes across as a strong-willed, intelligent, sensitive woman who is eager to reach out to everyone, particularly women. It would be great to be a part of such a big occasion and honestly, I am a tad nervous. But this is a big day and 30 years from now, I can tell my grandchildren about it,” smiled Sabita.
It has been an exhausting four days ever since they came to know about the show, she added. “First, we had to compress the recital from the original version of 30 minutes to just four. Then, we had to adjust according to the demands of the occasion. Our show will have a message and hopefully it will catch her attention. If possible, I would like to ask her if she liked it,” said Sabita.
Srija was more pragmatic. “Even if she nods in appreciation, it will be enough to keep us going. The idea is to get the message across and put up a decent show. It would indeed be nice if she flashes that warm, big smile of hers,” she said.
Aapne Aap Foundation, another NGO, will also meet Hillary along with a few NGO representatives from Kolkata. City-based Prantakatha is among them.