India Update
India(2)
Dear Friends,
Happy New Year to you all!!!!
The final weeks in India were filled with so many wonderful events I could not relate them all to you. I had very limited email access so I opted to wait until I returned to the U.S. to do the final update.
We at Promethean Spark are sooooooo fortunate to have made such a strong bond with our sister NGO, Rising Star Outreach. Without them none of these programs or outreach would have been possible in India. They have provided housing, food, cars and drivers and numerous connections that have lead to strong programs for the leprosy affected youth in Chennai and surrounding areas. There are also thick silver linings on the dark cloud of cancellation of the tour I was supposed to be out on even now. Because "Tarzan" got canceled, I was able to extend my stay in India for 2 extra weeks making the 7 week trip become 9. This was also made possible by the generous donation of Gordon and Vickie Gibb (former principal and full time volunteers at the RSO school).
As I prepared to take the 2 1/2 hour trip into Chennai early one sunny December morning the 15 and 16 year old class all gathered around me tugging at my shirt begging me to stay. "We dance today? Dance Master. We must learn our dance. When do we dance?" I assured them that we would have class/rehearsal the following day and hopped in the car. Honking all along the way, my driver, Velu, skillfully navigated around the dogs, cows, potholes and children in the streets of the neighboring village of Thottanaval. He then continued to honk for no apparent reason the rest of the trip. They like to hear themselves honk. I sat in the back seat of the Sumo Jeep with one leg out each side window in a split, much to the amusement of Velu and our other passenger, Vijay whom we were dropping off along the way. I was stretching my legs and hips since I wasn't sure if I would get a chance to warm up once we arrived. Dancing for hours each day on concrete takes its toll on one's body and my lower back was feeling it, especially this day as there were more potholes than usual due to the aftermath of the storm the previous night.
We arrived 1 hour late to the College of Hotel Management and Culinary Arts where I was scheduled to be given a tour, lunch with Rabindran, the President and then present a lecture. The tour was a bit rushed and the delicious culinary artistry lay unfinished in front of me, destined never to reach my yearning taste buds as we were whisked off to the lecture hall. After a short presentation on "The Path to Mastery" my driver took me through the midday Chennai traffic; hot, dirty and slow as cooling molten lava. When you are late for an interview with The Times India and have another interview lined up immediately following the first with The Hindu and Vyshnavi, the Marketing Director of the Marriott Courtyard Hotel who set it all up is calling you every 5 minutes to tell you the photographer has to leave and the journalist is here waiting for you, chaotic traffic jams are harder to smile through. We were trying not to let the journalists run into each other which in the end we were able to pull off. A different day we also had the India Express do a feature article on Promethean Sparks' work, which have all since been published with less accuracy than I had expected. Once word got out what we are doing and that it is actually working, a number of people have been very excited about doing what they could to help the cause along, including some at the Marriott and some in the film and television world industry.
With the interviews going a bit overtime, I had to push back my meeting with the Bollywood/Collywood choreographer who had been dubbed "Johny Dance Master". They were very forgiving and informed me that running late is common for doing business in Chennai. Getting around the city is not easy for anyone. We arrived at his apartment 45 minutes from the Marriott and he graciously invited me up to meet his wife, daughter and mother who were all living with him. Backtracking for one second here, Johny was one of the judges on the Prabhu Dheva show I performed on as a guest star for Star Vijay Television. He is quite a well-known celebrity in Southern India. I was slated to start my session with the Villivakkam Leprosy Colony youth at 6pm and it was 5:30. Since I had to leave immediately in order to make it in time, with a refreshing cup of orange Fanta in hand I wasted no time. I boldly asked Johny, a celebrity I knew next to nothing about, if he would join me to the leprosy colony to see our programs in action. He thought for a few seconds, smiled with one half of his mouth and nodded in the affirmative. I could hardly believe what had just transpired. He quickly changed clothes and joined us in the car.
Upon arrival at the Villivakkam Colony Community Center where I was want to teach classes, that being the largest open room in the colony second only to the Catholic Church in the square where Mother Theresa had visited in 1984, the youth and children ran along side the jeep leaping and waving their enthusiastic welcome. I greeted the clamouring crowd and shook their hands until I spied Babu out of the corner of my eye. Babu is the director of the youth and children in the colony. He has taken on the responsibility himself and tries to run a summer camp for them each year. He was the first one to jump on organizing Promethean Spark programs for Villivakkam. What a blessing to have him on our team now. Once Johny Dance Master stepped out of the car and was recognized I relinquished my celebrity status to a true indigenous celebrity from the Indian Film Industry. I introduced
him to the gathering multitudes and a tangible excitement filled the air. Word began to spread down the street as it does in small
villages.
I motioned to Babu and he herded the crowd into the rectangular cement room with flourescent lights hanging in perfect rows except for the 2 danglers that gave the room a delapidated feel. The prize of the colony was on a table in the front corner of the room covered in a cloth of complicated Indian embroidery. It was their computer. This was the only computer in the whole colony or surrounding area for that matter. I have no idea how it came into their hands but through Rising Star a basic computer class will be starting there soon. Next to the computer was a pile of palm fronds drying out to be made into handbrooms, a chair and a smattering of empty paint cans. We pushed all this to the side as I set up my iPod and speaker dock, calling them to order; "Lines! Feet together!" They excitedly rushed to their spots.
Soon class was under way with Johny watching intently from the front of the room. As the class progressed, he saw how disciplined these unlikely candidates for dance were and how much we had to accomplished in merely 3 classes; he was visibly moved. At class end I gathered the students shaking each of their hands and having them look me straight in the eye and introduce themselves with confidence (part of the life skills training). They then sat around Johny and got a chance to ask
him questions. After a quick Q&A I announced, unbeknownst to Johny, that I only had one more class left before I was flying back to NYC and that I was going to talk to him about trying to keep the program going after I was gone. Cheers came from the 20 some odd youth seated cross-legged on the cement. Without missing a cue, Johny stood and in their local tongue, Tamil, announced that he would make sure the classes continued. He would send his assistants and upper level students to run the classes "thrice per week". Again, this time an elongated round of applause and cheering and shouting.I could not have been happier. What a day! 3 hours later we were weaving around potholes, honking at sleeping piles of puppies in the middle of the
street and zombie-like wandering cattle, arriving back at the RSO hostels well after dark. The children were all asleep on the tiny
bamboo mats laid across the concrete floor. The dogs howled as we entered the grounds which in turn crescendoed the jungle orchestra surrounding us. Sleep was deep and sweet that night.
Well, we worked extra hard with the students at RSO on the days I was there. We even held night rehearsals for some of the older groups. The results were astounding. The production we presented on Dec. 20th there on the land was truly miraculous. Even the office staff and journalists in attendance commented on how amazed they were at what the young people had accomplished--that their performances were beyond anything they could have imagined. Padma Venkatraman came all the way out (remember this school is in a very remote area) and sat in on the media interviews, gave a small welcome speech and watched the presentation. When she had to leave a bit early, she came to the front of the stage where I was organizing the next number, stopped the show
and in front of the 300+ villagers and leprosy patients that had gathered for the event she pulled me in and hugged me heartily
apologizing for leaving before the final number but that she was so very happy with what was happening with young people. This cemented her approval of the programs in all of their minds. Padma is basically royalty in their minds. Her presence and seal of approval cannot be overvalued.
For the grand finale we all sang "Love In Any Language" doing the chorus each time in Sign Language building the numbers on stage by 20-30 with each verse. Starting with the older youth and having them bring the next younger to the stage on each verse until finally culminating in 160+ children filling the stage signing and singing. "Love in any language, straight from the heart. Pulls us all together, never apart. Once we learn to speak it, all the world will hear.....Love in any language, fluently spoken here".
It was beautiful and joyous. Many of the children were in tears as they said good bye, knowing I would not be there when they returned from their Christmas Holiday. Mr. Vayanathayan (one of the school faculty), gave a long speech at the conclusion of the program in Tamil. I had no idea what he was saying and wanted to stop him since we had already had our big climax and final applause but I am glad I restrained. Apparently the whole 10 minute discourse was on the Promethean Spark programs and how they have helped the students to learn discipline, focus, concentration, has given them added physical strength, health and vigor, all the while building confidence and social skills in a way that they thoroughly enjoy. He spoke of how all of these qualities have made a difference in the classroom and has changed the lives of the children and the adults alike for the better. This I found out after the fact when the Office Manager asked me how I liked the concluding speech. He explained it to me and I stood before
him fighting back the tears, speechless.
Now that I am back to the rat-race of auditioning and networking in NYC, I can hardly believe it all really happened as I glance back at my other life on the other side of the world. It is almost like I have a double identity. Both Africa and India now have multiple ongoing Promethean Spark hubs. Something I thought would not happen until at least the 3rd trip. This was only the 2nd and the Lord has blessed us in great abundance. I don't claim to understand it but I know that when we put ourselves in alignment with what God wants, we are poised and positioned to have miracles bestowed daily. A way is opened, the
universe moves and our path is made clear. All we have to do is be where we are supposed to be with willing hearts and hands. If He knows He can trust us to do His will, He uses us as an instrument in His hands. I knew not beforehand what I was to do but I knew I would be shown if I moved forward with purpose. May we live 2009 with full energy of heart and do all in our power to make this world a better place in which to live. There is so much to do, I know that the efforts of one are just a drop in the vast ocean. But if we do not do what we can, the ocean will be one drop less. Our drop.
God Bless,
Light, Love and Laughter,
Shaun Parry
Founder and Director
Promethean Spark
Happy New Year to you all!!!!
The final weeks in India were filled with so many wonderful events I could not relate them all to you. I had very limited email access so I opted to wait until I returned to the U.S. to do the final update.
We at Promethean Spark are sooooooo fortunate to have made such a strong bond with our sister NGO, Rising Star Outreach. Without them none of these programs or outreach would have been possible in India. They have provided housing, food, cars and drivers and numerous connections that have lead to strong programs for the leprosy affected youth in Chennai and surrounding areas. There are also thick silver linings on the dark cloud of cancellation of the tour I was supposed to be out on even now. Because "Tarzan" got canceled, I was able to extend my stay in India for 2 extra weeks making the 7 week trip become 9. This was also made possible by the generous donation of Gordon and Vickie Gibb (former principal and full time volunteers at the RSO school).
As I prepared to take the 2 1/2 hour trip into Chennai early one sunny December morning the 15 and 16 year old class all gathered around me tugging at my shirt begging me to stay. "We dance today? Dance Master. We must learn our dance. When do we dance?" I assured them that we would have class/rehearsal the following day and hopped in the car. Honking all along the way, my driver, Velu, skillfully navigated around the dogs, cows, potholes and children in the streets of the neighboring village of Thottanaval. He then continued to honk for no apparent reason the rest of the trip. They like to hear themselves honk. I sat in the back seat of the Sumo Jeep with one leg out each side window in a split, much to the amusement of Velu and our other passenger, Vijay whom we were dropping off along the way. I was stretching my legs and hips since I wasn't sure if I would get a chance to warm up once we arrived. Dancing for hours each day on concrete takes its toll on one's body and my lower back was feeling it, especially this day as there were more potholes than usual due to the aftermath of the storm the previous night.
We arrived 1 hour late to the College of Hotel Management and Culinary Arts where I was scheduled to be given a tour, lunch with Rabindran, the President and then present a lecture. The tour was a bit rushed and the delicious culinary artistry lay unfinished in front of me, destined never to reach my yearning taste buds as we were whisked off to the lecture hall. After a short presentation on "The Path to Mastery" my driver took me through the midday Chennai traffic; hot, dirty and slow as cooling molten lava. When you are late for an interview with The Times India and have another interview lined up immediately following the first with The Hindu and Vyshnavi, the Marketing Director of the Marriott Courtyard Hotel who set it all up is calling you every 5 minutes to tell you the photographer has to leave and the journalist is here waiting for you, chaotic traffic jams are harder to smile through. We were trying not to let the journalists run into each other which in the end we were able to pull off. A different day we also had the India Express do a feature article on Promethean Sparks' work, which have all since been published with less accuracy than I had expected. Once word got out what we are doing and that it is actually working, a number of people have been very excited about doing what they could to help the cause along, including some at the Marriott and some in the film and television world industry.
With the interviews going a bit overtime, I had to push back my meeting with the Bollywood/Collywood choreographer who had been dubbed "Johny Dance Master". They were very forgiving and informed me that running late is common for doing business in Chennai. Getting around the city is not easy for anyone. We arrived at his apartment 45 minutes from the Marriott and he graciously invited me up to meet his wife, daughter and mother who were all living with him. Backtracking for one second here, Johny was one of the judges on the Prabhu Dheva show I performed on as a guest star for Star Vijay Television. He is quite a well-known celebrity in Southern India. I was slated to start my session with the Villivakkam Leprosy Colony youth at 6pm and it was 5:30. Since I had to leave immediately in order to make it in time, with a refreshing cup of orange Fanta in hand I wasted no time. I boldly asked Johny, a celebrity I knew next to nothing about, if he would join me to the leprosy colony to see our programs in action. He thought for a few seconds, smiled with one half of his mouth and nodded in the affirmative. I could hardly believe what had just transpired. He quickly changed clothes and joined us in the car.
Upon arrival at the Villivakkam Colony Community Center where I was want to teach classes, that being the largest open room in the colony second only to the Catholic Church in the square where Mother Theresa had visited in 1984, the youth and children ran along side the jeep leaping and waving their enthusiastic welcome. I greeted the clamouring crowd and shook their hands until I spied Babu out of the corner of my eye. Babu is the director of the youth and children in the colony. He has taken on the responsibility himself and tries to run a summer camp for them each year. He was the first one to jump on organizing Promethean Spark programs for Villivakkam. What a blessing to have him on our team now. Once Johny Dance Master stepped out of the car and was recognized I relinquished my celebrity status to a true indigenous celebrity from the Indian Film Industry. I introduced
him to the gathering multitudes and a tangible excitement filled the air. Word began to spread down the street as it does in small
villages.
I motioned to Babu and he herded the crowd into the rectangular cement room with flourescent lights hanging in perfect rows except for the 2 danglers that gave the room a delapidated feel. The prize of the colony was on a table in the front corner of the room covered in a cloth of complicated Indian embroidery. It was their computer. This was the only computer in the whole colony or surrounding area for that matter. I have no idea how it came into their hands but through Rising Star a basic computer class will be starting there soon. Next to the computer was a pile of palm fronds drying out to be made into handbrooms, a chair and a smattering of empty paint cans. We pushed all this to the side as I set up my iPod and speaker dock, calling them to order; "Lines! Feet together!" They excitedly rushed to their spots.
Soon class was under way with Johny watching intently from the front of the room. As the class progressed, he saw how disciplined these unlikely candidates for dance were and how much we had to accomplished in merely 3 classes; he was visibly moved. At class end I gathered the students shaking each of their hands and having them look me straight in the eye and introduce themselves with confidence (part of the life skills training). They then sat around Johny and got a chance to ask
him questions. After a quick Q&A I announced, unbeknownst to Johny, that I only had one more class left before I was flying back to NYC and that I was going to talk to him about trying to keep the program going after I was gone. Cheers came from the 20 some odd youth seated cross-legged on the cement. Without missing a cue, Johny stood and in their local tongue, Tamil, announced that he would make sure the classes continued. He would send his assistants and upper level students to run the classes "thrice per week". Again, this time an elongated round of applause and cheering and shouting.I could not have been happier. What a day! 3 hours later we were weaving around potholes, honking at sleeping piles of puppies in the middle of the
street and zombie-like wandering cattle, arriving back at the RSO hostels well after dark. The children were all asleep on the tiny
bamboo mats laid across the concrete floor. The dogs howled as we entered the grounds which in turn crescendoed the jungle orchestra surrounding us. Sleep was deep and sweet that night.
Well, we worked extra hard with the students at RSO on the days I was there. We even held night rehearsals for some of the older groups. The results were astounding. The production we presented on Dec. 20th there on the land was truly miraculous. Even the office staff and journalists in attendance commented on how amazed they were at what the young people had accomplished--that their performances were beyond anything they could have imagined. Padma Venkatraman came all the way out (remember this school is in a very remote area) and sat in on the media interviews, gave a small welcome speech and watched the presentation. When she had to leave a bit early, she came to the front of the stage where I was organizing the next number, stopped the show
and in front of the 300+ villagers and leprosy patients that had gathered for the event she pulled me in and hugged me heartily
apologizing for leaving before the final number but that she was so very happy with what was happening with young people. This cemented her approval of the programs in all of their minds. Padma is basically royalty in their minds. Her presence and seal of approval cannot be overvalued.
For the grand finale we all sang "Love In Any Language" doing the chorus each time in Sign Language building the numbers on stage by 20-30 with each verse. Starting with the older youth and having them bring the next younger to the stage on each verse until finally culminating in 160+ children filling the stage signing and singing. "Love in any language, straight from the heart. Pulls us all together, never apart. Once we learn to speak it, all the world will hear.....Love in any language, fluently spoken here".
It was beautiful and joyous. Many of the children were in tears as they said good bye, knowing I would not be there when they returned from their Christmas Holiday. Mr. Vayanathayan (one of the school faculty), gave a long speech at the conclusion of the program in Tamil. I had no idea what he was saying and wanted to stop him since we had already had our big climax and final applause but I am glad I restrained. Apparently the whole 10 minute discourse was on the Promethean Spark programs and how they have helped the students to learn discipline, focus, concentration, has given them added physical strength, health and vigor, all the while building confidence and social skills in a way that they thoroughly enjoy. He spoke of how all of these qualities have made a difference in the classroom and has changed the lives of the children and the adults alike for the better. This I found out after the fact when the Office Manager asked me how I liked the concluding speech. He explained it to me and I stood before
him fighting back the tears, speechless.
Now that I am back to the rat-race of auditioning and networking in NYC, I can hardly believe it all really happened as I glance back at my other life on the other side of the world. It is almost like I have a double identity. Both Africa and India now have multiple ongoing Promethean Spark hubs. Something I thought would not happen until at least the 3rd trip. This was only the 2nd and the Lord has blessed us in great abundance. I don't claim to understand it but I know that when we put ourselves in alignment with what God wants, we are poised and positioned to have miracles bestowed daily. A way is opened, the
universe moves and our path is made clear. All we have to do is be where we are supposed to be with willing hearts and hands. If He knows He can trust us to do His will, He uses us as an instrument in His hands. I knew not beforehand what I was to do but I knew I would be shown if I moved forward with purpose. May we live 2009 with full energy of heart and do all in our power to make this world a better place in which to live. There is so much to do, I know that the efforts of one are just a drop in the vast ocean. But if we do not do what we can, the ocean will be one drop less. Our drop.
God Bless,
Light, Love and Laughter,
Shaun Parry
Founder and Director
Promethean Spark
Promethean Spark lighting fires in hearts while disciplining body and mind
Villivakkam Colony President hugs Shaun and offers a homecooked "donut"
Johny Dance Master
Johny fans gathered for Q&A and pictures after class
Prince Ali Dance
A human wall of "mighty" Prince Ali's
Athletic Feats for the Male Dancers
I almost cut this part but the tenacious little tykes wouldn't give up 'til they got it
Indian Dance for the Girls
Although it was simple, the older girls were taught a dance based in classic Bharatanathayan style
Love in Any Language
The event finale saw every RSO student on the stage singing and signing
"Love in any language, straight from the heart, pulls us all together, never apart.
Once we learn to speak it, all the world will hear; Love in any Language
Fluently spoken here."