My performance during Raqs Britannia festival in Sheffield. It's Tribal fusion belly dance strongly influenced by indian dances. The idea of this performance is to show mood and text of the song (which is Laaga Chunari Main Daag from movie of the same title - the song mixes an old, semi-classical tune with modern, electronic touch). 'Laaga chunari main daag' means 'my veil is stained' . It's a metaphor of woman's lost honour.
here go the lyrics (found in the internet) :
manvaa me.n mere aa.ndhii hai uTHii
(A whirlwind has risen out of my assent)
aur stabdh khaRii huu.n mai.n
(and I've stood, stunned.)
saa.nso.n me.n baa.ndh apnii hii saa.ns
(My breath mingled into another's breath
nishabd khaRii huu.n mai.n
(speechless, I've stood.)
duniyaa se jiitii jiitii khud se haarii
(I won the world over, but I was defeated by myself.)
bas dhvast khaRii huu.n mai.n
(My power shattered, I've stood.)
aa'inaa mai.n aur aks mai.n
(I am the mirror and I am the reflection.)
mad mast khaRii huu.n mai.n
(Frenzied, intoxicated, I've stood.)
laagaa chunarii me.n daag chupaa'uu.n kaise
(The veil got stained; how am I to hide it?)
laagaa chunarii me.n daag
(My veil is stained.)
chunarii me.n daag chupaa'uu.n kaise ghar jaa'uu.n kaise
(How am I to hide the stain on my veil, how am I to go home?)
laagaa chunarii me.n daag
(My veil is stained.)
jham jham jham jham jhamjawaat
(Shimmering, sparkling and glittering.)
a.ntar me.n gu.nje diwas raat
(The echo differs by day and by night.)
ek shuunya shuunya kapTii vishaal
(One zero zero, a huge deceit.)
maayaa kaa madhyam mantra jaal
(Amidst the riches, a net of prayers.)
man kii dashaa se laRtii mai.n bhiRtii
(I fought and struggled with the state of my soul.)
vishwast khaRii huu.n mai.n
(I have stood, to be counted on.)
merii laaj mai.n huu.n chunar bhii mai.n huu.n
(I am my shame; I am also my veil.)
chunar pe daag bhii mai.n
(I am the stain on the veil.)
ho ga'ii mailii morii chunariyaa
(My veil has become dirty,)
kore badan sii korii chunariyaa
(the veil that was as untouched as my body.)
ho ga'ii mailii morii chunariyaa
(My veil has become dirty,)
kore badan sii korii chunariyaa
(the veil that was as pure as my body.)
haa.n jaake baabul se nazare.n milaa'uu.n kaise
(Yes, having come, how will I look into my father's eyes?)
ghar jaa'uu.n kaise
(How will I go home?)
laagaa chunarii me.n daag chupaa'uu.n kaise
(My veil got stained; how am I to hide it?)
laagaa chunarii me.n daag chupaa'uu.n kaise
(My veil got stained; how am I to hide it?)
mai.n dhvast dhvast mai.n naSHT past
(I am wretched and devastated; I am ruined and destroyed.)
mai.n saral viral mai.n ati vishiSHTa
(I am simple, I am precious; I am very special.)
mai.n shyaam shwet badal me.n ret
(I am Dark and Fair, I am rippling sand.)
nirjhar sii jhaRii huu.n mai.n
(I am the incessant rain that won't start to pour down.)
aa.ndhiyarii raat diipak mai.n battii
(A whirlwind night, I am a shining lamp.)
swapnil sii khaRii huu.n mai.n
(I have stood, dazed.)
kaa.nchan kii kaayaa apnaa hii saayaa
(A body made of glass, I am a shadow of my own self.)
bas khud se Darii huu.n mai.n
(I have been afraid only of myself.)
lakRii me.n giitii thoRii siilii siilii
(Singing in the firewood; [my body] somewhat covered [by it].)
tham tham ke jalii huu.n mai.n
(The fire ceasing from time to time, I have burned on and on.)
mai.n maayaa maayaa mai.n chhaayaa chhaayaa
(I am an illusion, I am a shadow.)
aatmaa aur kaayaa mai.n
(I am the soul and the body.)
nistabdh khaRii huu.n mai.n
(I have stood, stupefied.)
nishabd khaRii huu.n mai.n
(I have stood, speechless.)
vishvast khaRii huu.n mai.n
(I have stood, reliable.)
laagaa chunarii me.n daag
(The veil got stained.)
sarvatra khaRii huu.n mai.n
(I have stood everywhere.)
laagaa chunarii me.n daag
(The veil got stained.)
sarvatra khaRii huu.n mai.n
(I have stood here, there and everywhere.)
It was actually my first 'serious' performance abroad, and it was really stressful...but it's still a nice experience.
