As a part of Activity, I participated in Garba fest on Friday, October 11th held in school. The event was from 4:00 PM to 6:15 PM and it’s safe to say I tried to make the most of every second. As soon as I got ready in my traditional attire, which I love because clothes have a way of bringing me closer to my culture, I immediately started to do garba, starting out with the easy dances to warm me up. During the almost 2 and a half hours, I tried to remain in the inner circle where it felt most energetic and we were doing the more difficult steps. These include ‘Dakla’ and the 32 step dance, which I personally enjoy the most and which take up most of my energy, hence I often take small breaks in between so I can maintain an effective performance. Along with garba, we danced various other traditional dances that we usually do in Indian festivities like ‘Panjawala’ and many others, which are one of my favourite parts since they involve collaboration and simple choreography that I never get physically or emotionally tired of doing repetitively. In the end, after endless rounds of garba, dakla and others, we ended the night with a half hour or so of DJ where I had loads of fun with my friends, dancing to Bollywood songs.
LO1 Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth
I identified strengths and areas for growth in my dancing. I excelled in staying energized and actively participating, especially in complex steps like the 32-step dance. These moves are challenging, and I realized that my ability to sustain energy throughout the dance can be improved, as I took small breaks to maintain performance. On the other hand, I enjoyed dances like ‘Dakla,’ which highlight my strength in collaboration and repetitive choreography, though it took some time for me to remember the steps and move in unison with everyone else. Moving forward, I aim to improve my endurance to perform without so many breaks and be able to match everyone’s rhythm quickly and effeciently.
LO 5 Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively
Teamwork and effective collaboration was key when hundreds (approximately 300) of people are all dancing together in a fixed space. One has to learn how to accommodate for everyone and adapt to changing positions, dances and music. Working with others has generally been very easy for me since I know how to adapt and understand the perspectives of others, this is why I was able to easily work with other people in the fest.
Teamwork, at least for me, was very important because it ensured synchronization and coordination so that everyone’s steps are aligned in a beautiful rhythmic movement. For me, there was a sense of unity and collaboration, which enhanced the overall energy and enjoyment of the fest for everyone involved.
Ultimately, this experience allowed me to stay active while embracing my cultural heritage. Participating in such a physically demanding activity, I felt accomplished in maintaining my energy throughout the fast-paced songs and tackling the more challenging steps in the inner circle. Although I initially struggled with some movements, I was able to quickly adapt and improve, gaining a sense of personal growth and resilience through the physical activity and effort involved.
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