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Teenage boy from Mumbai slum dances way to NY ballet school


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The son of a welder from this city's slums had a dream few Indians dared to dream — to dance with the New York City Ballet.

 

In a few months, that dream may be a little bit closer as 15-year-old Amiruddin Shah begins four years of training at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre's Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School.

 

"I never thought I would become a ballet dancer," Shah said, though he knew from the age of 6 that he loved to move with music. "India is not on the ballet map, and I want to take India to an even higher level."

 

Shah began studying ballet less than three years ago when Israeli-American instructor Yehuda Maor was invited by the Danceworx Academy to teach in India — a country with no special ballet academies.

 

Maor happened to catch Shah doing cartwheels and backflips as part of the Danceworx jazz and contemporary dance program for underprivileged students.

 

"I had no idea about ballet," Shah recalled. He had been dancing freestyle whenever he got the chance — sometimes he was invited to weddings to perform, sometimes he just goofed around with friends.

 

Maor was impressed with how Shah moved and asked to see the bottom of Shah's feet. He discovered the boy had perfect arches for ballet and urged him to train.

 

Within 2 ? years, Shah had nailed his pointe, pirouette and arabesque, "which is unheard of," Maor said.

 

"I knew I had found a diamond in a pile of rocks," said the teacher, acknowledging that his pupil now "needs to be challenged" by more teachers. Maor bought Shah ballet shoes and dance clothes and helped him and another young dancer, 21-year-old Manish Chauhan, win scholarships in June to New York's Joffrey Ballet School. But they could not secure U.S. visas in time.

 

Shah and Chauhan were then offered scholarships at the Oregon Ballet Theater starting in December. Shah attended for three months, while Chauhan is still training in Portland.

 

Now, Shah is trying to raise funds for four years of travel and tuition with the American Ballet Theatre in New York. They have enough for his first year, beginning in August, but have set up a website to accept donations for three more years in the U.S.

 

Shah said he is eager to stay in a dormitory and "be in a proper ballet school."

 

"I am so excited, but slightly scared, too," said Shah, who speaks basic English but used Hindi in an interview with The Associated Press. "How would I interact with people? New York is very crowded."

 

One day, he hopes to be a principal dancer in the New York Ballet.

 

And eventually, he said, "I want to teach other children who cannot afford to pay for dance."

 

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The guy is @DKT27 : for this reason he had not time to visit the forums lately.....:P

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1 hour ago, Recruit said:

The guy is @DKT27 : for this reason he had not time to visit the forums lately.....:P

 

Didn't know he could dance xD

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3 hours ago, adi said:

The son of a welder from this city's slums had a dream few Indians dared to dream — to dance with the New York City Ballet.

 

In a few months, that dream may be a little bit closer as 15-year-old Amiruddin Shah begins four years of training at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre's Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School.

 

"I never thought I would become a ballet dancer," Shah said, though he knew from the age of 6 that he loved to move with music. "India is not on the ballet map, and I want to take India to an even higher level."

 

Shah began studying ballet less than three years ago when Israeli-American instructor Yehuda Maor was invited by the Danceworx Academy to teach in India — a country with no special ballet academies.

 

Maor happened to catch Shah doing cartwheels and backflips as part of the Danceworx jazz and contemporary dance program for underprivileged students.

 

"I had no idea about ballet," Shah recalled. He had been dancing freestyle whenever he got the chance — sometimes he was invited to weddings to perform, sometimes he just goofed around with friends.

 

Maor was impressed with how Shah moved and asked to see the bottom of Shah's feet. He discovered the boy had perfect arches for ballet and urged him to train.

 

Within 2 ? years, Shah had nailed his pointe, pirouette and arabesque, "which is unheard of," Maor said.

 

"I knew I had found a diamond in a pile of rocks," said the teacher, acknowledging that his pupil now "needs to be challenged" by more teachers. Maor bought Shah ballet shoes and dance clothes and helped him and another young dancer, 21-year-old Manish Chauhan, win scholarships in June to New York's Joffrey Ballet School. But they could not secure U.S. visas in time.

 

Shah and Chauhan were then offered scholarships at the Oregon Ballet Theater starting in December. Shah attended for three months, while Chauhan is still training in Portland.

 

Now, Shah is trying to raise funds for four years of travel and tuition with the American Ballet Theatre in New York. They have enough for his first year, beginning in August, but have set up a website to accept donations for three more years in the U.S.

 

Shah said he is eager to stay in a dormitory and "be in a proper ballet school."

 

"I am so excited, but slightly scared, too," said Shah, who speaks basic English but used Hindi in an interview with The Associated Press. "How would I interact with people? New York is very crowded."

 

One day, he hopes to be a principal dancer in the New York Ballet.

 

And eventually, he said, "I want to teach other children who cannot afford to pay for dance."

 

< Here >

This boy should be an example of the saying "if you can dream it you can make it".

 

May all his dreams come true.

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1 hour ago, vitorio said:

... an example of the saying "if you can dream it you can make it".

... May all [.] dreams come true.

Contemplate, please, only if you so wish:

 

"... After [Gampopa] had crossed the water and reached the far bank, Milarepa called him back and said, “After all, you are my best disciple. If I do not give this teaching to you, to whom else should I give it?”

Gampopa was filled with joy and prostrated himself over and over again, expecting a very sublime and outstanding instruction.

Then, Milarepa turned around and, lifting his clothes, showed Gampopa his backside. It was covered with innumerable scars from meditating sitting on rocks for so long. He said, “Look, my son. This is my final and most secret instruction!” 

 

And (Kabir):

 

[श्रम से ही सब कुछ होत है, बिन श्रम मिले कुछ नाही |
सीधे ऊँगली घी जमो, कबसू निकसे नाही ||]

All happens with effort. Nothing without effort.

Frozen Ghee (purified butter) cannot be taken out with a straight finger.

 

Enjoy making the Right Effort!   :flowers:

 

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On 24/6/2017 at 8:17 PM, Recruit said:

The guy is @DKT27 : for this reason he had not time to visit the forums lately.....:P

 

On 24/6/2017 at 9:52 PM, saeed_dc said:

 

Didn't know he could dance xD

 

My experiment with it started and completed at the age of 5 when I did it in front of hundreds, since then I have found that watching it is more easy than doing it. :P

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On 27/06/2017 at 9:58 AM, DKT27 said:

My experiment with it started and completed at the age of 5 when I did it in front of hundreds, since then I have found that watching it is more easy than doing it.

you so modest give us a twirl

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