the VICTORY ARTS FOUNDATION
The VICTORY Arts Foundation was founded in India in 2004 by Indian choreographer Shiamak Davar. "Have Spirit. Will Triumph." is the slogan the foundation goes by, and those involved believe it to mean that dance encompasses absolute freedom.
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VICTORY works to make dance accessible to people of all walks of life. In India, the Foundation works with street kids, juvenile prison inmates, HIV-affected people, and children of sex workers among many other groups.
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In 2009, the VICTORY Arts Foundation Canada was established in North Vancouver. It runs dance classes for people of all developmental and physical abilities across the Lower Mainland.
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Students Ashley, Nick, Danielle and Gallagher from the North Shore ConneXions Society at a workshop with VICTORY Director Suragini Ravindran.
Many VICTORY students from the North Shore ConneXions Society live with Down Syndrome. The students are proud of the fact that they live happy, healthy, busy lives with jobs, hobbies and social lives just like everyone else -- and dance plays a big part.
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Danielle Juilfs, for example, has won gold medals for Canada in the Special Olympics for rhythmic gymnastics. She says dance helps her with her rhythmic gymnastics by building her balance -- but more than balance and technical skills, she talks about the passion she learns in dance.
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"You know when people are screaming in the audience, and clapping, what does that feel like?" asks Sura, her instructor.
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Danielle replies, "Joy."
That passion has become a dream for some students: Nick Mascott and Gallagher Stevens are determined to turn their hobby into a career and become professional dance teachers, like their beloved Sura.
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In fact, when Sura asks Nick what it feels like to be onstage, with lights shining in his face and people screaming his name, Nick responds in the most heartwarming of ways:
"It makes my sweet dreams come true. And some day, one day, I wanna be a dance instructor. Like you guys."
Nick onstage at Shiamak's Winter Funk 2015, with his instructor Sura cheering him on. / Shiamak Vancouver
Suragini Ravindran is one of the managers of VICTORY Canada, and she is as determined as Nick and Gal to make their dream come true. In fact, she says, "the ball has already begun rolling. Nick and Gal have come out to a lot of events in the community with me [to assist me] and they're always a super-hit with all the dancers and students that come there."
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She's running a small workshop with the students right now, getting them ready for the VICTORY Ball -- a gala event planned to raise funds so that VICTORY can expand its classes all around the Lower Mainland. The students are thrilled that they get to perform at an event that's all about them.
Sura asks them each to choreograph their own step and teach it to the others. Danielle walks to the front and demonstrates her step, pointing to her left and telling the others to go right -- and Sura pounces.
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"I like that you're saying 'right', but you're actually pointing to your left. Why did you do that?"
Danielle pauses, unsure, and hastily corrects herself, but Sura jumps back in.
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"No no, you did the absolute right thing. Because when the teacher stands there, you are being our mirror. You're mirroring it for your students. Did you guys notice that? Great job, Danielle!"
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Sura speaks with passion and pride when asked about her students. She describes them each, listing their best qualities and talents; Ashley is always dedicated, even when her knees hurt her; Danielle has an incredible way of blending her rhythmic gymnastics and dancing talents together to "create something magical when she performs"; she says there's never a dull moment with Gal around, thanks to his unceasing positivity and his "let's do this" attitude.
Nick, she says, is always in control of how he dances, never missing an opportunity to help his friends out. In fact, Sura asks him who his favourite dancer in the world is. He can name any Bollywood star who he loves watching dance, she says.
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"Well, I can think of a few," Nick replies. "I like Gallagher, I like my girlfriend [Ashley], I like Danielle, of course... I like all my friends, all my dance instructors, and I like you."
Sura and her dancing have become such a major part of the students' lives that they can't fathom a life without it. She asks them, what would you do if you couldn't have dance class? Nick says he'd practice, practice and practice his dance homework and Gal says he'd do his own Bollywood in his place.
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And at the end of the day, what does dance really, truly make them feel?
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"Happy, and proud. And actually, I feel totally free," says Nick.
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In his case, at least, it seems that VICTORY's slogan has worked.
The VICTORY Dance Team onstage at the Times of India Film Awards in Vancouver in 2013, where they danced alongside the biggest stars of Bollywood including Shahrukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai. / Aziz Dhamani and Shiamak Vancouver
