By Adity Choudhury
Sometimes, light shines through a small opening when least expected. Moving through the everyday-ness of life, cynicism steers us through the mundane.
In the age of reels, the ‘real’ plays hide-and-seek with our minds, scrolling through to ‘get through’ a rough patch.
Once in a while, a beautiful message changes the course of the day, making connectivity, a blessing, even if strangers go about their day in the city.
This story is about a 15-year-old Shillong boy, Pynshngainlang Kharbuli, a dancer, who can see with one eye. Under the careful guidance of Dapalei Stacy Warjri, certified Zumba dancer, fitness instructor and a nutritionist, he has mastered a few dance forms.
One cold February morning, her Instagram handle lit up with a performance, eloquently titled, “A Boy with one beautiful eye”. Mentioned alongside was a simple, “Read caption”.
With over 1,400 likes, it was clear… her followers noticed him, dancing to the Amit Trivedi-composed Bollywood song, Manjha, from the film, Kai Po Che.
In the conversation that followed, both Kharbuli and Warjri, residents of Mawlai, spoke about his journey… one that is courageous as it is inspiring.
On the roots of Zumba in the city, she said, “It was a challenging one initially. I am the first woman to start Zumba here. The only place that welcomed me with open arms was Pinewood Hotel. Back then, I had two clients for six months and they liked the sessions. They recommended me to others. Not many people liked the dance form and my academy as it involves loud music and specific clothing. Some appreciated my work but a few had problems with it. Now, our story is different, thankfully with the support of my family and by God’s grace.”
On how she met Kharbuli, she added, “We have these dong or locality week competitions here. That’s where I first saw him, a small boy then. Not only was his performance, a deeply moving one, but it reminded me of how I started out as a dancer. I told my sister about his talent, knowing he would go places someday.”
Kharbuli started dancing as a five-year-old child, and it’s been quite the journey for this unassuming teenager, with a shy smile.
Calling himself, a “dancer-in-process”, he shared, “My aunt recognised my talent and told me about her (Warjri), and helped me join her academy so that I can learn in a formal, loving, secure and rigorous manner. These seven years are a blessing.”
Speaking about his journey made Kharbuli emotional. Taking a moment, he credited Warjri for his evolution as a dancer and for being a nurturing and supportive mentor.
His aunt reached out to Warjri, who realised Kharbuli was the boy from the dong week. She said, “He faced difficulties during the initial training days, one of them being health.”
Shngainn, as he is lovingly called, is differently-abled – he can see with one eye. Back then, his family faced a medical emergency. His parents informed her (Warjri) about his treatment.
Naturally, she had to be careful as he was under medication. “Do you know he never let me feel any pressure because of his medical condition? He persevered, determined more than ever to continue dance. He is the only student who is with me for seven years, making him one of the oldest dancers in my academy.”
Adept at a few genres, his graceful moves are not just limited to contemporary, but extends to hiphop and dancehall, among others.
On how dance shaped his life, he mused, “Dance is very special to me. Whenever I feel depressed, I just dance my soul. To me, it’s the best medicine. All of us here share a laugh, or a fun moment that cheers me up.”
On a-day-in-the-life-of-a-dancer, both Kharbuli and Warjri emphasised the importance of routine and focus. Exchanging a smile with each other, they shared about their respective tight schedules.
Warjri starts her day at 6 am, beginning with the various city gyms where she teaches Zumba, including her academy. Kharbuli, on the other hand, strikes a balance between academics and dance.
Kharbuli added, “I am in class 10 now. My day begins at 5 am, and I study till 7 before heading over to school. We have classes twice in a week, so I have time. I go for tuition classes as well.”
Surely, he is a force to be reckoned with. A brilliant student, he has excelled academically, where he is loved by his peers and teachers alike, at Sacred Heart Boys’ Higher Secondary School. His favourite subjects are Mathematics and Science.
One wonders if his craft stems from pain, as a result of bullying and insensitivity from the people around him.
Nodding in the affirmative, Kharbuli said, “Yes, I have been bullied initially. You cannot judge people on the basis of their appearance. Only personal interactions can change perspectives. Things are different now. They know me for my dance.”
Adding to his sentiment, Warjri added, “Now that people have seen him, they tell me about him… that they are unable to forget him; that seeing him dance gives them joy. Its only compliments from here, and rightly so. He truly deserves all the attention and accolades. All of us are so proud of him.”
In getting to know about him, one reflects about gendered spaces in art! What has his experience been in a world still obsessed with binaries?
Modernity begins in worldviews. Kharbuli’s parents have been supportive of his passion. His father works in a hardware shop while his mother sells clothes in the market.
Smiling, he said, “They appreciate and support every decision of mine, inspite of all the hurdles.”
Saluting his family, Warjri shared, “They have stood by him… his pillars of strength. Coupled with this is their faith and trust in me to guide him. Some of our shows end at 1 am; his parents don’t mind this because they feel secure. They cook food for me, which, in itself, is such a sweet gesture. This, truly, reflects what a community can build.”
Stories, like Kharbuli’s are powerful indeed, leading to a bigger paradigm shift in perspectives vis-à-vis, societal narratives on how one can lead their lives.
In a voice laden with humility, he stressed on the importance of patience and determination… his message for everyone who feel limitations intensely, thereby stopping themselves to pursue their passion.
One remembers Krishna Christine Washburn, the artistic director and sole teacher of Dark Room Ballet, whose mission is to free the dance form from limitations. She has designed a pre-professional dance curriculum “for the educational needs of blind and visually impaired people like herself…”
As she boldly asserted in one of her interviews, “Why would I be embarrassed? This is who I am, and this is the body I work with.”