Priti Gupta and Shannon Benjamin, who will represent India for the first time ever at the Asian Games this year, talk of their passion to dance.
Do you know what it feels like to follow your dreams? Ask Priti Gupta and Shannon Benjamin who quit their physiotherapy and IT
career respectively to become masters in Dancesport. You might just drop your jaws if you happen to see them dance. And we are not joking. Priti and Shannon shall be representing India for the first time ever at the Asian Games taking place in November this year.
Dancesport is an international sport (which has never been presented in India). It consists of 10 western classical dance forms of latin and ballroom dancing. samba, cha-cha-cha, jive, rumba and the Spanish paso-doble style. Viennese waltz, foxtrot, quick step, tango and waltz are forms of ballroom dancing. The duo is also teaching the sport here in Mumbai.
The question is, why you and your partner should be learning it? To start, it has the magical touch to bring out a completely different side of both of you. You can say the dance goes to build a little chemistry and loads of trust as well as get you in great shape. It doesn’t matter if you are a shy and reserved person and are born with two left feet.
You will never know the dance form unless you experience it. Dancesport is meant for everybody whoever is willing to breathe and live life. “Once we had this couple in their 50s who used to fight a lot with each other while dancing. We suggested them to choose different partners to learn the dance. When they went out to get-togethers, their friends used to ask them to show what they had learned. One day they danced together and couldn’t have enough of each other. This man came and told me, ‘My wife is so beautiful. I have fallen in love with her all over again’,” recalls Priti.
It may be because of Priti and Shannon’s efforts that Dancesport may one day be included in the school curriculum. “Sadly, dance has never been considered a sport in India like cricket, football or hockey. But you will be surprised how we as Indians love to dance. Once, we were having a session in the city of Jaipur and we found that couples were so enthusiastic about learning the dance that every morning at seven sharp all of them would be present at the venue without fail.
I believe this potential to learn can be found in every other city of India too. With Dancesport Association of Maharashtra (DSAM), we are just making our efforts towards giving it recognition as a sport in the country,” says founder Shannon.
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