This year, I tried out for a couple of my university’s dance teams. I went in with no expectations; I just wanted to start dancing again as a way to release stress and have something to do other than just the usual school work and studying. I figured I would make a couple of new friends along the way. What I definitely didn’t expect was gaining a family of fifteen incredible and loving people.
As the “tryout season” came to an end, I was picked to be a part of BU Fatakada, a garba raas dance team. Garba raas is a traditional dance form hailing from the state of Gujarat in India. Being one of the few “newbies” on the team, I thought there would be a significant disconnect between the returning team members and myself. And at first, there was that slight disconnect, but only naturally because no one on the team really knew me and I did not know anyone either. I was pretty quiet at the initial practices, adding myself to a couple of conversations here and there. I have to admit, I thought that maybe because I was a newer member, I would not be able to make the same bonds that the team clearly had with each other. But I was completely wrong.
The semester gradually went on and with each practice, the team got closer. I always looked forward to our three days of practice (even the four-hour long Sunday ones on the opposite end of campus). It was always a good feeling to step away from my books for some time to be a part of a group that had a shared love for dance. Even when I was having a bad day, dancing with everyone lifted my spirits because between learning the new choreography (#updowndownupdown) and getting told to pick up the energy, we were cracking jokes and making fun of each other. We also had those serious days of filming audition videos, but getting into competitions was an incredible feeling (#BOR).
With the end of the fall semester came the encroaching competition season. After coming back from winter break, we had practice every single night. It was not easy; I would get back to my room past midnight and still have loads of work to do, but I kept telling myself it was all for the greater good even though I had no idea what that greater good might be. And all of those practices resulted in numerous amounts of growing injuries. Only a handful of the sixteen members were not injured, yet we kept practicing because we knew how much time and effort we put in over the months would pay off. Giving up would just mean putting it all to waste.
For three consecutive weeks we had practice from Monday to Thursday, then we left on Friday mornings for competition weekend. I got to travel so much because of Fatakada. I drove through and visited five states for the first time (#blessed). Now that I look back at the weekends, they all seem like a blur. We would get to the hotel, get cleaned up and head out to the mixer where we met different teams. BU Fatakada was naturally the best (no bias). And that night we would all stay up until 3 am in our rooms just talking and laughing and having a genuine, good time. Saturday started at 7 am, and all the girls rushed to get ready with hair, makeup and costumes while the boys casually chilled because they had nothing other than costumes to worry about. The girls split up into different groups, some pinning costumes, some starting on makeup and some jabbing each others’ scalps with a million bobby pins. Those Saturdays also meant getting Taco Bell (#blessedagain #fatkids).
The hours went by so quickly and before we knew it, our tech time was over and we had just a few hours before going on stage and competing. Finally dancing on stage was such a nerve-wracking experience, but I don’t even remember performing for those 6 1/2 minutes. It’s funny actually, spending so many months practicing and not even remembering actually performing your set on stage. The one feeling I will never ever forget though, was hearing “…in second place, we have…BU Fatakada!!” I remember all sixteen of us charging for the trophy, two of our injured members quickly jumped up from the stage floor where they were sitting. The tears just naturally came; I can’t begin to describe that incredible feeling. And the after parties always guaranteed a good time, no matter what the outcome was (#chippedteeth).
Our last competition of the season was the most emotional for us, especially for our graduating seniors. I cried the night before to my cutest “el capi-tan” ever (#impeachruhi) and the next day, as our captains gave their usual pep talk. However, I wasn’t crying because we were at the end of the competition season, but because it was the last one with our seniors, who I had gotten close to and admired so so much and because the team wasn’t going to be the same next year.
We don’t have practice every day anymore, and I honestly feel so empty. I have all this time on my hands and I have no idea what to do with it. 9 pm comes around and I naturally feel like getting ready for practice. This team has shown me so much love and has helped me grow an incredible amount. I’m going to miss the weird nicknames, the awkward coupling up of teammates, the ridiculous laugh (#jaysean) that we all make fun of, how we watched out for each other and just the times that we spent together. Even though I still have a couple years left with BU Fatakada, I know that this year’s team will be the closest to my heart. I hella love you guys (#fatakadaisthebestbro).
