Talent Hunt : Operation B.Ed.

English Association's Talent Hunt, initially scheduled for 26/11/21, finally happened today. We named our programme "Operation B.Ed." creating a variety of performances around the one thing that has now occupied the centre stage in our lives - B.Ed. The idea was to recreate a B.Ed. classroom on stage, a "meta B.Ed classroom" if you will. We did not have to search far to find inspiration for our characters or dialogues, it was ourselves, our professors and MTTC itself. We were not really acting the apprehension and uncertainty that echoed in our dialogues, they were very real and present in our initial thoughts and conversations in class. 

I remember how all of us were nervous before getting on stage. Not all of us were singers, or dancers or actors, but we were willing to try. The people who were good at their own interests were kind and supportive as we practiced hard. And to be honest, it never felt like a chore, we were very clear as a class as to what we wanted to get out of our Talent Hunt - we wanted to have fun and we wanted the people watching to have fun with us. With that in mind, our practices were fun and filled with lots of laughter. Maybe it is also because of that, that our newer classmates seamlessly fitted into it, with barely two days of practice. Within the larger framework of "Operation B.Ed." play, we included comedy bits, singing, recitation, and dancing.

    On a very personal note, as someone whose relationship with stage fright keeps getting progressively worse, I was all ready to stumble and make mistakes. Having to dance made it all the more terrifying because the last time danced on stage, I was ten. Besides, I doubt that the awkward flailing which might have seemed cute when I was ten would hold true for when I am twenty-four.  But let me shamelessly say that I surpassed my own expectations! Of course, my dancing is still something even I'd crack up at, but I had SO MUCH FUN! I was ridiculously happy, even if I was butchering the grace and poise set by our better dancers (if not the best !). I finally understood what my favourite artists meant when they said they get this "rush of euphoria" when they are performing on stage. It is definitely going to be marked in my mind as one of the happiest moments in my life.

Ultimately the success of it all comes down to our very encouraging and supporting Meekha ma'am and all of my classmates. They have all been wonderful, and a source of support for each other. I also feel it is important to appreciate our audience, who responded with much vigour and joy, setting a wonderful ambience for the show. 

The gradual evolution from uncertainty to enjoying the whole journey depicted on stage also affected us. It seems like our meta B.Ed.  show was more meta than we thought!