Combating coronavirus: Dubai choreographer dances in black and white video to instil hope in people

Dubai - Suresh, who runs the Step N Groove (SnG) Dance Studio, now conducts his dance classes online.

Watching his uncle and neighbours succumb to Covid-19, Dubai-based choreographer Suresh K felt an urge to instill hope and positivity amid the pandemic.
"While I was sitting with my family and listening to Memories by Maroon 5, the lyrics really touched me and I could visualise that although the pandemic took many people away from us, we must hold on keep the faith and support each other. The song just cheered me up and I decided to pass on this positivity through what I can do best - dance," said Suresh about the making of his unique dance video.
The video was shot in black and white mode to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement in the US that has sparked waves of protests and rallies across the world now.
While performing the solo dance, Suresh used masks and placards displaying the different hashtags the UAE is using to create awareness about the virus such as #stayhomestaysafe, #social_distance, #we_are_all_responsible among others.
" I and my wife made masks at home and wrote six messages I wanted to convey through my dance - faith, hope, love, fear, peace and help. I used these masks and some placards as props to convey my messages as I tried to express each emotion through this two-minute lyrical dance," he said.
"When the pandemic struck, not only did I lose my uncle and some neighbours in my building but also my students expressed fear and anxiety as their parents lost jobs or had salary cuts. I used to have more than 200 students but now the numbers are less than 70. Many families left for their home-country after suffering job losses."
Suresh, who runs the Step N Groove (SnG) Dance Studio, now conducts his dance classes online. He has already taught the dance routine in his video to 30 students. "They will perform and post it on social media networks to spread the UAE's message of resilience and positivity," he said.
Suresh will also be sending out dance instructions so that anyone can learn the routine. "There are six messages in the video. People can pick any of those messages, wear a mask and dance.
"We do not know when this pandemic will end, so let us not be sad but learn to live with it. Yes, these are hard times and if we help and support and each other, we will come out of this victorious."
saman@khaleejtimes.com