The very first time I saw, Shall we dance?, I was swept off my feet! The music, the various dance forms, and the actors for whom dance was akin to breathing, simply took my breath away! I may have seen it about ten times, already, but I am waiting with bated breath to watch it all over again when it gets aired this Sunday, 20th November, on Romedy! Ah, that’s how crazy I am about the movie, I could shout about it from the roof tops, urging every one to watch it along with me!
But, amongst all the artists in the movie, the one who caught my eye, and my heart, was Paulina, played by Jennifer Lopez. the sincere and hard-working dance teacher who unknowingly entices the hero of the film, Richard Gere, into enrolling for the dance class. She also enticed me into believing that I could learn to salsa, or do the tango if I set my heart on it! She is the one for whom dance was a passion, a religion, a way of life!
For someone who has learnt the Indian Classical dance for more than a decade, for someone who gave it all up when life intervened, thinking about dancing to a foreign music was unthinkable. But, Paulina did it, to me, for me! Ever since I have seen the movie, I have fantasised being her. I have secretly played her, dancing as effortlessly, as beautifully as her.
The grace with which she tutors her students, be they the extremely handsome Mr. Clark (played by Richard Gere), or the clumsy, but sincere, Vern (played by Omar Miller), she enthrals them with her every move, every turn! I am a die-hard fan of Richard Gere’s, (well, who isn’t? ) but, when Paulina enters the scene, my eyes don’t leave her for a second. Frankly, that’s who I would love to be – the scene-stealer!
The tango she performs with Mr. Clark the evening before their big dance competition to prep him up, is a number I would love to dance to! In fact, when I am home alone, I play it on YouTube and watch mesmerised as they whirl and twirl to the music. I imagine I am Paulina and my body moves to the beat, albeit not as gracefully as hers. But, I come alive, in the same way that she asks Mr. Clark to be. At the end of the song, their faces glistening with sweat, their hearts thumping with unbridled joy, she pants, “Be this alive! Be this alive, tomorrow!”
She moves on the dance floor as if she moves on ice – she glides! And, when she dances, she becomes oblivious to the world around her. She is just into dance mode. That is the passion with which I watch her move, with which I move with the music, in my mind, in my heart.
If and when life allows me to indulge some of my fantasies, I would love to learn to tango and dance to the number that sets my heart racing. Until then, I’ll keep watching, no, gaping at Paulina and dancing in my dreams!
Which movie character would you like to play?
With Love
SHILPA…
*This post has been written for #TadkaTuesday.
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| Featured blogger for this post on TT! |
Though I have 2 left feet, I love watching people dance. Havent seen this movie and after reading your post, I am keen to watch it!
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Dance is meditation for me. It is a supreme form of detox and learning any form of dance is possible at any age, the key is sincerity towards learning.
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You would make a good Paulina 🙂
What character I'd like to play? Gosh, I have a list.
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This was my favourite movie too and my heart couldn't stop pounding when Richard Gere came up the escalator with roses in his hand!
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Aha! Now that was interesting. Seriously, I would like to play some kickass woman character. 🙂
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Yes, do watch it, Shilpa! You will love it! 🙂
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You are so right, Karan! Learning anything at any age is possible, all it needs is sincerity and the passion, the drive to make it! 🙂
Thank you for visiting!
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🙂 Thank you, Soumya! It sure will take me time to get into Paulina's shoes, for I will first need to lose my inhibitions. But, I will do it, for sure! 😉
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Oh my my! Yes, Richard Gere with the rose, coming up the escalator! I always wish I had been Susan Sarandon, too! 🙂
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I am a trained latin dancer (not as great as JLo), and all dance movies capture my attention like nothing else. How much fun it will be to dance and glide like them. And I agree very few people don't love Richard Gere. Thank You for participating Shilpa with such a lovely post. 🙂
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I can imagine you playing a kickass woman character ONLY, Rachna! Because, even if we haven't met, I have imagined you to be this strong, fearless kinda girl who gives two hoots to what others think about anything she does! 🙂 ❤
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Oh boy! Jaibala, now THAT'S news to me! You are a trained latin dancer? What other feathers do you have in your cap, girl? But, yes, once you learn any kind of dance form, its the only thing that catches your attention in a movie, whether you know the particular dance form or no.
Thank you for giving me TadkaTuesday…it was FUN!
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Dancing is my passion and to follow this passion I take dance classes for kids and ladies. And I also loved 'Shall we dance?' Paulina does have that kind of effect on you. Now I am thinking, 'How come I didn't think of this character before? 🙂 Thanks for writing for #TadkaTuesday. Loved your post.
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Oh, Shilpa! Ohhhhh! I love the movie and JLo's character is etched in my heart. I so want to watch this movie again. NOW! 🙂
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Do watch it then, Shalini…it's on Romedy this Sunday, at 9 pm! 🙂
And, dance awayyy…! ❤
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Wow! That's terrific, Deepa!
Thank you for the visit! And, thank you for TadkaTuesday! I enjoyed writing this post! 🙂
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Oo-la-la! J'lo aka Shilpa!! Yess, that would be a dream role to slip into, so sensuous and graceful! And of course it wouldn't hurt to play against Gere!! I love this movie too Shilpa, good choice 🙂
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Paulina…really?
That's an interesting choice.
I might need to watch the movie again, but this time I promise to picture you with Gere 😛
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Aaaahhhh! Sid, you made my day! I have always fantasised it – sharing the screen with the unbelievably handsome Mr. Gere! I feel so dizzy just imagining it! ;P
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Go for it, Shilpa! Enroll for a dance class! Your love and passion, along with a sprinkling of longing, for the dance form comes through in the beautifully written post:)
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Hehe, thanks, Kala! Just imagining being JLo, dancing with THE Richard Gere gives me goosebumps!
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Thank you, DA! Yes, the plan to join a dance class is quite on top of my to-do list. Let's see when it materialises!
Thank you for the visit! ❤
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