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Fun and philanthropic time at Liv nightclub
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Liv Poster
A few weeks ago, I was invited to Bohemian Caverns to celebrate a dear friend’s birthday, but I ended up in the wrong place, but had the most enjoyable time judging a world dance contest. Since I had never been to Bohemian Caverns, when I arrived and saw folks entering a door, I followed, and I ended up at Liv, a nightclub over-top the Bohemian caverns. As I walked up the long stairs, world dance music thumped from the speakers. I thought; this isn’t jazz, but shrugged it off. The room was packed, and I wondered how my friend would find me, so I decided I would stay near the door, but found myself squeezing toward the stage up front, as a gregarious fellow, Moorosi Makeuna announced that a dance contest was about to begin.
The competition began with Grace, a sexy, svelte Soukous dancer. She was visibly nervous and a bit timid, but her hips were not feeling its owner’s anxiety. They moved with boldness and sensuality. Her competitor, Sohini Sircar, a pretty raven haired Bhangra dancer, came out with more confidence winning the crowd with her smile and energy as she stomped and shimmied. Her set more was bit more polished, her movement choreographed that was probably due to her being on Georgetown’s Jawani Bhangra team. However, Grace was not to be out done. Her nerves under control, moving with more confidence; she flirted with the audience and her hips went into overdrive. Sohini, a true competitor, came out with props her next go round and danced around the whole stage. The audience went wild for both talented ladies, and we casted our votes with money. The performer who earned the most money won. The dancers tied, and Makeuna asked us to break the tie by giving more. He then asked for volunteers to come on stage to dance. The contest ended with a gaggle of folks on stage. All taking turns dancing Soukous and Bhangra. It was a glorious affair.
However, the sponsors of this event v:shal kanwar of Global Groove and En Avant Congo, did not organize this event just so we could have good time, but to bring awareness and to stop a lethal war in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to raise funds for the war’s rape survivors. A war is raging in eastern Congo, and the warring armies are fighting for the ownership of the Congo's lucrative mineral mines, and are wrecking havoc on the civilian population using torture, rape and sexual violence to terrorize and destroy communities. The only way to bring about peace is to reduce the demands for the minerals (used in cell phones, computers, digital cameras, games) that fuel the armed groups. Although this event has passed, you can still get involved in the Congo’s peace process by endorsing the conflict mineral pledge, entering the video contest: Come Clean 4 Congo, perusing, signing-up for newsletters and following the ‘take action’ instructions of organizations combating the conflict in the Congo such as—Enough Project, Raise Hope for Congo, Congo Women, Congo Global Action, Genocide Intervention Network, Heal Africa, Human Rights Watch, Shitowa Foundation, and Stand [A student anti-genocide coalition].
I eventually remembered why I was there, and checked my cell phone. I had received several messages from my friend. She was downstairs where we were supposed to meet in Bohemian Caverns. I was in the wrong place, but it was the right time. I consequently signed the conflict minerals pledge, and I have signed up with several of the stop the war in the Congo organizations.
For more info:
Come Clean 4 Congo Video. Click here
Bhangra dance @ a wedding. Click here
Learn some Bhangra dance steps. Click here
Learn how to do Soukous dance. Click here
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