Journalism of Courage
Against all odds self-taught dancer Ganesh Jadhav’s dance academy at Bibvewadi has been tapping some extraordinary talent from the slums
A group of 15 slum kids shed their inhibitions for their love for dance. And when their dance teacher asked them to practice at a place,whose four walls were not opaque enough to hide their mistakes from full public glare they shrugged off the idea of being mocked upon. However,the mockery did come and so did the cynic comments. But today,Gaanesh Jadhav Dance Academy at the parking space at Bibvewadi stands tall against the jibes and mockery. A passionate and self – taught dancer,Ganesh Jadhav,who takes time out of his job of a bank cashier to impart dance training to the budding dance enthusiasts from the slum,feels it is the best way to do justice to the dancer in him.
Today,when Jadhav’s parking place has been renovated and made into a proper room,and dance enthusiasts from so-called high profile families flock his institute,his priority still remains the same- to impart dance training to the underprivileged. The 30 kids from slums in his present batch learn dance free of cost. “The slums have immense talent waiting to be tapped. They just need encouragement,motivation and support,” smiles Jadhav.
