Dance with a reason

On September 30,Phoenix Marketcity was buzzing with visitors shopping,eating and just strolling around the mall,all of them were too busy enjoying their Sunday evening to stop by and lend a listening ear to the volunteers at the Breast Friends stall who were campaigning to spread awareness about breast cancer.

On September 30,Phoenix Marketcity was buzzing with visitors shopping,eating and just strolling around the mall,all of them were too busy enjoying their Sunday evening to stop by and lend a listening ear to the volunteers at the Breast Friends stall who were campaigning to spread awareness about breast cancer. In the midst of the hustle-bustle and the background music lost in the chatter of the crowd,a group of volunteers wearing bright pink t-shirts with the ‘Breast Friends’ logo,broke into a synchronised dance. Within seconds,the visitors at the mall who were not even paying attention to the stall,gathered around in large numbers to watch the dance performance titled Dance for a Cure.

The performance was aimed at spreading awareness about the breast cancer conference held in the city for the first time and to get women to come and be a part of it, says Sameera Singh,organiser of the performance at Phoenix Marketcity. After the performance,many girls came up to them to inquire about the conference,connect with other cancer survivors and know more about the cause the group was campaigning for.

On October,while campaigning for equal education rights for the girl child,CRY Foundation went about in an entertaining way with a flash mob and musical performances by city-based bands like Karvaan and Ajaladhwani. Besides,a solo performance by percussionist Rachit Lakhmani as well as a bike rally with women bikers,was also organised.

Clearly,this newer method of capturing the attention of the society,works,as Singh admits to the large attendance of women at the conference held at Four Points by Sheraton on October 6 and 7,in which she had organized some fun activities. For instance,the survivors and care givers walk on the ramp witnessed cancer survivors,wearing bald or colourful wigs,walking the ramp with poise and panache in their most glamorous avatars as well as the care givers,including medical professionals. Through this,we wanted people undergoing chemotherapy,to feel beautiful from inside. The tried and tested ways must be incorporated with creative methods to bring in an effective change in the attitude of the public that is concerned with serious issues of the society, added Singh.

Event Hard Rock Cafes worldwide use an interesting method for spreading awareness about breast cancer. They have a range of cocktails like Hot Pink Fusion,Pink Promise,Bad Rudolph,Cracked Socks and more as well as a range of merchandise like T-shirts,sweatshirts,mugs and badges inspired by the colour of the campaign against breast cancer pink. HRC,Pune will also be hosting a tribute concert to Red Hot Chilli Peppers by Mumbai-based band ‘The Hoodwink Circle’, says Jay Singh,Co-Founder and Executive Director of Hard Rock Café.

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