Fiery tales

He is rated as one of the finest fire dancers in the country by various Internet sites and has also been a part of many Bollywood flicks...

He is rated as one of the finest fire dancers in the country by various Internet sites and has also been a part of many Bollywood flicks,but for Vishal Ravindra Desai,fire dancing is not only an art but also a medium to reach out to people and tell them about Indias rich culture. I first saw it during my trip to Goa. While it is well known that fire dancing originated in India,I was amazed to see more foreigners doing it in Goa than Indians. I therefore wanted to take it beyond the realms of tourist destinations and circus rings to a larger audience and also get it back the status of an art form and show people that they should preserve it, says Desai,who claims that he can blow a fire up to six metres.

Desai,a mechanical engineer,quit a lucrative engineering job to take up the art form nine years back and since then done many national and international performances. I had no formal training in fire dancing,it was only through practicing with many other fire dancers that I learnt the art. After going to Germany,I got an opportunity to work under renowned pyrotechnician Hans Brandzes,who taught me the advanced techniques of fire dance. Franko Dragon,a company that organises fire shows,also hired me for shows, he says.

The 29-year-old artistes favorite act is fire eating and fire rubbing Fire blows are the most common acts in India,however,other acts are gradually catching up. While Sparkling Poi is the most dangerous,Double Poi and Rope Poi are very popular in western countries, he says,adding,After my performance,when I eat fire I am unable to eat my food properly for a week. Spicy food is a strict no-no.

About his tryst with Bollywood and entertainment industry in India,Desai says that while he got many offers,the Bobby Deol starrer movie Jurrm was his best opportunity so far where he got a 40 second slot to show his skill. I am also performing in an album by Rakesh Chaurasia,Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasias son, he adds.

While it was difficult for Desai to convince his family for his choice of career,the fame that he earned was able to bridge the gap and now his family is very proud of him. On a sad note,Desai says that its a general perception that fire dancers put something on their body before their performance,which is not true. He says,Such wrong ideas are very discouraging for us. We put in a lot of effort while playing with fire and it goes in vain when people say that we were shielded.

Fire facts
* Some of the fire dancing acts that are very popular in India and abroad Sparkling Poi,Fire Sword,Fire Shaft,Rope Poi and Limbo.
* Pyrotechnics as an act in the entertainment industry involves use of flashes,flames,and fire works to create a theatrical effect.
* Some prominent bands that use fire eating and fire dancing techniques on stage include,The Who,Pink Floyd,Queens and the German industrial band Rammstein.

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