Shane Bond loves Dandiya, says 'its awesome'

Calcutta News.Net
Sunday 5th October, 2008 (IANS)

Meet the new hero of the Indian Dandiya raas - Shane Bond. When not practicing for the coming Indian Cricket League (ICL) season, the strapping New Zealand bowler is dancing to dandiya beats, keeping quite a few women on their toes.

Dancing the dandiya comes easy to this cricketer, who loves to shake a leg to unwind at home.

'I used to dance back home, but the steps here are different,' Bond told reporters after an hour of sweating it out on the dance floor with a bevy of Delhi beauties clad in shimmering lehenga-cholis embroidered with mirrors, sequins and heavy zardosi.

The dance floor was the sprawling greens of the Pragati Maidan and the occasion was a Navratri party to celebrate the spirit of the nine-day festival by the faculty and students of the Gurgaon-based IMS institutes for engineering and education.

The cricketer shared the podium with Bollywood item girl Shefali Zariwala while the Sa Re Ga Ma contestant from Delhi Tarun Sagar belted out traditional dandiya hits set to a remix beat.

Bond was initially stiff, but soon loosened up. 'It was awesome, I didn't think I could match the steps of the dancers,' he said toying with his dandiya sticks in tricolour shades.

For the first 15 minutes, he danced with teammate Ali Murtaza and then with a girl from the audience.

'I see footage from Bollywood movies but I have not yet picked up any dance steps from them,' Bond told the media.

The Indian experience has been good for the cricketer. 'I have just been here for three days and the schedule was packed.'

The ICL practice sessions in the morning are followed by Page 3 dos in the evening. He has walked the ramp and danced the dandiya. So what is next?

'I think I'll try to sing. It's fun doing things the Indian way, a nice way of getting to know the country.

'I love it all. I love the beautiful Indian women dressed in their traditional attire and the loads of jewellery that they have on them,' the 33-year-old Kiwi said looking at the roomful of girls backstage decked up for the occasion.

Bond is definitely smitten by India. 'I love the curries and the chicken cooked Indian style,' he said.

He announced with a flourish that he would carry the dandiya sticks back home as a souvenir.

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