Savitri — the Dancing Mom

Talented Savitri Ramsurat, 34, of Mondesir Delhi Road, Fyzabad, stepped out on stage in an elaborate costume at the Rousillac Community Centre at the Mastana Bahar auditions recently. Her dimpled face lighted up with her charming smile as she skillfully went through the dance routine. Those who don’t know can never tell that this young lady is the mother of four children and following many domestic problems she is now on her own with her kids. She certainly has a way to hide her problems. Her facial expressions in the dances are superb. She was able to convince the audience of the very meaningful film dance on stage. Thirty minutes after her performance she cuddled her one-year-son Amrit in her arms as she gently fanned herself with a piece of paper in. Savitri was willing to talk about herself. She is an open-minded, kind hearted person. Her four children, Kishan 13, Ajay, 9, Salina, 4, and the baby Amrit, were there with her supporting her all the way. She said that she likes her children to be around so that they can learn about people at an early age. Speaking about her life as a dancer she said, “I have been in dance for the past 20 years. And although I had to get married and start a family, I had to continue dancing also. It was a part of me that could not just die. Every time I hear the music and the songs on the radio, I would find myself dancing to the beat.”

Savitri is accompanied by her sisters Poonam and Neeta as the trio are involved in choreographing dance items for many of the stages in TT. They have also travelled to the USA, where they were contracted to perform in several shows last year. Dancing is a full-time job for Savitri. She cannot hold any other job because of dance classes and her commitment to her family. She now carries on classes at the Mondesir Community Centre on a weekly basis. As for her life as a single mother, she said she is confident that God will take care of her and things will eventually work out. “It is tough to maintain my children with a small income. But I don’t ever want to be rich and enjoy a luxurious life. I just want to be comfortable with my children. If I could provide what they need, then I think I have done my duty,” she said. Being a single parent has taught her to be strong. “I have to be strong, because my sons are looking at me and if I show any sign of frustration they will in turn become frustrated and I want them to achieve in life,” she said. Savitri has been following in her father’s footsteps where dance is concerned. Her father Jagdeo Ramsurut is a popular “Sarwan Kumar” (ancient form of dance done by men) dancer. “As a child I remember him dressing up in kingly attire and wearing hundreds of ‘gunguroo’ (bells that are used for East Indian dancing) to perform. And I guess I got my groove from him. He was very good at dancing. In fact he would have to dance on a regular basis at many of the south-based functions,” she said. She also learned basic classical dance from the renowned tutor Rajkumar Krishna Persad of Chaguanas. Today she uses this knowledge to choreograph dances for her Fyzabad group. Although Savitri has a lot of responsibility, she finds time to enjoy life. “We cannot afford to rush through life. If we try to do many things at the same time, we might not be able accomplish anything. I know I have to spend time with my children. This is why I cannot hold on to a full-time job. When my kids are grown then I would consider working. But for the time being I am choreographing, performing and taking care of my children,” she declared.

She also enjoyed explaining that Fyzad is a more peaceful place to be. She describes it as a place that is heavenly. “Here, the people are calm and peaceful. They know each other and they talk to each other as one big family. In Mondesir, the people are courteous and friendly. I would not like to live any place else than here,” she said. In closing she said she would like the government to do more for the East Indian artistes in TT. “There are lots of qualified dancers and musicians of East Indian culture who can mobilise the younger people and get them involved and I feel that the government should use these people to promote the younger ones in the village,” she insisted. She said that life is what we make of it and she intends to handle her problems one after the other. Flashing her charming smile once more, she rushed off to get a snow cone for her second son — but that’s what life is all about, even the simple things make for a special moment.