Dance troupe in India includes two polio survivors

From the Times of India:

BHUBANESWAR, India -- Two of its members are suffering from polio. Most of the others hail from humble backgrounds and have worked as labourers in farms and construction sites to earn their livelihood. But when they dance, even the best in the business might not be able to match their steps.

Yes, we are talking about the Prince Dance Group (pictured), a Berhampur-based team of artistes, who have through self-imposed discipline and devotion to dance achieved what most others could only desire. The Group's story, reminiscent as it is of Slumdog Millionaire, has caught the fancy of the people in Orissa and even outside, much like Prashant Tamang's voice had captured hearts in the Indian Idol event, ever since the dancers set the stage on fire in the semifinal of a dance show "India's Got Talents" in private entertainment channel Colours.

Such was the Group's performance that even the judges on the show, Shekhar Kapoor, Kiran Kher and Sonali Bendre, appeared highly ecstatic and emotional. "It's a world beating act. I have travelled the world, but today, I can proudly say I am an Indian. Neither resource, nor profession, but only heart and talent can accomplish this," said Kapoor, after the artistes danced to the "Sare Jahan Se Acha" tune.

Among the many who have been greatly impressed was chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who on Sunday went to the extent of issuing a press release announcing his decision to help the Prince Dance Group win the competition by personally voting through SMS. "There story is incredible. I was amazed on seeing them perform. Everyone should vote for the Group," Naveen told TOI.

While all eyes in the eastern state would surely remain glued to TV sets at 9 pm on August 22 to watch the Group's performance in the final of the dance competition, the dancers themselves are keeping their fingers crossed. "We have put in three months' practice for this show. We don't know what is in store, be want to prove our talent before the world and shall give it our best," the Group's leader Krishna Reddy told TOI from Mumbai. "We have been staging shows at different places in Orissa and also in other states. Someone told me about the dance show when we were in Gujarat. We qualified in the auditions held in Kolkata," he said.

Recalling the initial days, 26-year-old Krishna said he formed the group four years ago in Berhampur by pooling in boys, mostly from disadvantaged sections of different parts of Ganjam district. Two of them, Padmanabha Sahu (24) and Telu Tarini (13) are physically challenged. "We practice at Ambapua in Berhampur and also at Gopalpur beach. I train the others for free. There are some guys in our group who are educated, but most are from the weaker sections of the society. “We try to help them financially when they are need,” he added.