The students of Gregorian Public School, in Kochi, are celebrating a world record.
Two years ago in July, 504 students from the school put up a finger dance choreographed by ffnger dancer Imthiyas Aboobacker.
The five-minute event was called ‘Rhythm of 1K1Hands’. When Imthiyas sent a video of the programme to the World Record Certification, he landed an ‘Amazing World Record’, the performance broke the record for the largest finger dance ever performed.
The dance was performed to the tune of a fast-paced version of ‘Vande Mataram’. Kids wearing tri-colour gloves performed, on benches covered with black fabric.
“I had sent it as an entry and wasn’t expecting anything until I got the message,” says Imthiyas, who is also a choreographer and dancer. He trained the students, rigorously for two months, till they were ready. Of the selection process he says, he chose the children, from classes 5-11, carefully – those with long, flexible fingers who could catch the rhythm and move accordingly – and trained them with cameras. It was hard work, but he is glad that it has paid off.