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| Mr. Namdev Shirgaonkar General Secretary of the Amateur dance Federation of India and Mr. Michael Wendt - IDO vice president and ambassador for IDO-Asia and IDOAsia/Pacific |
IDO Meetings in India July 2011
On June 24, 2011 I met our former IDO-member for India, Mr. Inderjit Singh with his charming daughter who travelled from Punjab to meet me in the Shangri La Hotel in New Delhi in India. Many people will remember Mr. Singh attending the IDO-AGM in Budapest, Hungary some years ago.
Inderjit Singh is still interested to work with IDO. Here is a part from his email to me:
“I am Chairman Trampoline, Gymnastics Federation of India and one of the senior most judge of FIG officiated at highest level since 1982. I formed Indian Dance Federation and worked for the promotion of the game as you know.”
Mr. Singh has sent hip hop dancers the years before. Then the contact stopped due to organizational reasons. Mr. Singh is very much interested to work with our current contact, Mr. Namdev Shirgaonkar together.
One week later on June 31, 2011 I met Mr. Namdev Shirgaonkar and his charming wife Darshana Narev in the Imperial Hotel in New Delhi. Both have been flying in from Mumbai, India to meet the IDO vice president.
Mr. Namdev is General Secretary of the “Amateur dance Federation of India” (ADFI), a government registered non-profit federation in Maharastra, India.
The ADFI organizes dance competitions and championships all over India – heading to the Nationals 2011 in Goa this November.
They run competitions in HipHop, Salsa, Indian Classical dances and Bollywood. Bollywood is their main department, organized with top choreographers, teachers and studios all over India. Mr. Namdev is very open to take up other dances like Modern, Contemporary and Jazz – as well as show dance etc.
Mr. Namdev explained the structure of the federation: starting with city events, then regional, state and national events. Everything sounds more than reasonable and well thought.
Answering his question, “What does IDO expect from India?” I answered: “to build up an excellent structure for Bollywood in IDO”. Mr. Namdev is willing to consider sending Bollywood choreographers to the IDO-Bollywood Championships in Russia next year, as lecturers and judges – as well some participants.
He wants to work with IDO very close.
I have suggested applying for IDO-Full membership January 1, 2012 by sending the “official papers” to IDO to be accepted. This will go though my hands.
Mr. Namdev is very happy about my vision for IDO-Asia and IDO-ASIA/PACIFIC. He sees it as a great advantage for the Indian dancers to have international competitions in a reasonable flying distance.
He was also very interested in the words of the IDO-president to tend much attention to improve IDO in Asia and Asia-Pacific.
I have a very positive feeling about Mr. Namdev and the ADFI and support their Application strongly – especially as Mr. Namdev will be happy to work together with Mr. Inderjit Singh in the future. Off course the details have to be discussed. I will try to make this contact.
With this report I want all of you being informed – IDO-Presidium and our IDO members and contacts in Asia and Asia-Pacific.
Off course you may contact Mr. Namdev, whose information is in the IDO-website – but I suggest I will clear some more details with our Indian friends.
I also suggest Mr. Namdev will come with one or two dancers to one of IDO’s great world dance sport events with many countries and continents participating.
Due to my work for a huge Indian event in the city of Hamburg, Germany I will travel to
India in March 2012 again, where I plan to visit Mr. Namdev and meet his board in Mumbai .
The IDO now is awaiting the official application for membership including the official papers proving to be a non-profit registered federation in India.
I personally am very happy because Mr. Namdev and the “Amateur dance Federation of India seem to be a perfect addition for IDO in Asia.
Welcome INDIA as a FULL MEMBER in IDO soon!
Michael Wendt
IDO Vice-President, Competition Director &
IDO Ambassador for Asia / Asia-Pacific
