A dance to remember

For the audience, it was just another performance at Damodar Hall, Parel (east) last evening. For Vijaya Palav, a 27 year-old professional Lavani dancer, however, it was a performance to raise funds for her ailing husband Ankush's kidney treatment.

Last October, when 37 year-old Ankush, a security guard who is also a theatre actor, developed a chronic fever, medical tests revealed that he had only one functional kidney since childhood, and it had stopped functioning.

Ankush Palav watches his wife Vijaya get ready for her performance. Pic/ Satyajit Desai

Last week, Ankush's condition worsened and doctors advised him undergo treatment immediately.

Many people came forward to help collect funds, but Palav could not gather the whopping amount of Rs 5.5 lakh. Finally, a few friends suggested that she use her dance skills to collect the money. "I decided to collect funds for my husband's treatment through a Lavani performance. I am expecting an amount of at least Rs 1.25 lakh from the show," said Palav, who is also a theatre actress and has worked in a few TV serials. She is a trained Bharatnatyam dancer and had to give up her Kathak training due to couple's financial condition.

When we visited Damodar Hall, 500 of the 800 seats were occupied. Ankush is expected to be admitted to Hinduja hospital on June 24 and will undergo the operation on June 26. Vijaya has already deposited an amount of Rs 2.5 lakh at the hospital.

The duo first met during a theatre performance seven years ago. They have been married for five years.
u00a0