Bengaluru Belly
Yesterday evening, we went out with a few friends to enjoy some sumptuous dinner at the 'Barbeque Nation' restaurant in Domlur. Being a Sunday, we only got reservation at 9:45 pm and by 10 pm, we were all settled in our seat having the first round of chicken hot and sour soup.
Some 15 - 20 minutes later, we were all deeply indulged into enjoying the barbecue items that were being lined up in front of us, which included mushroom, pineapple, capsicum and corn in veg and chicken, fish and prawns in non-veg. Each of this had been cooked in a different sauce whose names I don't really remember, since it hardly mattered to me. What was important was the fact that they looked really delicious and each empty stick was being replenished by another, which was full.
The ladies were busy talking and eating, while we guys were busy hogging the food and failed to notice that some of the staff members had actually gathered in a neat line in the central passage almost right next to our table. Prachi actually had to shake me up and ask me what they were up to and I guessed that they had probably gathered to sign Happy Birthday to someone. Fortunately for me, I was wrong!
Soon, the music started to blast and the 7 or 8 staff members tapped their feet and got into a rhythmic dance to the music of some Arabic song. All of us, who were busy eating, were pleasantly surprised by this gesture and took some time to digest what was actually going on.
A few seconds later, we realized that they were actually providing us with some extra entertainment and we all joined in by clapping our hands together as the dancers moved deeper into the dance flow and performed each and every step with utmost co-ordination and precision. A couple who was seated on the table next to me also got up and joined them in the dance in the neighbouring passage, but their dance was so out of tune that it almost appeared that they were desperately trying to get rid of the ants that had entered their pants!!
The whole dance routine lasted for some 5 minutes and was appreciated with a thunderous applause by everyone present. This was truly a different kind of entertainment offered to the patrons and also provided the staff members a break from their regular job profile.
Some may call it a marketing gimmick, but all in all it was a wonderful way to kick in the "Gulf Fest" week in the restaurant and I couldn't help but think that the dance that we just witnessed is a very crude, indianized, but interesting representation of Dubai's famous belly dance.
Some 15 - 20 minutes later, we were all deeply indulged into enjoying the barbecue items that were being lined up in front of us, which included mushroom, pineapple, capsicum and corn in veg and chicken, fish and prawns in non-veg. Each of this had been cooked in a different sauce whose names I don't really remember, since it hardly mattered to me. What was important was the fact that they looked really delicious and each empty stick was being replenished by another, which was full.
The ladies were busy talking and eating, while we guys were busy hogging the food and failed to notice that some of the staff members had actually gathered in a neat line in the central passage almost right next to our table. Prachi actually had to shake me up and ask me what they were up to and I guessed that they had probably gathered to sign Happy Birthday to someone. Fortunately for me, I was wrong!
Soon, the music started to blast and the 7 or 8 staff members tapped their feet and got into a rhythmic dance to the music of some Arabic song. All of us, who were busy eating, were pleasantly surprised by this gesture and took some time to digest what was actually going on.
A few seconds later, we realized that they were actually providing us with some extra entertainment and we all joined in by clapping our hands together as the dancers moved deeper into the dance flow and performed each and every step with utmost co-ordination and precision. A couple who was seated on the table next to me also got up and joined them in the dance in the neighbouring passage, but their dance was so out of tune that it almost appeared that they were desperately trying to get rid of the ants that had entered their pants!!
The whole dance routine lasted for some 5 minutes and was appreciated with a thunderous applause by everyone present. This was truly a different kind of entertainment offered to the patrons and also provided the staff members a break from their regular job profile.
Some may call it a marketing gimmick, but all in all it was a wonderful way to kick in the "Gulf Fest" week in the restaurant and I couldn't help but think that the dance that we just witnessed is a very crude, indianized, but interesting representation of Dubai's famous belly dance.
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