Priyanka Mendonca: The Young Girl With Bundle of Talents and Dreams

By Dr. Eugene D’Souza
Bellevision Media Network

Muscat, 13 April 2010: Children can be moulded into doing something in which they are talented. In this respect, parents and teachers play an important role in shaping the personality and career of the young children. Here is the story of ten year young Priyanka. She is intelligent, dynamic and talented. Her parents, Edward Mendonca of Thokoli, Kuntalnagar and mother, Philomena originally from Pernal, have been nurturing the multifarious talents of Priyanka. Though she has proved her mettle as a dancer, she is also good in drawing, singing, playing the key-board, swimming and even playing cricket! Moreover, she is an ardent animal lover, especially cats and dogs.

Priyanka was born on 28th March 2000 and ever since she is in Al-Khuwair in Muscat with her mother, Philomena and father, Edward Mendonca who has been working in the city of dreams since 1983. She has been attending the Indian School at Ghubra, Muscat since her Kindergarten class and is presently in 5th standard.

Philomena says that, she noticed the dancing talent in Priyanka right from her childhood. When she was just two years old, Priyanka would move her feet and hands to the tune of the music either from television or music system. Realising that their daughter has the gift of dancing, both Edward and Philomena began to encourage her to develop her skills. Priyanka gave her first dancing performance during the school annual day when she was just in the first year KG. She also gave her dancing performance during the first function organised by the Bellevision-Muscat in 2005.

In order to promote Priyanka’s dancing skills, her parents enrolled her in the Dance Academy run by Mrs. Seema for three months in 2006. She manifested her talent in dancing during dance festival known as ‘Indradhanush’ organised by Mrs. Seema.

Besides dancing to the tune of popular Hindi and English tunes, Priyanka also developed a skill to dance in line with the tunes of devotional hymns and Konkani songs. She used be an integral part of the dance group that would perform during the charity programmes for the poor organised by the Holy Spirit Church, Ghala, Muscat during Christmas (Christmas Love) and Easter (Easter Joy). The Goan community in Muscat had invited Priyanka for two years (2007-08) to give dance performances on the occasion of the celebrations of the feast of St. Francis Xavier during the month of December.

Priyanka has been a familiar face during the dance competitions held in various occasions and venues. She secured the first position in the Summer Camp Dance Competition held by the Ghala Church in 2007. She was a regular member of the group that has been participating in the dance competitions and winning first position in ‘Dance Mania-Oman’ since the last three years (2007-09). She even received prizes from the hands of the Indian Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, Mr. Anil Wadhwa. Priyanka also had the privilege of being a member of the group of dancers who performed during the Indian Republic Day celebrations held in the Indian Embassy in Muscat in 2009. In the dance competition that was held by the Mangalorean Catholic Centre of the Parish (MCCP) during 2009-10, Priyanka secured the second position.

 

Since three years, Priyanka has been trained by Master Rajesh and Renjini at the Centre for Performing Arts at Al-Khuwair. She has been taking part in the ‘Spark’-Fusion of Classical and Contemporary Dance at Al-Falaj Hotel since three years. During the Volleyball Tournament of the Petroleum Development Organisation (PDO), Priyanka has been a regular member of the group of dancers who perform during these tournaments.

Besides dancing, Priyanka is also interested in singing and has been a part of the Catechism Choir in the Holy Spirit Church, Ghala. She is also an altar server. Her other interests include key-board playing, drawing, swimming and even playing cricket. She was also chosen as a child model for the Thursday Magazine centrefold article on fashion titled ‘Costume Party’. Priyanka is an ardent animal lover. She has been very fond of dogs and cats. She had a pretty white dog which her father, Edward advised her to give away as it would have been be difficult to take care of animals in the house. In spite of this, Priyanka has been befriending a cat whom she feeds everyday outside her house.

Both Edward and Philomena are very proud of her daughter Priyanka  for whatever talents she has, support and encourage her in all her endeavours and provide her the necessary training. They said that she has been very good in her studies. When asked what she would like to be in future, Priyanka without hesitation said that she would like to be a doctor. Priyanka has a dream, intelligence, talents and strong parental love, guidance and support. These will definitely help Priyanka in realising her dreams.