This Calendar News Special features ballet dancer Darshan Bhuller as he talks about his life, from his childhood in Leeds to his high-flying international dancing career. Bhuller returns to his old school in Leeds and inspires many youngsters there to pursue a career in dance. The film opens looking up a snow-covered hill to an imposing red brick and stone building. The building is the former school in Leeds of Darshan Bhuller. A film clip from 1977 shows a group of three male dancers on...

This Calendar News Special features ballet dancer Darshan Bhuller as he talks about his life, from his childhood in Leeds to his high-flying international dancing career. Bhuller returns to his old school in Leeds and inspires many youngsters there to pursue a career in dance. The film opens looking up a snow-covered hill to an imposing red brick and stone building. The building is the former school in Leeds of Darshan Bhuller. A film clip from 1977 shows a group of three male dancers on camera, to the left of the group is Darshan Bhuller who at school, had aspirations to be a world-famous dancer and choreographer. The film cuts to a group of three dancers moving across a stage as the commentary states that in 1977 Darshan was selected as the youngest student at the London School of Contemporary Dance. The three dancers answer questions about their chosen profession. The view changes to a man blowing a whistle in time to his drumming on Indian tablas. This is followed by a high-angle view of a terraced house in London, from which Darshan leaves to attend dance school. In a large rehearsal hall, a group of male and female dancers practice their routines, as in voiceover Darshan explains how he views dance as an art form. The film follows Darshan as he walks across parkland with high rise flats and office blocks providing a backdrop to his narrative. The film cuts back to the rehearsal hall where Darshan performs with a female partner. In his apartment, he talks on camera about how the Sikh religion views his chosen career. Darshan says Sikhism is strict when it comes to bodily display especially for girls, which he says is surprising since dance is a strong part of Sikh culture. He says he doesn’t come into contact with the Indian community and he has stopped attending the temple. He says he hasn’t abandoned all the beliefs of his religion, but obviously doesn’t wear the turban or other traditional accouterments. He continues his commentary as the film follows him back onto London streets not far from the Post Office Tower. A still photograph follows of Darshan on a visit to India at the time of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights which provides the inspiration for a new work. Another still photograph shows Darshan in a pool, which then cuts back to the rehearsal hall as Darshan recounts an experience he had in a hospital, which has been translated into part of a new dance. He continues the story which involved a Sikh man who had been admitted to the hospital with a serious neck injury and subsequently died in the bed next to him. Darshan then demonstrates how the man lay in his bed, which is how the new dance starts. The film cuts to Darshan sitting against a large studio mirror as a colleague goes through the opening movements. The film returns to a view of the exterior of Darshan’s old school in Leeds, and a group of children with Darshan amongst them being led across the road under the watchful eye of school crossing officer. The commentary outlines that Harehills middle school incorporates compulsory dance lessons in its curriculum. The film shows a number of students going through practice routines. The commentary states that a number of former pupils have gone on to be professional dancers. Darshan gives some instruction to his students, as it is revealed that he has been given an arts council grant to produce a new work with his most promising students. On camera students involved with the new work enthuse about the project and Darshan himself. The film shows Darshan instructing his dancers, who he considers the best in the country for their age. He also praises the school for being so forward thinking in making dance part of the curriculum. The students follow Darshan’s instruction and practice a routine. On screen one of his students says that dance gives him the chance of creating something unique, another student sees dance very much as part of his future, as does another who wants to follow Darshan’s lead by attending the London School of Contemporary Dance. General views show more of Darshan’s rehearsal with his students, then the film cuts to a snow-covered area outside looking towards a row of terraced houses. The film ends as on screen Darshan explains that London is very definitely his new home since his he’s been away for so long, but he likes to come back to Leeds when he can.