Doha, Apr 25: With just a few days to go for the grand finale of 'Gulf Naach Baila', the first-ever inter-Gulf Baila dance competition, hectic preparations are under way by the organisers Mangalore Cricket Club (MCC), even as the finalists gear up for the ultimate challenge. Gulf Baila Naach is being organized as part of the silver jubilee celebrations of MCC, the united forum of Mangalureans working and residing in the oil-rich country of Qatar.

Baila songs and dance are considered part and parcel of Mangalurean Konkani-speaking community. It was MCC's deep desire to give a platform to dancers and bring them to limelight that gave birth to Gulf Baila Naach. After gruelling preliminary and semi-final rounds in each of the participating Gulf country, Doha, the capital city of Qatar is all set to host the mega finals to be held at the majestic Regency Halls here on Friday April 28.

While the 6 dancing pairs are set to enthral and entertain the audience, the event will also provide an opportunity to the audience to witness some sterling performance of Band Charitra, a top-notch Indi-pop band that hast taken Mangaluru by storm in the last few years. MCC has roped in expert and renowned personalities from the dancing arena to be part of the jury. Come April 28 and all roads are set to turn towards Regency Halls as a host of renowned personalities descend in Doha and mesmerise the audience with their stunning performances.

Following are the finalists who will fight it out to be the first 'Baila Zoddem' at the first-ever Gulf Baila Naach:

Qatar: Naveen D’Souza and Vijaya D’Souza

Naveen is the son of Thimothi and Celine D’Souza of Permannur and holds a degree in fine arts from Sandesha College of Fine Arts, Mangaluru. He is currently working as an IT technician at a prestigious MNC and is residing in Qatar with his wife Sunitha.

Vijaya D’Souza, the daughter of Thomas and Florine D’Souza of the Holy Spirit Church, Bajal in the Mangaluru diocese has created a niche for herself as a dancer and choreographer in Qatar. There are hardly any Konkani cultural events that are held without a dance performance or choreography by Vijaya. She is an MBA in HR and is working and residing in Qatar with her husband Nelson and little child.

Kuwait: Patrick Ancil Benito and Laveena Thelma Rodrigues

            
Laveena Thelma Rodrigues hails from Neerude parish, Mangaluru. She is currently working in Kuwaitis Distinguished Systems General Trading Co as an HR executive. She is the daughter of Celine Alice Rodrigues and the late Mark Rodrigues. She is happily married with two lovely kids.

Patrick Ancil Benito is the son of Flora and the late Lawrence Benito, hailing from Maria Ashram, Talapady, Mangaluru. He works as a store keeper for RAYS General Trading and Contracting Co WLL, Kuwait.

UAE: Nickshan Vishal D’Souza and Sharal Carol D’Souza

Nickshan, son of Felix and Rufina D’Souza of Kulshekar, holds a graduate degree in science and is employed in the UAE.

Sharal is the daughter of Thomas and Irene D’Souza of Valencia. Sharal holds a masters degree in commerce.

Oman: Deepak Ranjan D’Souza and Glenda Castelino

Deepak, a civil engineer by profession is the son of Joseph and Florine D’Souza of Bendore in Mangaluru diocese. He is married to Lydia Nancy and is blessed with two lovely daughters Daisha and Laisha.

Glenda is the daughter of Gilbert and Ida Castelino from Holy Spirit Church, Ghala, Muscat. They are long-time residents of Oman. Glenda was brought up in Oman and holds a degree of MBA in finance.

Saudi Arabia: Harold Mathias and Reema Mathias

Harold, son of Lawrence Mathias from Kandivali, Mumbai is a native of Shankerpura in the Udupi diocese. He has currently been working in Damman-KSA.

Reema Mathias is the daughter of Albert Cardoza from Shankerpura in Udupi diocese.

Bahrain: Anugraha D’Souza and Pramila Pinto

Anugraha D’Souza is the son of Xavier and Felcine D’Souza of St Joseph Vas Church, Mudipu in the Mangaluru diocese. He holds a Bachelor’s degree and is employed in Bahrain as of now.

Pramila Pinto is the daughter of Jeevan and Alice Pinto of Divine Mercy Church, Bhayander. She is a nurse by profession.

Judges

The grand event will be judged by some of the well-known and experienced names in the dancing industry such as Avil Deepak D’Cruz, director and leader of Naach Sobhann, Cecille Rodrigues, first runner-up at the prestigious Dance India Dance Super Moms, India’s best-known dance reality show and Elton Mascarenhas, well-known choreographer who has choreographed Nach Baliye 7.

Avil Deepak D'Cruz:

Avil Deepak should be credited for having made Konkani baila dance popular in and around Mangaluru. A founding member of Naach Sobhann dancing troupe under the aegis of Mandd Sobhann, Avil is currently the director and leader of Naach Sobhann.


He has been part of dancing troupe across the GCC, Mumbai, Mangaluru for more than a decade. He is the recipient of the prestigious '12th Kalakaar Puraskar 2016' given by Carvalo Gharane in association with Mand Sobhann. He was also conferred with the 'Yuva Puraskar 2017' given by Konkani Sahithya Academy at Town Hall at the recently-held Konkani Lokotsav.

He has been a choreographer for almost all the major Konkani shows in the last 18 years. Other than this he has conducted dance workshops, choreographed 4 Konkani dance plays, trained scores of children at summer camps and even choreographed corporate events. He has also produced 'Dance Hits', Konkani dance numbers’ album as well as choreographed Konkani video albums 'Dance Masti' and 'Sophia'.

Cecille Rodrigues:

Cecille is one of the most recognizable faces in India’s burgeoning dance scene. Her reputation as an elite dancer was further cemented during her outstanding performances during Zee TV’s Dance India Dance Super Moms inaugural edition. She stood 2nd in the competition, having impressed the judges and audience alike.

Cecille is currently the director at CAPA (Cecille Academy of Performing Arts), Goa’s number one dance academy. She is Goa's best known certified Zumba and Aqua Instructors.

She has represented Goa - India for international youth dance festival in Macau in 2011 and Goa Daman Diu for 5th Lusofonia Musical show in Macau in 2013. She was invited to be part of Zee TV’s Dance ka Tashan (competition - Kids Vs Moms).

She was conferred with the Goa Women of the Decade Achievers Award at the women economic forum - All ladies forum.

Elton Mascarenhas:

Much before Elton acted as hero in the much-acclaimed, super-duper hit Konkani film 'Noshibacho Khell', Elton had established himself as one of the finest choreographers in Mumbai and had even gone on to be the lead choreographer for the 7th edition of Nach Baliye dancing reality show being telecasted by Star Plus.

He has worked with some of the biggest names of the Bollywood such as Amitabh Bachchan, Parineeti Chopra, Sonali Bendre, Shaan, Aarthi Chabriya, Chang, Neha Bashin, Rashmi Desai etc. He has assisted in choreographing various reality shows on television like Dance India Dance, India’s Got Talent, Boogie Woogie, Jhalak Dikhla Jaa, Nach Baliye, Just Dance, Kaun Banega Crorepathi etc.

Before he moved to Mumbai to keep his passion for dance alive, he had worked in Mangaluru, where he did more than 300 corporate shows and is presently choreographing a dance crew 'Team Velocity' in Mangaluru. Team Velocity has performed in almost all TV channels and reality shows. He is trained in various styles ranging from Salsa to the ballroom dances, contemporary, jazz, hip hop to Bollywood.

The event will be compered by one of Konkani’s best and Gulf region’s favourite comperes Roshan D’Silva, Dubai and young yet popular Hera Pinto from Mangaluru.

Roshan D'Silva:

Roshan needs no introduction as he has compered plenty of Konkani musical shows for various artists like Melwyn Peris, Lancy Noronha, Norbert Pereira, Maxim Pereira and Vincent Fernandes, Casica. Out of the many reality shows Roshan has hosted, Gulf Voice of Mangaluru and Naach Baila Naach by Mogachi Lharan troupe in Dubai in the year 2012 are a top few. He is known for his unique style and spontaneous wit that enables him to keep the audience engaged and interested throughout the course of the event. He is high on demand in the Gulf region and stands in the top wrung among Konkani comperes of the day

Hera Pinto:

Hera started her career as a compere in the year 2010, and since then has been no looking back. Tagged with a punchline “Spreading Smiles”, she has been creating waves in the entertainment industry. Known for her abilities, to convert any event into a fun-loving and entertaining event, Hera has not only done events locally, but internationally as well. Hera has also penned down lyrics for songs in Konkani as well as English. She has also won accolades as a singer, actor and athlete.

All in all, the entire event promises to be one of the best organized events in Qatar. It would be a fitting tribute to MCC as it completes 25 glorious years of its existence. With celebrity and experienced jury, esteemed chief guests and guests, lively and spontaneous comperes and ever cheering, ever supportive Doha audience, the grand finale promises to be one-of-its-kind in the history of all Konkani reality shows and is sure to throw up a nail-biting finish to the silver jubilee celebrations of Mangalore Cricket Club.