Chandini Rambalak Ramnarain: ‘Small people can achieve great things’

Professional dancer and entrepreneur Chandini Rambalak Ramnarain has become an even more well-known personality after producing an international queen at the recent Miss India Worldwide pageant. In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Chandini credits her love for dance for all she has accomplished today.

“After primary school, I joined the Indian Cultural Centre and started dancing classes. My parents are very talented and artistic as well. Growing up, me and my sisters always enjoyed dancing. APSARA started because my family and I wanted to incorporate a fusion of various dance styles and not just focus on one. We wanted to do more contemporary shows. We wanted to be more liberal. This idea came to me after travelling to various countries and seeing their rich culture and entertainment,” she revealed.
In 2008, APSARA was born, and the first show was a hit. It was a fresh concept to performing entertainment in Guyana, and people flocked to the National Cultural Centre to enjoy the dance fusions. That year too was very significant for Chandini. Guyana was hosting Carifesta and the APSARA group had the privilege of performing at the opening ceremony.
“We also went to Trinidad and Grenada to perform. That year I started the APSARA Magazine, which was launched at Carifesta in 2008. That year also we took the show to Berbice. In 2009, we had our second show, which was sold out, and then I had a second showing; we called it the ‘reload’. After that year, I got pregnant and the show went into hiatus for 2010. From 2011, our shows attracted another huge audience. This year we want to do a ‘reload’ again and take it to Berbice. APSARA shows are a result of a great team. I get a lot of support from my family and friends. We design our own outfits and do our own stage props. So it’s all credited to team effort,” Chandini said appreciatively.
In 2009, the Miss India Worldwide came into Chandini’s life. Her sister Padmini was the first contestant from Guyana to enter. Although she did not win, she received the Miss Healthy Hair award. In 2010, Lucria went up but was unable to win the crown due to lack of sponsorship. In 2011, Roshini Boodhoo won the local pageant and went to Dubai for the Miss India Worldwide. She did not win the crown either but received the Miss Congeniality award, which was a significant win. This year, after much experience and strategy with the pageant, Chandini was able to produce the winner, Alana Seebarran, sponsored by New GPC, who is considered to be the first international queen in Guyana.
“At the initial stage of us entering the Miss India Worldwide pageant, I was approached by its committee to be the franchise holder in Guyana. They admired our work and knew of our entertainment background. They knew of our talents and creativity, and that prompted them to make the offer, which I accepted. I was scared at first and timid because I didn’t have the financial backing, but I jumped at the opportunity. It was tough at first trying to get sponsors, but we have endured to produce a winner this year. For the past contestants it was tough because we didn’t get that much financial support, but with Alana I was able to adequately cover costs and we went with a bang. We had a big entourage at the competition and everybody was overjoyed. I didn’t think it to be ‘Alana won’ but that Guyana won. We did it for our country. Alana is the first international queen and I’m happy that I was partly responsible for that,” a joyous Chandini said.
Chandini also expressed her thoughts for pageantry in general. She mentioned although pageants are about intelligence, there must be beauty and brains: they go hand in hand. When Alana walked into the location of the pageant in Suriname, Chandini related, no one heard her speak but were stunned at her beauty, which made all the difference.
“It’s the first thing people see- your beauty. So although intelligence is priority there must be overall beauty. That’s why they are called beauty pageants. My experience over the years has helped me to know what is required for these pageants. With Alana it was easy because she was proactive. She kept fit and stuck to her regimen. I just helped with her talent and grooming. With winning the crown, she received the Best Talent award, and I was given the National Director of the Year award for the work I have done so far. I think we were the first country in the pageant’s history to win all three awards at once. Alana was eloquent and fluent, which made it all easy in the competition,” she outlined.
Chandini’s dreams continued to come through as she had the privilege of attending the Filmfare Awards in India, something she wanted to do all her life. She said it was like a dream she was in, and kept pinching herself. “It was a surreal feeling. Through some of my colleagues in India I also had the privilege to be part of a scene in a new movie, ‘Inkaar’, soon to be launched. It’s a new movie with Arjun Ramphal and Chitrangada Singh. I hope they don’t cut out that scene though. It was a small part where I was dancing but was very significant for me. My sister Lucria, Alana and myself will be journeying to India soon, and I hope to attend the premiere and see myself in a Bollywood movie,” an excited Chandini revealed.
The entrepreneur’s plans, when she returns from her India trip, are to publish her APSARA magazine, which will be entirely on Alana’s journey at the Miss India Worldwide pageant. She is also planning another sold out APSARA show and finding the next Miss India Worldwide 2013 contestant.
“What we need though is much financial support. With this we can produce another winner because we would have enough finance to get what we need. I saw this with Alana and I know what is required. Despite all my challenges, though, I have come through it. I am determined to endure. I’m a small person, small in financial support, but have accomplished great things. There are many times I wanted to quit but I have so much more to accomplish and I’m working towards that. I’m grateful to Lux Entertainment for their support, my friends and family and especially to my husband, Gavin,” she said.