Khushi Archive 2013
January 2013: Charitable Status Achieved!
Khushi Feet is very pleased to announce that we have now achieved charitable status and have been entered onto the Register of Charities with the Registered Charity Number 1150339. What a great start to the new year!
January 2013: Street School Building Extension
We have sent out another £1000 to the GNCEM street schools in Kolkata. This money will be used to assist the building extension of the Daspara school. Day by day their numbers are increasing so they need a much bigger school building!
January 2013: Khushi Does Bollywood Promo Photoshoot
Khushi Feet have had a very exciting photoshoot, producing some promotional images for the 'Khushi does Bollywood' World Record Attempt. We would like to say a big thank you to Ash Mukherjee (our Bollywood dancer and choreographer), photographer Samantha Jones and the Abbey School, Faversham. Look out for the publicity in the coming months.
January 2013: 'Guinness' Accept World Record Application
Guinness World Records are pleased to confirm that our world record attempt for the 'Largest Bollywood Dance' application has been accepted! Things are getting exciting so keep spreading the word.
February 2013: Text Giving Goes Live
NB. Please do NOT try to donate - this is no longer active
You can now donate to Khushi Feet via text giving! To donate, text ‘FEET29′ followed by the amount (£1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10) to 70070. For example: to give £2, text: FEET29 £2. Texts are charged at your mobile phone operator’s standard rate. The charity will receive 100% of your donation. You must be 16 or over and please ask the bill payer’s permission.
March 2013: Over £7000
Thank you to Dover Baptist Church for inviting us to their 'Curry and Casserole'. We had great fun talking about Khushi Feet and Bollywood dancing. Plus, thanks to lots of kind donations, our total raised so far has now exceeded £7000!
March 2013: Faversham Dances for Comic Relief
We had a great time last Sunday performing as part of Sainsbury's FUNdraiser for Comic Relief: Red Nose Day 2013.
March 2013: Update from GNCEM
We love receiving updates from the GNCEM Schools in Kolkata. They have just sent us this wonderful photo. We have also been informed that many of the children have Chickenpox at the moment - we hope they get better soon!
March 2019: World Record Attempt Launch Announcement
On Saturday 29th June 2013 Khushi Feet will be attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the largest Bollywood dance and we need YOU to take part.
The current world record of 4,428 people was set in Mumbai, India on 1st March 2012. We are aiming to beat the record with a simple but hugely enjoyable dance designed for those who have never danced before. Absolutely no dance skills are required - anyone and everyone can do it from children to grandparents! (Under 11s must be accompanied by an adult).
The FREE event will take place on the Abbey School field, Faversham, Kent, ME13 8RZ. Gates open at 12noon with free parking and entertainment provided. Why not come early for a picnic lunch? Or if you prefer, you will be able to buy food - there will be many tasty treats including: a Hog Roast, Corinne's Curries, Burgers, Ice Cream, Cakes & Biscuits, and Pancakes!
At 2pm all participants need to be in place to learn the Bollywood dance. The dance has been choreographed and will be taught by leading Indian dancer Ash Mukherjee. The actual record attempt will take place at 3pm.
We are challenging groups of all kinds - schools, pubs, work places, dance groups - to take part by bringing the largest possible team of people.
Donations will be collected on the day for Khushi Feet, raising money and awareness for Schools for Street Children in Kolkata. (You can donate now!)
The event will feature cutting-edge Indian dancer and choreographer Ash Mukherjee. Ash has danced for Mother Teresa, was hand-picked to duet with Michael Jackson in his 'This Is It!' concert tour, choreographed Katie Melua's music video 'The Flood', and appeared on BBC Three's 'Move like Michael Jackson'.
Breaking news: Michael Jackson’s associate producer and dancer Alif Sankey is coming to Khushi Does Bollywood!
We are very excited to announce that Alif Sankey is flying in to join us for the ‘Khushi Does Bollywood’ world record attempt on Saturday 29th June! Alif worked as an associate producer and dancer for Michael Jackson’s ‘This Is It!’ tour. She first met Michael Jackson when she was a dancer in his 1987 ‘Smooth Criminal’ video. She has also worked with Kenny Ortega and the ‘High School Musical’ Team.
Alif says working with Michael Jackson was "magical". She is very excited about being a part of ‘Khushi Does Bollywood’ alongside Ash Mukherjee.
FAQs
What is Khushi Does Bollywood all about?
Khushi Does Bollywood is an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest Bollywood dance. To do this, we need people of all ages, dancers and those who have never danced before, to sign up for a fantastic day out with a difference. That means YOU!
How much does it cost?
Nothing. It's free. We are hoping that everyone who takes part will make a donation to Khushi Feet to support the work of the schools for street children in Kolkata. Maybe £2, or perhaps something more generous. No hard sell, though!
Do I have to dance?
We can't make you. But our experience has been that Bollywood is infectious, and this dance is designed to appeal to all ages and be suitable even for people who have never danced before. Ever. So surprise yourself!
I'm not a dancer so will I be able to do it?
Yes! Yes! Yes! We've seen Ash leading workshops, and before very long even the most unlikely people who have never danced before, or even dreamed that they could, are joining in. Bollywood is infectious! It's irresistible! We can't say this enough, you can do it. Just be prepared to give it a go and surprise yourself. In our Step-By-Step Tutorial, the moves are broken down one by one. On the day it will be possible to follow Ash and the dance leaders.
Do I need to know the dance before the day?
No. It is easy to pick up, and will be taught to everyone at 2pm on the afternoon of Khushi Does Bollywood. On the other hand, Ash Mukherjee teaches the dance on video here, so you can learn it in advance if you want to.
How good do I need to be?
Just do it to the best of your ability. That's all we ask.
Do I need to register?
No, but registration is fast and free. It helps us manage the event and it helps you on the day. Just show us your registration ticket on the day and we will fast track your entry.
Where is ‘Khushi Does Bollywood’ being held?
The Abbey School, Faversham. Please aim to arrive in good time. Car parking is available and free, and the school is easily accessible by road via the M2 and M20, though we are asking people local to Faversham to walk wherever possible. The railway station is within ten minutes walk.
What do I need to wear?
Bollywood is a fusion of Indian and western styles. No particular dress is required, but choose something bright, colourful and comfortable!
The dance is suitable for all ages, dancers and non-dancers alike. Anyone can do it!
Here is a video of Ash teaching the moves and performing the dance. Please remember that you do not need to have learnt the dance before the day as Ash will be running though the moves at 2pm and you will be able to follow him. It is infectious and fun. You can do it!
If seeing the whole thing is daunting or if you would like to spend more time learning the dance, you can see the dance broken down into smaller individual segments on our step by step Dance Tutorial page.
March 2019: Khushi Does Bollywood Flash Mob
On Saturday 30 March we were out and about with our Khushi Does Bollywood Flash Mob in Faversham to officially launch the event in June. Many thanks to the town council, the railway station, Faversham swimming pool, Morrison's and Sainsbury's for their cooperation. Here's the video. It may have been snowing to start with, but we kept dancing until the sun came out!
April 2013: Khushi in the News
Local newspapers have covered the story of Khushi Feet over the last year or so. We are very grateful for their support.
April 2013: School Dance Workshops
Our Khushi Does Bollywood Dance Workshops are well underway in the local area. Over the next few weeks, schools in the Faversham, Whitstable and Canterbury areas will be experiencing just a little bit of Bollywood, Khushi style!
This week has already seen some fantastic Bollywood dancing (thank you for all your 'enthusiasm' donations to Khushi Feet) and great assemblies. We are looking forward to more Bollywood workshops next week, and for a little while to come.
April 2013: Dance Leaders for KDB First Rehearsal
As School Bollywood Workshops continue (including our biggest so far yesterday afternoon at Kent College, Canterbury) our fabulous Dance Leaders have had their first rehearsal. Thank you to the Performing Arts students at the The Abbey School, Faversham for learning the Bollywood dance and training as our Dance Leaders for the event.
And here is the result (though please note that the choreography has changed a little since their rehearsal - you can watch and learn the dance we are using on the day on the Learn The Dance page or work on the individual moves with our Dance Tutorial):
May 2013: Khushi Out and About
Khushi The Cow visited Faversham's Transport Weekend last weekend recruiting more people to take part in the Khushi Does Bollywood world record attempt next month! Where have you seen Khushi out and about?
June 2013: Times Of India Article
Little' ol' Khushi Feet has made it as far as The Times of India!
The market town of Faversham is what 18,000-odd people call home. Not even one per cent of the town's population understands Hindi but come Saturday June 29, the grounds of The Abbey School in Faversham will see hundreds of people dancing to the song that made locomotives cool again, 'Chaiyya chaiyya' from 'Dil Se' (1998). The mass dance session is courtesy Khushi Feet, a UK charity established by Faversham resident Emily Cook to raise money and awareness for street children in Kolkata.
Read the full article: click here
June 2013: Khushi Does Bollywood Event Information
We are looking forward to seeing you on Saturday 29 June at 12noon for Khushi Does Bollywood. We are sure you are going to have a fun day out. No previous dance experience is necessary. Wear something bright, colourful and comfortable. Please aim to arrive in good time. Car parking is available and free, though we are asking people local to Faversham to walk wherever possible. The train station is a ten minute walk.
If you have pre-registered, please bring your registration ticket with you. You will need this to gain fast-track entry. The event is free, but you will be able to make a donation to Khushi Feet which supports schools for children living on the streets of Kolkata. We are suggesting a donation of £2 per person, but please feel free to be more generous!
12noon Gates open: Upon arrival, you will be given a coloured wristband with a letter and number on. This is vital to the World Record attempt.
Between 12 and 2pm, you will be able to purchase food from the food outlets and visit the stalls.
Food: Easy Nuh Caribbean Cuisine - Authentic, wholesome Caribbean cuisine at the best prices; Wheatless Eats - Homemade wheat free, gluten free, nut free and dairy free cakes, tarts, gallettes, savoury pies and bread; Corinne's Creative Kitchen - Indian and Thai dishes produced with local meats and a unique blend of fresh vibrant spices; Gatesys Burgers - 100% beefburgers and local korkers sausages, general hot and cold food, drinks and snacks; Al’s Hog Roast - Top quality, hand-reared, roasted meat with tasty crackling; Ron’s Ices – Delicious Ice Creams and refreshing ice lollies; Willows Coffee Shop - Artisan Coffee made by hand.
Stalls: including . . . Khushi merchandise and cakes, henna tattooing, plus meet Khushi the Cow and have your photo taken in front of the Taj Mahal!
From 12:30pm, enjoy the entertainment from the main stage, including: Arunima Kumar Dance, Ash Mukherjee, Leigh Miles Zumba, and Stage Antics.
Approaching 2pm, Khushi Feet stewards will be stationed around the field holding up coloured signs containing a letter. At this point, please make your way over to the stewards whose sign corresponds to the letter and colour of your wristband.
2:00pm Learn the Dance! Bollywood dance workshop lead by Ash Mukherjee.
3:00pm World Record Attempt
The event should finish about 3.30pm.
June 2013: A 'Khushi Does Bollywood' Thank You!
Everyone's exhausted here at Khushi HQ after a fantastic day yesterday! No world record (this time!) but we think we were close to the British record and we raised loads of money.
Khushi Does Bollywood would not have been possible without the support of many people who have donated their time, talents, and resources. A huge THANK YOU from the Khushi Feet Trustees to:
ORGANISATION: The Abbey School, Sam Cook, Danny Hales.
MAIN SPONSORS: Queenbourough Fisheries Trust, Souter Charitable Trust.
OTHER SPONSORS: Faversham Baptist Church, Faversham Town Council, Faversham Rotary Club, anonymous donors.
SUPPORTING ARTISTS & PERFORMERS: Ash Mukherjee, Arunima Kumar, Arunima Kumar Dance, Alif Sankey, Minal Koria, Nicola Mayes, Dance Leaders, Leigh Miles Dance & Zumba Fitness, Stage Antics.
PROMOTION: Samantha Jones Photography, Abigail Cook, Abbey Print, New Appointments Group, John Ainsworth, Distinctive Youth Group, Sainsbury’s Faversham, local shops, schools, and groups, The University of Kent.
VOLUNTEERS: Stewards and helpers.
EQUIPMENT: PRS For Music, The Alexander Centre, A1 Event Services, Phonophobia, Shepherd Neame, Kent Events, Churches Together in Faversham, Faversham Enterprise Partnership, Skulduggery.
FOOD OUTLETS: Easy Nuh Caribbean Cuisine, Wheatless Eats, Corinne’s Creative Kitchen, Gatesys Burgers, Al’s Hog Roast, Ron’s Ices, Willows Coffee Shop.
And YOU for turning up! You were all just BRILLIANT!
We said everyone would be guaranteed a fun day out. We were right!
July 2013: Bollywood Fun in the Sun!
‘Khushi Does Bollywood' was a huge success! Despite not breaking the world record (this time!), around 1,500 took part in the day with the vast majority dancing and we think we may have been close to the (unofficial) British record for the largest Bollywood dance.
The event was covered by The Times of India and has been featured on the BBC Asian Network and BBC Radio Kent! We raised loads of money - donations are still coming in - but we have exceeded £4000!
Ash Mukherjee and Alif Sankey wowed the crowds with their Bollywood dance workshop and got all ages dancing! It was incredible to be there and the atmosphere was just magical. Ash said:
“Had such a great day! The best in 2013 by a long mile. Thanks to all who came and the simply lovely folks at Khushi Feet! Love from Alif Sankey and I! xxx”
Thanks go to all our performers – to Leigh Miles Dance and Zumba, and Stage Antics. And we are so so grateful to Arunima Kumar and her dancers, and to Ash Mukherjee and Alif Sankey for coming down to make the event so memorable. It was great to have the Mayor come along as well. But a huge thank you goes to everyone who took part – you were all BRILLIANT! Everyone had a great day (we were very lucky to have such wonderful weather!) and left feeling 'khushi' (happy).
Here are some of the comments left after the event:
- Thank you all for organizing such a fantastic experience. Well done
- my feet hurt so much but we all had such a great day, even Grandma was dancing!
- Well done to you all , was great fun !
- Well I had a few reservations about dancing in public, and during the rehearsal I was panicking big time, BUT I loved it! (And I loved Ash) What a lovely afternoon, spent with so many people with big smiles on their faces Well done all of you especially Emily, who have worked so hard .... I want to do it again!
- Thanks and praise to Emily too. Your stage presence was amazing! So confident! A brilliant day, well done x
- Fantastic. The kids and I loved it. You should be so proud!
- My kids loved it and thanks for their shout out it made their day
- Thank u for a great day loved the dance will b pulling off on the dance floor soon x
- Was having such a fun time yesterday afternoon that I didn't realise that I was getting burnt to a crisp in the wonderful sunshine.
- Well done to Emily and everyone who worked so hard behind the scenes.......... We had a fantastic time.
- It was good, the choreographer was so nice
- HEY ALL U KUSHI FEET ORGANISERs IN FAVERSHAM....i just want to SAY A GREAT BIG THANK YOU FROM ALLL MY FAMILY for the event today and we hope alot of money was raised...more please...we will help...x
- Bollywood dancing for Khushi Feet in the sunshine! Fab way to spend a Saturday afternoon in the sunshine!
thank you ...it was awesome
- We had such a brilliant time! Thank you.
- My 5 year old daughter loved learning the bollywood dance today at the Khushi Feet world record attempt! Thanks for a fun day!
- Had a fab time. Yes please to next year. Xx
- My 5-year old son and I loved it, thank you so much. Hope you raised lots of money.
- What a brilliant day. I was a privilege to help out. Very well done to Emily and the Khushi Feet crew. The day seemed to go like clockwork due to some great organisation. Everyone that I saw had big smiles on their faces. If you can all cope with aonther day like that I think it would be well worth while giving it another go! Very well done everyone!
- Another try definitely it was an amazing day with or without a record xxxx
- An annual Faversham 'Bollywood' Festival perhaps?
- yes please for next year!!! We loved it.
- Massive well done today 2 @KhushiFeet for such an amazing day and fund raising for such a worthy cause. Very glad u invited us :) #faversham
- Thoroughly enjoyed helping out and participating in the world record bollywood attempt for @KhushiFeet :D !!
- Well done @KhushiFeet! A wonderful Bollywood experience - good from you all.
- Inspiring & beautiful day at the Faversham @KhushiFeet Bollywood dance event. Never ceases to amaze me what we can achieve with #peoplepower
- Well done @KhushiFeet for a great day. Was great to help the fantastic event and see so many people taking part. #kdb2013 #khushifeet
- @KhushiFeet @ashdancetheatre Brilliant day today. Thanks to everyone involved #khushidoesbollywood.
- Well done all @KhushiFeet we may not have broken the record but we all had a great time #Favershamrecordbreakers.
@KhushiFeet All of us from Kent College had a fantastic time Bollywood Dancing today! Well done to all!
- Thankyou to khushi feet today at the abbey school faversham I had never done anything like that till today&really enjoyed taking part.keep up the good work&hope u raised lots of money 4 the children xxx
- Thank you! We had such a fab day today at Faversham....we thoroughly loved it, got the dance routine hooked on my mind now :))))
- What a lovely day! Thank you for all your hard work and great enthusiasm for this very worthy charity.
- What a fantastic time we had just now! Thank you so much for putting this on and organising everything. I certainly enjoyed myself and I think everybody else did, too. The teaching was brilliant, too, and even if you weren't doing the dancing yourself you would have been thoroughly entertained. I think you should do it again.
- Had a great time being a part of Khushi does Bollywood, thankyou to everyone who took part, and to those who helped to make the event happen, i also want to say a massive thankyou to Emily who came up with such an amazing charity
- It was a fantastic day. Great atmosphere, plenty of sunshine and loads of money raised! Big thank you to and all the Khushi team.
- Khushi Feet was amazing!!!
So many people worked extremely hard to make this event happen: all our brilliant Khushi volunteers (the Khushi Feet trustees stewards, car parkers, stall holders and the amazing dance leaders from The Abbey School, Faversham! We could not have put on the event without YOU! We are grateful to The Abbey School for all of their support leading up to the event and to our main event sponsors, Queenbourough Fisheries Trust and Souter Charitable Trust. Their support means that all money raised can be sent straight to Kolkata to support schools for children living on the streets. If you would like to add to our total raised then please make a donation to Khushi Feet.
July 2013: International Day at Chatham Boys' Grammar
On Thursday 18th July, Khushi Feet were invited to take part in 'International Day' at Chatham Grammar School for Boys. The day was a celebration of the multicultural dimension of our community and wider world, which aimed to help raise awareness of important global issues.
We ran fundraising workshops for year 7. The workshops involved the students learning about the street schools in Kolkata and hearing about Khushi Feet's fundraising. After this, they were challenged to create and plan their own exciting fundraising activity themed around India, the colour Blue, Footprints or School. The boys were great to work with and they came up with some fantastic ideas.
September 2013: Blue Footprint Award
Have you been inspired to do some fundraising of your own for Khushi? If you have, get in touch with us and tell us all about your fundraising idea. Once you have done your fundraising, let us know what you did and how much you raised and (however old or young you are) you will be sent your very own Blue Footprint Award from Khushi the Cow. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Please note: if you are planning on doing a sponsored event, you can download a sponsorship form here. Alternatively, you can set up your own fundraising page or event via our online giving page.
NB The Blue Footprint Award is a very prestigious certificate not a trophy. It will only be awarded to the most deserving fundraisers.
September 2013: Khushi Gift Cards
Looking for a great present for Christmas, birthdays, or any other occasion? Why not give the gift of a donation to Khushi Feet!
Gifts include: School Books for a Student, Toys and Games for the Baby Care Centre, Fuel for the School Bus for one week, and Daily Meals for a Child for a month. (See below for full list.) Once you have made the appropriate donation we’ll send you a free gift card so you can personalise your gift. Choose a design from the four available. All of your donation will be sent to the street schools in India, but we will give them the flexibility to spend the money on the items that are most needed, if these are different to the examples listed.
How to order: Visit our online giving page and make the appropriate donation using the secure online payment service. You have the option to ‘send the charity a message’ during checkout. Just send us a message with your choice of card (Khushi Cow, Christmas, Lesson or Lunch) when you make your donation, plus the item you want to choose if relevant, and we will post it to you. Please add Gift Aid to your donation if you are a UK taxpayer and don't forget your address!
Gift Items:
Mosquito Net (£2)
School Books for a Student for 1 year (£5)
Toys and Games for the Baby Care Centre (£6)
New Clothes for a Hostel Child (£8)
Fuel for the School Bus for 1 week (£10)
Toiletries for a Street Child and Family (£12)
30 pints of Cow – Milk for a Hostel (£15)
Daily Meals for a Child for 1 month (£20)
Study Table and Bench (£40)
Help Build a School (£100)
Buy a Cow (£500)
Thank you so much for your support!
September 2013: The Khushi Crew
Becoming a member of the Khushi Crew is a really easy way to get involved with Khushi Feet by supporting the charity on a regular basis.
There are 4 levels of membership:
Standard - £2 a month
Bronze - £5 a month
Silver - £10 a month
Gold - £20+ a month
Khushi Crew members will be the first to know about any special events or promotions that Khushi Feet are running!
How to become a member of the Khushi Crew: Visit our online giving page and set up the appropriate monthly donation using the secure online payment service. You have the option to ‘send the charity a message’ during checkout. Just send us a message with your email address when you set up your monthly donation and we will add you to the Khushi Crew. Please add Gift Aid to your donation if you are a UK taxpayer and don’t forget your email address!
Monthly giving is such a simple way of doing what you can to make a difference. So…what are you waiting for? Become a member of the Khushi Crew today.
October 2013: Harvest Supper and Quiz
Harvest is a time to celebrate the wonderful variety of foods we enjoy throughout the year and to give thanks for the sources of these provisions. However, harvest is also a reminder that there are many people in the world who aren’t so fortunate and often go hungry. This is the case for thousands of starving street children in Kolkata, India. But the good news is, Khushi Feet supports street schools which make it a priority to provide these children with a nutritious meal every day!
Invite your friends and come along to Khushi Feet’s Harvest Supper and Quiz (all ages welcome), and your donations will help provide street children with food to be thankful for.
Saturday 5th October 2013, 5pm at Faversham Baptist Church.
It is free to register for the Harvest Supper and Quiz, but donations to Khushi Feet will be collected on the evening: minimum suggested donations: £5 (adults), £3 (under 16s).
There are a limited number of tickets for this event.
Main course: Beef Chilli, Chicken Stew, or Vegetable Curry (all served with Rice). Dessert: Apple Crumble, Chocolate Trifle, or Ice Cream. Please indicate your choice of main course and dessert on the ticket registration form.
October 2013: Miss Khushi Feet at Faversham Carnival
On Saturday 19th October, for one night only, Khushi The Cow became Miss Khushi Feet. Our royal Indian procession showcased the court of Khushi at Faversham Carnival 2013. Our very own Carnival Maharani brought a flavour of India to the procession and won the 'Most Humorous' float award.
November 2013: Giving A Bit
If you shop online you can create free donations for Khushi Feet.
We have registered with givingabit.com who are partnered with thousands of shops that will pay us a donation every time a purchase is made. It will not cost you a penny & it is free to sign up. In fact you could even save money as there are thousands of discount codes too! You still buy directly from your favourite shops, including Amazon, Sainsbury’s, John Lewis, Argos and many more – you just click through to them from givingabit.com.
How can they do this? It is entirely funded by the retailers that are on givingabit.com. They’re happy to pay for a donation, as it is their way of thanking you for making a purchase from their online shop when you visit them from givingabit.com
On average, 3% of whatever you spend is given to us as a donation, but remember, this is at no extra cost to you. With so many shops, from everyday grocery shopping, home & car insurers, as well as mobile phone companies, holiday specialists & everything for the home & garden, there are so many opportunities to create free donations!
All you need to do is go to www.givingabit.com and sign up for free. Then, click on ‘Find a Charity or Community’ from your Quick links box, and choose Khushi Feet. Join our community and start raising money for Khushi Feet.
Remember, it is the shops that pay for the donations – not you! Shop Happy!