THE WEEK IN MUSIC

A Survivor’s Tribute

In wake of the disastrous that struck Japan (and therefore the world) on March 11, 2011, Czech Republic supermodel Petra Nemcova on Monday dedicated her first routine on the new season of Dancing with the Stars to all of the victims and people of Japan, and everyone affected by what happened there.

The performance was a fox-trot dance to the tune of Nora Jones’ “Don’t Know Why I Didn’t Come”, and despite the special dedication of the song, she received only a 18/30, which placed her behind the likes of Chelsea Kane, Hines Ward, Romeo, Ralph Macchio, Chris Jericho, and Kirstie Alley, who all received higher scores.

Petra’s explained on the episode which aired Monday, March 21^st that she was rehearsing the foxtrot for the season opener when she heard news of the Earthquake and Tsunami. She was immediately devastated and the episode shows footage of her crying and struggling throughout her practice.

“My heart was breaking knowing what people in Japan are going through. I would like to dedicate this foxtrot to every person who has been suffering in Japan and every person who has been impacted by this tragedy."

Petra has a personal connection to this tragedy, as she was a victim in the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami that rocked Thailand, Sri Lanka and parts of India and Indonesia. Petra was on vacation with her then fiancé Simon Atlee in Thailand just one day after Christmas when the deadly wave hit, killing Petra’s fiancé, who drowned, and nearly killing her. She held on to the top of the palm tree for 8 hours to avoid drowning, but in the course of that time had her pelvis bone broken 4 times as a result of debris that was flying through the air and the sheer force and power of the water.

When speaking of the Tsunami on Good Morning America in 2005, she described part of her experience this way:

"In that moment, the power of the water was bringing all the fallen trees, all the broken buildings and all the wood. It was such a strong current, you couldn't do anything. You just had to go with it. Just water rolling and rolling, and when you close your eyes, just water. I couldn't move my legs, I couldn't do anything. I wished I could help. There were so many people with horrible injuries, with blood everywhere. It was like a war movie. There might be pieces of bone stuck to my organs."

A terrible story to have to tell, and one not unlike that which some people recovering in Japan unfortunately have.

The 9.0 earthquake that took place in Japan on March 11, 2011, was then followed by a Tsunami minutes later that caused waves up to 23.6 meters tall to crash onto Japan’s homeland, with the epicenter being just east of the Oshika Peninsula of Tohoku, Japan.

The disaster has claimed more than 10,000 lives, and left thousands more injured and without homes or water or electricity.

Petra believes yet and still in the people though:

"One thing is true - don't give up. There are many stories of hope and loved ones being found… One thing which I have seen personally amongst the disasters is that there is so much unconditional love with people being willing to sacrifice their own lives for others."

Disasters bring out the best in all of us for the most part, and we can only hope that in the midst of this tragedy that the trend continues.