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Hindustan Times
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
18th World Dance Day Festival puts spotlight on heritage, future of Indian dance
New Delhi, The 18th edition of the World Dance Day Festival, which began here on Saturday, puts spotlight on the heritage and future of Indian dance with performances across different dance styles, workshops, lectures and discussions. Conceived and curated by renowned Bharatanatyam dancer and founder of Natya Vriksha Geeta Chandran, the dance festival at the India International Centre opened with a movement and dance aesthetics workshop by noted dancer Tanushree Shankar. On the opening evening, SPICMACAY and its founder Kiran Seth were conferred the Natya Vriksha Lifetime Achievement Award for their "outstanding contribution to preserving India's intangible cultural heritage through youth engagement". The award, which has previously been given to Shanta Serbjeet Singh, Avinash Pasricha, Kamalini Dutt, and Leela Venkataraman, includes an angavastram and a cash honour of ₹1,00,000. "This honour is not mine alone-it belongs to every student who has sat in awe before an artist, to every volunteer who has given their time to SPIC MACAY, and to every institution that believes in the power of the arts to shape minds and lives. In a world of constant change, classical arts anchor us to something deeper, something timeless,' Seth said in a statement. Poet and scholar Ashok Vajpeyi delivered a lecture, "Dancing Away", a poetic and philosophical reflection on how dance, while rooted in the present, opens portals to imagination, memory, and transcendence. The day concluded with Bharatanatyam performance by Madhura Bhrushundi and Kathak recital by Dheerendra Tiwari. 'World Dance Day is a moment to pause and celebrate what dance brings into our lives, not just technique or tradition, but emotion, truth, and transformation. This festival is our offering to the art, and to the young dancers who will carry it forward,"Chandran said. Day two of the dance festival will continue with a workshop Shankar, followed by "Avatarana - The Story of Natya", a theatrically retelling of a 2,500-year-old saga, scripted and performed by Ramaa Bharadvaj, exploring the divine origins of Indian dance through humour and insight. The festival will come to an end with Kuchipudi by Abhinaya Nagajothy and Odissi performance by Shashwati Garai Ghosh.
Mint
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Planner: 5 events that make this a good weekend
Method, Delhi, is presenting a unique showcase as its second exhibition at its new space in the Capital. The exhibition, Bambai Se Aaya Mera Dost, brings the collective force of the Mumbai art landscape to Delhi. For Sahil Mehta, founder and curator at Method, this show is a celebration of friendship, community and creative exchange as 16 galleries from Mumbai are presenting some of the artists that they represent. 'The show highlights the bonds that transcend competition and foster collective growth,' states the gallery note. Some of the participating artists include Wolf, Saviya Lopes and Vikrant Bhise. On view till 18 May at Method Delhi, Defence Colony, 12-8pm (closed on Monday). POND II, a piece of art created by Rai on show at 'Artists for Artists' exhibition at Experimenter, Kolkata. Experimenter is presenting Artists for Artists across its two gallery spaces in Kolkata. The showcase features four solo projects by artists Aishwarya Arumbakkam, Rupali Patil, Rai and Sathish Kumar. Each of these practitioners has been chosen by a fellow artist from the gallery's programme. For instance, Ten Sounds I Cannot Hear by Arumbakkam and Kumar's Sunlight have been selected by Sohrab Hura, Patil's If We Opened People Up, We'd Find Landscapes by Rathin Barman and Fever by Rai by Bhasha Chakrabarti. At Experimenter, Ballygunge Place and Hindustan Road, till 14 June, 10.30-6.30pm (closed on Sunday and Monday). Padmashri awardee Geeta Chandran Curated by Padmashri awardee Geeta Chandran, the 18th edition of the annual World Dance Day Festival will include workshops on dance aesthetics by Tanusree Shankar; performances by artists like Madhura Bhrushundi (Bharatanatyam), Abhinaya Nagajothy (Kuchipudi) and Dheerendra Tiwari (Kathak); and solo dance drama, Avatarana – The Story of Natya, by Ramaa Bharadvaj that explores the origins of traditional dance forms. At India International Centre, Lodi Road, Delhi, 26-27 April, timings vary. For details, visit A sculpture on show at Alchemy of Matter exhibition. Alchemy of Matter, a group exhibition presented by the Lexicon Art gallery and curated by Rahul Bhattacharya, explores how artists of Vadodara are experimenting with materials like canvas, clay, glass and bronze. Among the participating artists are Mayur Gupta, Chander Prakash and Azghar Ali. At Main Art Gallery, Bikaner House, Pandara Road, Delhi, 26-29 April, 11am-7pm. 'A Malabar Journey' features dishes inspired by chef Gautam Krishnankutty's trips to Kannur, Kerala.
The Hindu
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
NATYA VRIKSHA's World Dance Day festival features an impressive line-up of artistes
NATYA VRIKSHA is all set to present the 18th edition of its special event, organised each year to mark World Dance Day. It is conceived and curated by senior Bharatanatyam dancer Geeta Chandran. 'World Dance Day is a moment to pause and celebrate what dance brings into our lives, not just technique or tradition, but emotion, truth and transformation. This festival is our offering to the art, and to the young dancers who will carry it forward,' says Geeta Chandran. What sets this festival apart is its inclusive embrace of classical, contemporary and experimental dance forms. This year's line-up includes performances by Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi and Odissi artistes. Each day, the festival opens with a workshop 'Movement and Dance Aesthetics', to be conducted by dancer and choreographer, Tanusree Shankar. Over the course of two days, there will be a witty theatrical retelling of an ancient story, scripted and performed by Ramaa Bharadvaj as well as a lecture by Ashok Vajpeyi on how dance, while rooted in the present, opens portals to imagination, memory and transcendence. There will also be performances by Madhura Bhrushundi (Bharatanatyam), Dheerendra Tiwari (Kathak), Abhinaya Nagajothy (Kuchipudi) and Shashwati Garai Ghosh (Odissi). Another key highlight is the conferment of the sixth NATYA VRIKSHA Lifetime Achievement Award to SPIC MACAY and its founder Kiran Seth, in recognition of their tireless efforts in preserving and promoting India's cultural heritage amongst youth. 'This honour is not mine alone — it belongs to every student who has sat in awe before an artiste, to every volunteer who has given their time to SPIC MACAY, and to every institution that believes in the power of the arts to shape minds and lives,' said Kiran Seth. The World Dance Day Festival 2025 will take place on 26th and 27th April at India International Centre, New Delhi. The festival line-up April 26, 9.30 a.m.: 'Movement and Dance Aesthetics' workshop by Tanusree Shankar. 4.15 p.m.: Lecture: 'Dancing Away' by Ashok Vajpeyi; 6:30 p.m: Young Dancers Festival – Madhura Bhrushundi (Bharatanatyam) and 7.45 p.m.: Dheerendra Tiwari (Kathak). April 27, 9.30 a.m.: 'Movement and Dance Aesthetics' workshop by Tanusree Shankar. 4.15 p.m.: 'Avatarana – The Story of Natya', scripted and performed by Ramaa Bharadvaj; 6:30 p.m.: Young Dancers Festival featuring Abhinaya Nagajothy (Kuchipudi) and 7.45 p.m.: Shashwati Garai Ghosh (Odissi).
