Whirling wheelchairs captivate audience

Dancers — four in wheelchairs and three Bharatnatyam artistes — presented a jugalbandi of the abled and disabled. Their ease,grace and synchronisation made the audience forget about the wheelchairs.

Pasha walked onto the stage to thunderous applause. He asked the audience to raise their hands and shake their palms as the girls were hearing impaired and could not hear the applause. Pasha explained how he uses vibrations to explain beats and rhythm to his hearing impaired Bharatnatyam students.

The next performance was a retelling of the Bhagvad Gita. Crutches became the bow and arrow of Arjun and the wheelchair Lord Krishna’s chariot.

The chief guest for the event was Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan.

AUF was founded in 1988 in Ghaziabad to nurture the hidden potential of the differently abled.

Pasha has taught over 150 differently abled students through music and dance therapy. The foundation also trains students in music editing,theatre,lights,sound and makeup. “Some of my differently abled students are excellent trainers and dance choreographers,” he said.

Vijay Kumar,one of the performers,lost function of his lower limbs due to polio at an early age. He said he feels no fear when it comes to performing complex dance moves on the wheelchair. “The energy and response of the audience and our Guruji’s blessings are all the encouragement we need.”

amruta.lakhe@expressindia.com