Small Talk

Idol talk
While for most kids the entire concept of becoming a national idol meant that they would have to wait until they grew older,the School Idol – Ultimate Dance Contest held by Eventocraft was a good way for the youngsters to prove their mettle on the dance floor. Over 1000 students from 20 schools auditioned for the event that eventually featured the top 15 students who battled it out for top honours on Sunday at the MES Bal Shikshan Mandir Auditorium. The finalists were trained at the Shiamak Davar’s Institute for the Performing Arts and Kalavardhini Institute. Nikita Kank from Millenium National School and Shambhavi Shete from Dyanganga School were the second and first runners-up respectively,with Siddhi Patra from Dyanganga School topping the event. The show was judged by Shruti Shah (from SDIPA),Ketaki Kale (International classical dancer) and actress Priyanka Bhide.

Divine dance
The female form and its divine connotations have been fertile ground for dance inspiration,especially in the Indian traditional dance forms. Pune-based Nrityanjali,a Bharatanatyam institute with a 30-year-old rich history,is organising a dance programme called ‘Shakti Prabhavam’ as a tribute to female power. Based on a song on Parashakti by the famous Tamil poet and freedom fighter Subramania Bharatiar,the presentation will showcase the amalgamation of earth,water,wind,fire and space to form the goddess Parashakti. The performance also aims to comment on the rampant environmental damage that mankind is wreaking,and its pitfalls. The show will be held on August 6,at 6 pm,at Yashwantrao Chavan Sabhagruha.