Citygritty 8212; Pune

Tradition takes overThe Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, Ahmedabad, founded in 1949 by Mrinalini and Vikram Sarabhai, celebrates its g...

Tradition takes over
The Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, Ahmedabad, founded in 1949 by Mrinalini and Vikram Sarabhai, celebrates its golden jubilee on December 28. On this occasion, the artistes and the academy8217;s staff announced India8217;s biggest annual award for classical dance, the Mrinalini Sarabhai Award for Classical Excellence.

Sarabhai, who has trained over 18,000 students in Bharatnatyam and Kathakali, has always insisted on strict adherence to rigorous classical training before innovating. It is to celebrate this insistence on classical excellence that the award is being instituted in her name.

The award Rs. 1 lakh and a rotating trophy will go to any classical dancer between 40 and 50 years. Applications will be available from the Darpana Academy, Usmanpura, Ahmedabad 8211; 380013, after April 1999. These will be presented and verified by a jury comprising eminent dancers before a finalist is selected. The first award will be announced at the Vikram Sarabhai International Arts Festival in December 1999, at the close of the Golden Jubilee celebrations in Ahmedabad. Pune dancers, here8217;s an opportunity to prove your mettle!

Where8217;s the beard?
Santa Maria! That8217;s what party-goers at the 10 Downing Street Christmas Eve bash would have probably exclaimed as they entered the party zone. For standing at the entrance were two Santas 8211; minus white beard and pot belly; replaced by slinky cocktail dresses. Two pretty young things in haute red numbers with a Santa cap stood greeting the guests with broad smiles. Later the duo also trooped into the main area where they livened things up by shaking a leg.

With games that involved guessing the names of Santa8217;s eight reindeers on the basis of a song and fishing out little gift packs from a stocking full of confetti, the Christmas spirit caught on. Prizes in the form of T-shirts sponsored by Jamp;B were handed out to the winners. Merry Christmas? You bet!

Have a good read
Holidays, a great time to catch up on your reading, and giving you the opportunity to do just that is the Utkarsh Book Service, a name well-known amongst school-going students. On December 28, it inaugurates its annual book exhibition at the Acharya Atre Sabhagriha, at the hands of University of Pune Vice-Chancellor Arun Nigavekar. On display will be a range of books in Marathi and English, including those from Utkarsh8217;s own publishing house. Time to read on8230;

Good things in Store
Santa helps with the shopping, at least The Bombay Store on M.G. Road certainly thinks so. As part of their Christmas celebrations, the store had a line-up of events inspired by the Yuletide spirit. The store has been specially done up by Tanaz Kothari for the festive season and the events have included carol singing and a family band called Twinkling Stars presenting pop and jazz 8211; all of it inside the store. On December 27, a fancy dress competition for children is also slated to take place.