Dancing to the sounds of silence

All that was required to set them off was a sign. And groups of spunky youngsters — ranging from five years of age to teenagers — matched steps to music that they had evidently borne in their hearts for a long time.

Whether it was a vigorous rhythm or the beats of kaharva or chalant or their faster versions or complex ones like deepchandi, roopak or dadra, the children demonstrated their talent and diligence in a remarkable show.

That their efforts touched a chord was evident from the repeated applause from the audience many of whom, too, were handicapped. Standing ovations greeted the Gujarati, Rajasthani and Maharashtrian folk dances.

Jointly organised by Shrimati Kamalaben Badhir Vidyalaya, Lions’ Club International and its different wings and the district social defence department, the State-level dance contest of hearing and speech-impaired children — the seventh in the past 20 years — drew more than 400 disabled children in the audience and 200 performers. Fun and frolic was the order of the day for everyone present. Though K L Shah School, Bhavnagar, bagged the first prize, the host school the second and P S School, Navsari, the third prize, every team received consolation prizes.