Short Take

Unity in diversity may sound hackneyed but when it comes to India’s culture no other adage is more appropriate. And the upcoming All India Tribal Dance Festival proves the point. Twelve troupes from India come together under the skies to Rang Bhavan — tribals need open spaces to integrate their dance form with nature — to give urban audiences a glimpse of rich cultural heritage.

Says Dr S P Godrej, president of the festival, "The tribal people are the original sons of the soil. They have an intimate connection with nature… and together they form the perfect balance of nature."

Showcasing this balance between man and his surroundings is the martial dance form of Thang Ta from Manipur, the Kalasi (or Pitcher) dance from the Mayurbhanj district of Orissa and the Chhau dance of Purulia, to name a few. Put together for the second consecutive year by Udaybhanu, a social service organisation, Dr P C Alexander, Governor of Maharashtra, will inaugurate the festival on Oct 23.

Donor passes in the denominationof Rs 100 and Rs 50 are available at Rhythm House.

At Rang Bhavan, Dhobi Talao. From Oct 23 to 25, 1998. Time: 6.00 pm.