Orissa troupes next stop: London,NY

The heartwarming story of Behrampurs Prince Dance Troupe,which won the first edition of the reality show Indias Got Talent last Saturday,is set for another fairytale twist. The 26-member troupe,comprising daily-wage earning labourers,students,small-time traders and two polio-afflicted children,will now be sent to London and New York by the state government.

The group,which did not have any formal training in dance or theatre,won the hearts and minds of the audience with their presentation of the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu through the Dasavatar act. You have won the hearts of the people of our state and of the rest of the nation. Like Diwali lights,you have illuminated India with your magical performance. Now the time has come to conquer the world, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik,one of the first to send his SMS in their favour, told them here. The troupe is planning to set up a dance school with part of the Rs 50 lakh prize money they have earned and will admit poor children free of cost.

Naveen declared that the cash-rich Orissa Mining Corporation would bear the expense of the troupes journey to London and New York. The trip will help them to gain more ideas about dance art, he said. Naveen has invited the troupe to participate in the forthcoming National Youth Festival that is to be held in Bhubaneswar in January 2010. He also told them that he would write a letter to the Union Sports Minister for the groups participation in the cultural programmes of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Naveen later presented the group with a trophy of a crystal ball that symbolises the globe.