HINDUSTANI MUSIC, TABLA AND BHARATNATYAM COURSE
May 10 – June 10, 2016
The summer course of music and dance was organized by Nav Sadhana Regional Pastoral Centre in view of promoting the young talents, developing dormant, innate skills, cultivating discipline and religious values.
The summer course of Music, i.e. to say the Harmonium Course and Tabla Course began on May 10, 2016 and lasted till June 3, 2016. The Resource Persons for Tabla were Mr. Rakesh Edwin and Fr.Arwind Louis. The Resource Persons for Harmonium were Mr. B. P. Tiwari and Sr. Laetitia. Each participant had his/her own instrument according to the choice of the course. The course was inaugurated with a short prayer and welcomed by Rev.Dr.V.Sebastian, Director on May 10, 2016 at 6.30 p.m. As the course was intensive, they practiced till 10.00 p.m. with enthusiasm, fervour and vigour after the regular class of the day. All of them were eager to learn as early as possible. They did not experience languor or lassitude. The consequence is that they played harmonium and Tabla within a week during the liturgical celebrations to enhance the liturgy. At the end of the course on June 2, 2016, they put up stage programme with classical and semi-classical music. The Chief Guest of the day was Rev.Fr. P. Victor, lover of children, music and Hindi language, who stated that Nav Sadhana’s programme for children helps to develop their skills, abilities and talents. The students were fortunate to have this institute and to develop their innate talents and abilities. It is a commendable job. He appreciated the performance of students and certificates were awarded to the participants by the Chief Guest.
Bharatnatyam summer course began on May 16, 2016. The participants were from all over North Indian states such as Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. The inaugural session began at 6.30 p.m. with a meaningful prayer song. The Director introduced the teachers and explained the purpose of the course with its objectives during the inaugural session. The Resource Persons for Bharatnatyam were Ms Alphonsa Robinson, Ms Damini Mariyam, Ms. Sarita Maurya, Ms.Nidhi Charles, Ms Presy, Ms Pooja, Ms Richa, Ms Payal Mandal, Ms Celina, Ms Reginal Bilung, Ms Tanvi Singh and Ms Priyanka Tigga. After the inaugural function, the students were divided into groups. Each group was allotted a place to practice under the guidance of a teacher. Besides learning dance, they were taught to help each other and to live together in peace and harmony. The teachers, who are the students of the college, had an experience internship as dance teachers. They were very responsible and reliable. The scourging heat did not deter them to carry on their duties with dedication and discipline.
Bharatnatyam students took pains to prepare the liturgy in a meaningful way. Meaningful hymns were chosen and sung during the Mass. Entrance procession, Maha Aarati, dances based on Psalms made the liturgy more meaningful and relevant. Procession to the Grotto of Our Lady, the recital of the Holy Rosary was a regular practice during the month of May and later during the course. After the Rosary, they staged dances based on Hymns to Our Lady. It was joy to see the budding artists performing with zeal and zest.
The classes came to the culmination with Deekshant Samaroh on June 9, 2016. The young artists presented the classical, semi-classical and folk dances such as Marathi dance, Punjabi dance, Prayer dance, Patriotic dance and Fusion dance with fine tune and perfection. The Director welcomed the Chief Guest, Mrs. Santosh Srivastava and the Guest Honour Mrs. Pratima Sinha and the august audience. They were overjoyed to see the recital of the classical dance and got surprised within a short period of time that they could learn and perform with perfection. They admired and appreciated the Director, Staff of Nav Sadhana and teachers, who were committed and dedicated to impart knowledge to the children. They pointed out that Music and dance does not allow the persons to live in languour, lassitude or dejection. The Chief Guest appreciated the budding artists for their remarkable, scintillating performance. Mrs. Pratima Singh adumbrated that Nav Sadhana is a renowned institution and pride of honour in Varanasi City. She also wished the budding artists to continue to practice what they have learnt to master the art of dance. She praised the effort made by the students, who profited from the summer course. The third year students completed the course and received the certificates. Many parents, sisters, fathers and well wishers were present for the concluding ceremony. Dr.Fr. V.Sebastian thanked the teachers, who made efforts to teach new skills to the students and presented tokens of love and appreciation to them. All were invited to a delicious dinner prepared by the domestic staff. The stage was prepared by Fr.C.R.Justy and the team. Dr.Ramsudhar Singh, as friend and well wisher of Nav Sadhana helped us to find suitable persons for the Chief Guest and Guest of Honour. Mr.Kamini Mohan, Professor of Nav Sadhana Kala Kendra continued to be the PRO and used his journalistic talents to publish the news item of Nav Sadhana Summer Course of Music and Dance in the News Papers.
At the end of the course the participants had a word of appreciation and praise for the arrangement, accommodation, food and drink, hospitality, cordiality, amity and comity, friendship and fellowship, affection and availability of all teachers and the staff of Nav Sadhana. One student stated that the words of the director were very encouraging and inspiring to live a life with character and to develop and to enhance one’s personality. They appreciated the teachers’ gentle, kind and compassionate behavior. The participants appreciated dedication and diligence of the domestic helpers. The food was simple, but delicious. Many students came as strangers and left Nav Sadhana as camaraderie.
