HINDUSTANI MUSIC, TABLA AND BHARATNATYAM COURSE
May 5 – June 9, 2015
As usual 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 5, 2015 and lasted till June 9, 2015. The Resource Persons for Tabla were Mr. Rakesh Edwin and Miss Sweta Singh. The Resource Persons for Harmonium were Mr. B. P. Tiwari, Sr. Laetitia and Miss Vandana Rawat. 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 5, 2015 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. 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 May 27, 2015, they put up stage programme with classical and semi-classical music. The Chief Guest of the day was Dr. Ramsudhar Singh, lover of children, music and literature, who stated that the children are like seeds having a lot of potential in them. Nav Sadhana’s programme for children helps to develop their skills, abilities and talents. 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 15, 2015. 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 Sir Vengadesh, Ms.Sandhya T, Cathren Paul, Amita Raj, Ayesha Rahi, Nidhi Charls, Suchita Xalxo, Preeti Mahima Aind, Veronica, Nidhi Charles, Sonia Stephen, Asha Toppo, Abha Toppo, Pooja and Mamta. After the inaugural function, the students were divided into groups. Each group was allotted a place to practice under the able guidance of a teacher. Besides learning dance, they were taught to help each other and to live together in peace and harmony.
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.
The classes came to the culmination with Deekshant Samaroh on June 8, 2015. The young artists presented the classical, semi-classical and folk dances with fine tune and perfection. The Director welcomed the Chief Guest, Rev. Fr. Jerome Barboza, Priest of Bhagalpur Diocese, a great missionary and visionary, committed to the integral growth of children. He was 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. He admired and appreciated the Director, Staff of Nav Sadhana and teachers, who were committed and dedicated to impart knowledge to the children. He 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. He also wished them to continue to practice what they have learnt to master the art of dance. He 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.
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.
