Bharat Verma Dance Academy
 |
| Training in Afro-Brazilian Dance |
On behalf of The Bharat Verma Dance Academy and its troupe members I would like to thank you and your organisation for including me and my students in your pilot project with the wonderful VANAVER CARAVAN dance company. It was an honour and a nice experience to work with the 4 V.C. troupe members. They are fantastic teachers and performers. We came across several new dance styles through them. They gave us six two-hour workshops and taught us: Maculeyle, Swing Dance, Free Style Contemporary, Hangman’s Reel and shared some tips on Capoeira. They were all so friendly and patient. We hope work with them again in future.
Thanks a lot again to Big Medicine Charitable Trust and The Vanaver Caravan troupe members.
Bharat Verma,
Dancer / Choreographer
Udaipur
Mahila Mandal
 |
| Mahila Mahal Dance Project Participants |
 |
| More proud "grads" |
| Dear Rita It was a great experience to have the Vanaver Caraven Group members-Miranda,Marina,Ramona, Although my school is Hindi medium, their way of teaching was such that every child could learn it easily. The language was not barrier at all. Rita, I am personally grateful to you for bringing this group which definitely brought change in children by making them more confident .This will help in a long way to strengthen their cultural bridges to the wider world. We hope to get your co-operation in the future too. Love Madhu (Madhu Sareen Principal Mahila Mandal Indigenous Girl's Senior Secondary School, Udaipur) St. Mary’s
Our school had the unique privilege of having the BMCT/TVC Pilot Cultural Exchange Programme in the month of January 2012. On behalf of Vanaver Caravan, New Paltz, New York, USA there were three teachers Miranda ten Brocks, Marina Lopez, Ramona Staffeld who taught different dances to 33 students of St. Mary’s Convent Sec. School, Udaipur. Despite lack of time the trainers managed to train the students in making the show a success. The performance was scintillating and dashing. It was a feast of the audience to witness such an extraordinary cultural exchange programme. On the whole the performance was memorable and liked by one and all. I, too, among others had the honour of witnessing this programme. I thank all the teachers and the coordinator Rita Dixit-Kubiak. We look forward to have such an enriching cultural exchange programme. Anne Lobo St. Mary’s Sr. Sec. School Udaipur Bhargav Mistry |
 |
| at the Mistry's dinner table |
The Vanaver Caravan came, saw and conquered.. Thanks to the BMCT and Premilla, Rita & David Kubiak’s inexhaustible efforts to make the almost impossible, a raving success. So far, so good. The dynamic troupe of four, Miranda, Mariana, Romano and Gustavo left a mark with each one they met and exposed their art to, and that will be remembered forever. We all pray that this is just the beginning and more is yet to come. I have had the opportunity to see them perform and interact in various different situations and in each they excelled both in performance and in interaction with the varied audience. Rare are such artistes.
Such interaction was indeed a cultural exchange. While VC taught at three schools and a dance studio in Udaipur, they in turn took several folk dance workshops with the Sayari Roots of Gypsy Dance Troupe who are internationally known. The synergy would give opportunity for both the troupes to work together in the future in the US and Canada. It is creditable that BMCT made this connection possible.
Under the instructions of Purvi Mistry, Marina, Miranda and Ramona took several cooking classes, focusing mainly around Ayurvedic methods. This experience for them was most beneficial and magnificent. Likewise, Marina also took training in Ayurvedic massage from a local therapist.
BMCT's setting up of this pilot project in Udaipur helped Miranda, a student of New School (NY) in education art and community, be honored with a scholarship to participate in the pilot project. It also invoked an invitation from Manish Jain of Shikshanter for an informal performance where I met the VC for the first time. It was their first public performance in Udaipur and these `culture ambassadors' needed nothing more to win the hearts of the spell bound audience. Fortunately, VC had RJ Parrington to document the entire tour and this hopefully will go a long way in helping the troupe to raise funds for the future.
All in all, this pilot project has benefited one and all as can be seen from the responses of the city of Udaipur, schools and other organizations. I wish them grand success in their future endeavors with doors wide open for their return.
Bhargav Mistry
(Designer/Musician & BMCT adviser for Shakti Academy of Dance, Circus Arts & Energy Healing)
No comments:
Post a Comment