BMCT & Vanaver Caravan launch new eco-artistic initiatives in Udaipur

Artists introduce “Shaktipur” for artistic exchange and environmental awareness

News Coverage by UdaipurTimes Team, January 20, 2016

Foreign & Local Artists Dedicate Shaktipur, a new lakeside incubator for creative global artistic exchange and ecological consciousness. 

Renowned local and foreign artists gathered to celebrate three distinctive milestones in Udaipur’s Creative City evolution. First was the dramatic finale of Vanaver Caravan’s third triumphant Udaipur visit; second was inauguration of Shakti Caravan, a new international artistic vehicle to spread eco-arts education; and finally the dedication of Shaktipur, an envisioned organic eco-park and global performance & body arts education centre.

A Summer 2014 Shakti-Caravan Exchange - From Udaipur to New York

BMCT partners, the Vanaver Caravan took the Shakti-Caravan exchange program to New York city and state this summer. Dancer-choreographer Bharat Verma, founder director of the Heartbeators Dance Academy, Udaipur, and his senior dance instructor, Kishan Lal Gameti have just returned fresh from a successful month long stint with the Vanaver Caravan's annual Summerdance on Tour.  This event includes world dance workshops for children and youth and performances for festivals and local community fund raisers.

Bharat and Kishan performed with the VC and continued to learn some of their world dance repertoire and in exchange taught Bollywood and Rajasthani folk dance. Bharat's choreographies and Kishan and his teaching methods received glowing reviews from their students and audience alike. 

Some highlights of the VC's Summerdance on Tour 2014 include:

- participation in the one week long Lincoln Center festival for America’s celebrated singer-songwriter, civil rights activist, philosopher sage, Pete Seeger;

- an Indian night of Bharat's dance choreographies, Bollywood  and Rajasthani folk dance at the  Rosendale auditorium, in Ulster country NY; and

- dancing at the famous Battery Dance Company’s annual downtown modern and world dance festival in New York city.

For further information kindly visit the news links below.

http://www.udaipurtimes.com/udaipur-dancers-share-experience-of-dance-tour-to-nyc/
http://epaper.patrika.com/c/3383069

Shakti Caravan Finale at Shilpgram

More media kudos for the Shakti Caravan students and teachers at their final recital in Shilpgram's packed Darpana Hall

St. Matthew's students in poetic motion

Udaipur Times:

Dazzling Dance performances conclude Shakti-Caravan Project

With their splendid performances, the dancers who were trained under Shakti-Caravan enthralled the audience at Shilpgram on Friday 24^th January. Several international and local genres of dances were classically presented by school students.

Shakti Caravan is a collaborative project by Vanaver Caravan, an international dance group and Udaipur Shakti Works.

Students from two local schools, St Mathews and Badi Tribal Schools showcased dances Salip (Philippines), Tarantella (Italy), Odvnday (Nigeria), Erevan (Israel), Copanitsa (Bulgaria), Maculele (Brazil), Kungfu & Karate (China & Japan), Belle Dance, Tankobushi (Japan), Owmbout (South Africa), Sweet of May (Ireland), Hangman Reel (Canada), Tagore Peace Poem etc.

See full article here: http://www.udaipurtimes.com/dazzling-dance-performances-concludes-shakti-caravan-project/

‘EarthBeat’ by Shakti Caravan Project

Lovely coverage of the Rotary Club recital & performances by friends at udaipurtimes.com

‘EarthBeat’ by Shakti Caravan Project - Jan 14, 2014
By Vajrasar Goswami | Published: Jan 14, 2014 

Under the joint collaboration of Udaipur Shakti Works and The Vanaver Caravan (Shakti Caravan Project), an International Dance & Music evening, ‘EarthBeat’ was organized by Rotary Club, Udaipur today evening.

Bill and Livia, along with other members of Vanaver Caravan presented an assortment of dance and musical performances, enthralling the audience with artistic flavors from various corners of the world.

Rita Dixit of Shakti Global Dancers informed, “Shakti Caravan is a project to save and spread art forms of India. Vanaver Caravan, at its end is an American group where dancers from across the globe come together to collaborate and perform”.

The audience were treated to Bakawali Nautch, Maculele (Brazil), Kopanitsa (Bulgaria), Erev Shel Shoshanim “Evening of Roses” (Yemen/Israel), Nigun Atik (Israel), Salty Dog Rag (USA), Salip (Philippines), Hip Hop/Bollywood Dance, South African Gumboot Dance, Irish Drum & Dance and Hangman’s Reel (Canada).

A performance titled “Break the Chain” by Shakti Global Dancers was dedicated to a global movement for women against violence (One Billion Rising).

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Please see the full article at: http://www.udaipurtimes.com/earthbeat-by-shakti-caravan-project/

Vanaver Caravan hits the Ground Dancing

Vanaver Caravan Arrival Press Conference & Media Response 

VC & BMCT brief the Udaipur media on their 2014 "Caravan Shakti Exchange" world dance program including presentations by Bill & Livia Vanaver, dancer/choreographer Miranda ten Broeke, BMCT director Premilla Dixit Nag, Raj Kumar Menaria of Sensei Raj Martial Arts Academy, Madhu Sareen of the Rotary Club, Bharat Verma of Heartbeators' Dance School and Lady Pulvi Mistry.

January 6, 2014 at Nirvana Cafe, Sajjangarh Rd, Azad Nagar

Livia, Miranda and Bill open press conference with a Québécois step dance

Appreciative reviews the next day from the big local newspapers

Udaipur Press Reactions

 Online report from UdaipurTimes.com

Vanaver Caravan Dances at Hulchul Cafe

Click above for full article

Feature article from Rajasthan Patrika

Partial clip

Translation
World Dance Traditions on Stage
Rajasthan Patrika Newspaper
January 28th 2012

* A Program of International Dances
* In step with dancers from America and Brazil

Udaipur's Big Medicine Charitable Trust organized an evening of international dances on Thursday January 27th at St Mary Girl’s Senior Secondary School, Fatehpura. At this event we saw folk dances from various parts of the globe.

World Dance Recital by/for Udaipur Kids

Text of our Speech at the Project Finale

It is with great gratitude that I address this gathering of parents, friends and Udaipur citizens from the various government and non-government institutions and businesses. You have taken the time to come on very short notice to this rather unique performance of world dances by 101 school kids between the ages of 6 to 8 and 14 to 16. 

This event today marks the end of a very brief world dance training program our team sponsored for Mahila Mandal Girls Senior Higher Secondary School, St Mary Girls Senior Higher Secondary School and St Paul’s Senior Higher Secondary School. 

The music and dance for the program was primarily developed by Livia Vanaver, artistic director of  New York's renowned world dance ensemble, the Vanaver Caravan (unfortunately not here today) and Miranda Ten Broeke, a Vanaver troupe veteran here with us tonight. The three other VC troupe members, Marina Lopez, Ramona Staffeld and Gustavo Caldez also present have also contributed  in developing several of the spontaneous choreographic marvels you will  see this evening.