BMCT & Vanaver Caravan's Shakti Caravan World Dance Event Hosted by Rotary Club Udaipur

The Shakti Caravan World Dance Event 

14 January 2014

From Rotary Udaipur Newsletter

Glimpses of 14th January 2014

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

Announcing The Vanaver Caravan World Dance Workshops and Performance Schedule in Udaipur

 After months of careful discussions with Vanaver Caravan dance troupe's founder director, dancer/choreographer Livia Vanaver and their India program co-ordinator, dancer/choreographer Miranda Ten Broeke regarding the world dance and choreography workshops we will offer, and program planning with our colleagues in Udaipur, we are finally delighted to announce the imminent arrival of the VC team on January 5th 2014 to Udaipur and their subsequent teaching schedule & performance date in the city.

January 2014 Teaching Team

VC founder directors, famed dancer/choreographer Livia Vanaver and her virtuoso/ composer husband Bill Vanaver, and two of its greatest dancers, Riverdance tap dance legend & Kungfu master, Joel Hanna; and VC’s beloved Udaipur project leader, Miranda Ten Broeke.

January 2014 Teaching Schedule:

Besides intensive children’s dance classes at St. Matthews and the Badi government tribal school, VC’s 2014 Udaipur schedule includes a “Women’s World Dance & Choreography Workshop” from January 6th to14th; and a “Women’s Martial Arts Workshop” from January 15th to 23rd. Livia and Miranda will lead the women’s dance workshop and focus on holistic dance & movement training to boost all participants’ confidence, grace, flexibility and expressiveness. Kungfu black belt and dancer/choreographer, Joel will teach the martial arts workshop and present fluid self-defense techniques to enhance women’s strength, balance and poise.

Class Timings

Women’s World Dance: Jan 6-13, 3:30 to 4:30 pm & 4.40 to 5.40 pm, Café Nirvana Dance Studio

Women’s Self-Defense: Jan 15-23, 5:00 to 6:00 pm, Café Nirvana Dance Studio, Sajjanghar Road.

Heartbeater VC classes: children - 6:00 to 7:00 pm; young adults - 7:00 to 8:00 pm, Jan 6-13, R.K. Mall

  

Awards and Celebrations

All students will receive Certificates of Achievement and perform in Recital Parties at the end of their course. A final performance recital for all groups will be hosted by Shilpgram on January 24th.

Invitation to Udaipur

We invite all of Udaipur’s aspiring dancers to participate and we’re certain they will be delighted by VC’s teaching talent and creativity. The WZCC’s assistance has been priceless; but special credit must also go to our other project partners like Bharat Verma of Heartbeaters Dance School, Mrs. Madhu Sareen and Mrs. Purvi Mistry for their inspiring cooperation and Sajjangarh’s Café Nirvana Dance Studios for classroom space.

For info on enrollment, class fees, etc. please see BMCT’s project blog udaipurshakti.blogspot.com or contact Rita Dixit-Kubiak: email - rita@bigmed.org; mobile - 869-637-3193

 

Children's Day Celebration at St Matthews

14 November is India's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawharlal Nehru's birthday. Schools across the country celebrate this day as Children's Day with students presenting multi-cultural shows as a part of the day's celebrations. Gloria Phillip's, Principal St. Matthews Senior Secondary School, kindly invited us to the occasion. St. Mathew's does not have dance as a formal part of their curriculum. However I witnessed a deep enthusiasm for dance and music in the students and teachers alike.

The photos below are of dances choreographed by the students. Bollywood's music and dance styles and graceful, festive costuming factored into virtually all the choreographies. There was a lovely celebratory atmosphere.

A Punjabi Bhangra dance number

Hip hop

Ghoomar

Dandiya

In the end the entire school was invited to dance  .....

12th grade students inviting all to dance

.... and soon everyone was dancing. It was St Matthew School's spontaneous grand finale for their Children's day program!

St Matthew's School students coming alive!

The Government Primary and Middle School at Badi Village

BMCT is grateful that Ms. Joytsna Jhala, Principal of the Government Primary & Middle School at Badi Village outside Udaipur city welcomes our 2014 World Dance Residency program led by the Vanaver Caravan for her students.

Ms. Jyotsna Jhala Principal

Our Japanese colleague Mr. Takeshi Okumura who donated funds to build a childrens's library for the village next to the school introduced me to Jyotsna a few years ago. Takeshi who partnered us in several cultural exchange programs between Kyoto & Udaipur city throughout the 1990s was very keen that we extend our art based programs to the children in Badi. 

Takeshi Okumura & David Kubiak

The School

 

Children's Library, Badi

We are delighted to have an opportunity to work with these children. The majority of them are from tribal families with forestry, fishery and agrarian background. 

The photos below of the children are from a typical day at the school. 

4th grade students 

5th graders instructing third grade students

5th grade students responding to my inquiry

6th graders at their teacher's desk

 

Student art on the corridor walls

Including the Principal there are 3 full time teachers at the school. Jyotsna welcomes community input in the education process. As a result the children are comfortable and open with new comers and guests. They seem relaxed with their teachers and self motivated. The class room walls and corridors are full of educational charts and colorful student drawings. It seems art and craft is intrinsic to their life. Jyotsna informed us that dance and theater is also an integral part of their children's cultural background. It is my haunch that we will learn equally much from these children rooted in their nature based traditions.