Natya Vriksha Celebrates World Dance Day

Dancer/Guru Geeta Chandran along with her organisation Natya Vriksha dedicated to promoting Indian classical dance forms, celebrated World Dance Day - their annual dance event on 20 and 21 April 2024. This 17^th annual edition showcased various dance styles, workshops, seminars and discussions. The event was hosted in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the India International Centre.

Curated by Geeta Chandran, the event boasted a diverse program spanning two days:

Day one witnessed a workshop on ‘Movement Techniques in Sattriya’ led by Prateesha Suresh along with artists from Assam. This open workshop for dancers of all classical styles was convened in the morning, the afternoon session saw the 5^th Natya Vriksha Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony that honoured the renowned dance critic, scholar and author Leela Venkataraman, for her enriching contribution to the realm of Indian Classical Dance.

The afternoon session culminated with a discussion on ‘Celebrating Rukmini Devi Arundale’ with author Dr V.R. Devika in her new book ‘Rukmini Devi Arundale, Arts Revivalist and Institution Builder’ (Publisher: Niyogi Books). Noted author Ashok Vajpeyi received the first copy of the book.

The evening session was quite the contrast as it brought about great performances by young dancers. Bharatanatyam by Vaishnavi Srinivasan and Nivedha Harish, disciples of Guru Roja Kannan were followed by a Kathak performance by Divya Goswami, disciple of Late Guru Munnalal Shukla.

Day two, 21 April, continued with the morning workshop on Sattriya movement techniques, led by Prateesha Suresh. In the afternoon, a seminar on the legacy of classical dance featuring a panel discussion with dancers from different parts of India was held. The day concluded with a young dancers' festival showcasing rising stars performing Mohiniyattam and Bharatanatyam. The workshops were conducted at IIC, New Delhi.

On the occasion, Geeta Chandran, Founder, Natya Vriksha said, “Natya Vriksha wasn't born solely from a love of dance, but from a need to create a community, a space where dancers of all styles can come together, share their journeys and support one another. It's about breaking down barriers, empowering young talent and celebrating the incredible artists who have dedicated their lives to this art form.”