SAM, the Society for Music through Action and the Sangeet Nayak Pt Dargahi Mishra Sangeet Academy, Gurgaon, jointly organised a National Seminar and Dance Festival on 23 and 24 October respectively at the India Habitat Centre.The seminar was focused on the role of musicians, listeners, critics and sponsors in the development of music: positive or negative. It was presided over by Prof Suneera Kasliwal Dean Faculty of Music and Fine Arts, Delhi University. The key note address was delivered by Madhu Rani Shukla, from Allahabad.

Naman, a CD of vocal rendition by Deepti Bansal, was also released on this occasion. The National Festival of Dance Choreography took place at the Stein Auditorium the next evening. Presented with succinct introductory remarks by PtVijay Shankar Mishra, the festival opened with ShivaShakti, choreographed jointly by Amit Singh and Gunjan Singh from Kanpur with participation of dancers from Kanpur and Meerut.

Symbolising Shiva as the ocean and Shakti as its powerful wave, Amit and Gunjan opened with a duet, an invocatory Kavitta on Shiva by Amit and “Jaya Jagadambe” by Gunjan, before the group, comprising Neeharika, Devaanshi, Riya, Prachi, Avni, Angel, Ritika, Saumya, Ritu, Vishal, Sanyam and Ajay Goswami danced together on the Shiva Tandava Stotra by Ravan, based on a sort of fusion music, ending with “Om namah Shivaaya”.

There was also a Taranain raga Des, which had nothing to do with the theme, before the presentation ended with a Carnatic composition in Ragam Revati “Shiva Shambho Swayambho…” and a duet on a Dhrupad composition set to Sooltala.

“Mhara re Giridhar Gopal”, choreographed by Bhavna Grover Dua from Meerut, was based on recorded Meera Bhajans composed by Pt Hridayanath Mangeshkar rendered soulfully by Lata Mangeshkar. Bhavna had given it a story line with solo and group dance sequences by the well-trained dancers, Nimisha, Shweta, Shreya, Vritika, Anubhav, Shalini, Arohi and Akshay, depicting the life journey of Meera.

The tasteful costumes added to the well-conceived choreography. Srijan, choreographed by Bakshi Vikas from Ara, was based on an inspiring poem by Pawan Srivastava. Opening with “Angikam Bhuvanam Yasya…” and the ShivaTandava-Stotraset to the seven beats cycle, that incorporated the five basic Jatis of rhythm ~ the Tisra,Chatusra, Khanda, Misra and Sankeerna ~ effortlessly, the piece could be said to have well begun, half done. The flawless production with dancers Amit, Raja, Anish Kumar, Shailendra Singh, Ravi Shankar and Sonam Kumari led by Bakshi Vikas himself, was perhaps the best presentation with the perfect balance of Sahitya and Sangeetto enhance the Nritya Sanrachna, the choreography.

The festival ended with PanchaTattva, choreographed by Raksha Singh David and Asmita Mishra from Delhi. The five elements were thoughtfully conceived to be depicted by young children comprising the pre-teen age group.

Raksha Singh David and Asmita were joined by Meetha,Vanya, Ishani, Anshika, Utkarsh, Sanvi, Nayonika, Shifa, Kinjal, Anvi, Archisha, Anshul, Tejaswini and Arni Goel. The production was based on Pt Ravi Shankar’s recorded music “Bhoomi Mangalam…” The organisers deserve kudos for their maiden initiative to organise a Dance Choreography Festival to promote young talents who hardly ever get such opportunity.