By Utpal Borpujari / New Delhi
The 10th BalSangam, the national children’s theatre festival organized by the National School of Drama, will have children from all over India performing folk art forms such as Thang Ta from Manipur, Yakshagana from Karnataka and Chhau from West Bengal.
The festival, which began to day and will continue till November 7 in the NSD campus in Delhi, will see a kaleidoscope of enthralling performing arts related activities dedicated to children.
The Theatre In Education Company (TIE Co.) will showcase 18 groups from all over India and Bangladesh, who will perform traditional dance and music.
The highlight of this year’s performance are Baul Children from West Bengal, Yakshagana from Karnataka, Thangta from Manipur, Ankiya Nat form Assam, Nautanki form Uttar Pradesh, Chhau from West Bengal, folk dances from Punjab, Kalari From Kerala, and dances from Mizoram.
For the duration of the festival, the NSD campus will be turned into a veritable carnival with numerous acts to attract children. Adding to the festivities will be clowns, Logman, dhol players, jugaad band performers, acrobats, behrupiyas, magicians, kacchi-ghodi performers, kathputli exponents, and different workshops like origami, puppet and mask making and quilling and pottery will converge on the campus of NSD to interact with young minds to bring to the fore the creative and cultural vibrancy of the country.
TIE Co chief ProfTripurari Sharma said, “We are here to celebrate the talent of children across the country, imbibing the diversity and flow in the joy and magic of their performances. It is also an effort to amalgamate urban and folk children.”
According to NSD director Prof WamanKendre, “This BalSangam festival will expose children and young citizens to the real strength of Indian folk and traditional performing arts. It is a time to delve deep into the roots of our heritage and cultural treasures.”
During this year’s BalSangam, the NSD authorities will be making special arrangements through various NGOs working with underprivileged children and social organisations, to reach out and invite children from the not so privileged class so as to give them the due privilege to experience and be enriched by this long awaited festival of National School of Drama for children.
Sanskar Rang Toli (T.I.E. Co.) of NSD was established on October 16, 1989, and completed 28 years of its existence. Sanskar Rang Toli is the only theatre education resource centre in the country and has worked with more than 15,000 children till date in various workshops.