DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
JAMMU, Dec 1
In its pioneering initiative, Natrang organized a folk dance workshop at Natrang studio theatre under the direction of Sunny Mujoo. Sunny Mujoo is one of the leading dancer and choreographer who has the credit of representing J&K nationally and internationally and has successfully presented his work in London and other places. Giving details about this altogether new initiative of Founder Director of Natrang said that Natrang has been creating and showcases dance based events at national and international level since the last over twenty years. Fact remains that all major international dance events showcasing of Jammu & Kashmir have been devised, choreographed and presented by Natrang team. The recent most talked about world level event was ‘Colors of Jammu Kashmir’ which Natrang mounted in the honour of international delegates of G20 Conference Srinagar. Every-time it was felt badly that the participating artists need to be equipped with the articulation of the dances they perform. They must know the theory part of dances as well. Ironically no institution or Academy ever tried or thought of ever educating the upcoming dancers about the history and philosophy behind each folk dance of Jammu & Kashmir. Neither any research is available nor has any effort in this direction ever been made. Government institutions only look for the presentations based on dance but no one is bothered about articulating the performances being showcased in the name of folk dances. Natrang’s this new initiative is totally aimed at enriching and equipping the dancers about the theoretical part of folk dances. Tomorrow if they are asked to explain or speak about these dances which they keep performing almost every day, they will have little authority to explain about these dance forms. Unfortunately majority work being done in the name of the folk of J&K is inspired by Bollywood and the ethnicity, flavor and purity of regional folk is missing. Balwant Thakur concluded that we are not here to make tall claims but just making a sincere effort to sensitize the community of choreographers, dancers and most importantly the organizations mandated to actually do the academic work, research and educate the younger generation of dance aspirants about the real/fake part of dance work being done in J&K in the name of folk.
This initiative of Natrang will continue and will keep alarming and educating the young aspirants in the best possible ways at its command.
Those who attended today’s workshop included Palshin Dutta, Vrinda Badyal, Vanshika Thakur, Deepshikha Sharma, Manvi Sharma, Tania Digra, Jeevika Misri, Ritika Pandita, Priya Kumari, Arjun Soni, Radhika Khajuria, Arun Sharma, Aryan Bandral, Vishal Sharma, Amit Rana, Tarun Sharma, Arun Dev Verma, Sahil Narwalia and Sukriti Singh Jasrotia.
