Himani Sanagram
CHICAGO: The 5th Kala Utsav 2018 performance on Sunday July 29 here was a scintillating one that truly showcased India’s rich cultural heritage. Emceed by Jigar Shah and Prerna Arya, the 3-hour performance was held at the Harris Theater in downtown Chicago.
The event started with Indian national anthem and the American national anthem followed by Chenda Melam by Chicago Kalakshetra that performed the Kerala drum ceremony usually played at the beginning of a ceremony, function, or celebration in India.
This time the unique part of the Kala Utsav was that there was a competition. Since the festival’s inception in 2014, the aim of the festival is not only to highlight India’s exceptional talent but to stress India’s unity in diversity
The Judges were Apna Ghar Founder member Ketaki Parikh, Nupur Jhingran and Shefali Kumar Valecha from Milwaukee.
A short play was performed showing the deceased R K Laxman who came down to earth to solve problems of the common man with the theme “Khul Ja Sim Sim.” The show was meant to be an answer to solutions of daily problems and to fill the void and vacuum in our lives through creativity.
Dilshad Dance Academy portrayed love and happiness through their Kathak dance. Maharashtra Mandal of Chicago performed Laavni folk dance and the song “Pinga” from Bajirao Mastani. Other dances performed were a Goan folk dance, a Flamenco Bollywood fusion dance and Bhangra and Giddha dances.
There was also a Raas Garba item by the St Louis team. This was followed by a Kathakali dance Yakshagana by Team Jatayu. Team Kerala dressed in white and green border sarees performed a folk dance from Kerala. Shingari Dance School performed the “Ghoomar” song from Padmaavat.
Consul General Neeta Bhushan presided over the show which had the theme of “Khul Ja Sim Sim”.
Everyone is unhappy and have a vacuum in their lives. To fill this void and answer the questions they have to open the cave that Ali Baba and 40 thieves entered to rob treasures and values of life depicted in these dances by saying the above phrase “Khul Ja Sim Sim”.
Ms Bhushan spoke about India’s over 1000-year old cultural heritage of dance and traditions. “We are seeing a change in this world by the world adopting Yoga,” she said.”Swami Vivekananda said that learn everything that is good from others, but bring it in, and in your own way absorb it, don’t become others,” Bhushan told the audience.
Others present were chair of the Delhi Committee with Chicago Sister Cities International Smita Shah, FIA president Sunil Shah and Keerthi Ravoori. A small skit “The Gift of the Magi,” was also performed.Other dance groups that performed were Rina Rockers, Natta Dance Academy, Kalapriya Dance Academy Kalapadma Dance Academy, iRadha Dance Company, Shingari Dance School (Ghoomar), Team Taal, Dancespirations and Bharatam Dance Academy.
The winner was Natya Dance Academy for its “Trishakti” performance, followed by the IRadha team that danced on “Kamli Love” and the third place was a tie won by Ruth Varghese’s Kalapadma Dance Academy for “Nirbhayi Kaali” and the St Louis team that performed “Raas Garba” in red and green cholis. The results were based on costumes, themes and choreography.
“This year the festival was better organized. The consulate really took care of all the participants,” Guru Ruth Varghese, artistic director of Kalapadma dance Academy, said in a talk to this paper.
“I really liked “Trishakti”,” by Natya Dance Academy. Our item that won 3rd place “Nirbhayi Kali” was based on the 2012 Delhi gang rape case. Anjali, my daughter, choreographed it.There were about 19 dance items.” Yakshagana – a traditional theater form from Karnataka and Kerala that combines dance, music, dialogue, costume and make-up was also performed. Thiruvathira or Traditional folk dance from Kerala and Tamil Nadu was also performed.
