Reviving traditional dance and music, 20 talented children will be performing at the October Alapanai, an annual cultural fiesta, launched by Maham Enterprises, arts and dance company.
Madhuvanti Arun, who established Maham Enterprises to promote Tamil art forms, says, “We want to give young children a platform to exhibit their talent. Performers from different dance and music schools will be performing at the three-day festival.”
The performances will include carnatic music, classical dance and folk dance by youngsters in the age group of eight to 18 years. “They can do what they are best at in that one hour. We haven’t restricted their scope by giving them any particular theme,” says Madhuvanti.
Lined up for day one is a veena recitation and Kaattai Koothu folk dance, among others. “A group from Kancheepuram is specially coming in to perform this folk dance,” she adds.
The event will be inaugurated by carnatic music vocalist Aruna Sairam.
Identifying the occasion as the right opportunity to encourage young talent, Maha Sangeetha Nakshatra and Maha Nrithya Nakshatra awards will be conferred on talented musicians and dancers of the city.
The festival will also see the presence of eminent personalities like Ravi, secretary - Brahma Gana Sabha, Radha Bhaskar, vocal musician and musicologist, Priyadarshini Govind, director, Kalakshetra, among others.
The final day, in addition to the classical singing, will have children singing bhajans and performing Villu Paatu. The audience will also get to see non-native dance forms like Kuchipudi and Mohiniyattam, apart from the Bharatanatyam and classical fusion that will be performed during the festival.
The festival will be held at Rajarathnam Hall, R A Puram, from October 11.
