Introducing children to enigmatic world of theatre

National School of Drama, the foremost theatre training institutions in the world and one of its kind in India recently announced the commencement of its much awaited 11th edition of Bal Sangam from November 9 - 12, 2019, in its premises.

The 11th edition of the festival will showcase enthralling folk and traditional performing Arts and folk theatre from 12 states of India.

Bal Sangam, an outreach programme of Sanskaar Rang Toli (Theatre-in-Education Company), in every alternate year brings forth both the heritage and legacy of traditional art forms and performances that are presented by children belonging to traditional performing families, guru-paramparas, and institutions across the country.

The four-day cultural mela will begin on November 9, five days ahead of the Children's Day with an inaugural performance 'Rangoli' by folk and traditional child artistes of India, choreographed by renowned choreographer Bharat Sharma, who has an illustrious career spanning over three decades.

The festival also includes folk dance, martial arts, acrobatics, street play performances and also acts like juggling, puppetry and magic shows.

To encourage eagerness in children for traditional performances, states like Assam, Odisha, Rajasthan, Manipur, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Telangana, Kerela, Gujarat, Punjab, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh will bring to fore the magic of folk performances and plays so that Indian cultural heritage will be preserved in this rapidly changing world.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Arjun Deo Charan, Acting Chairman, National School of Drama said, "The festival is an ensemble of various performing traditional art forms that are presented by children. We are proud that the TIE Company has been working hard to make children know about their own culture, traditions and values,"

Highlighting the importance of theatre and folk performances, Suresh Sharma, Director-in-Charge, National School of Drama said "Theatre and folk performances are a great learning medium for exploring and sensitising children towards issues. Such activities and festivals are a wonderful platform to not just perform, but learn, travel, and share. NSD believes that theatre makes a person sensitive towards issues and an active participant of society as it boosts powers of communication. Theatre brings in all these qualities and if children are introduced to this wonderful, they become better human beings".

Abdul Latif Khatana, Chief, Theatre-in-Education, said, "Bal Sangam is a confluence of folk and traditional art forms performed by children. When the child artistes imbibe these folk and traditional art forms with the mastery of their art and their innocence then the performance becomes magic."

NSD authorities will be making special arrangements through various NGOs working with underprivileged children and social organisations, to reach out and invite children from 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.

There will also be various types of art and craft workshops during the festival.