8th Bal Sangam inaugurated in the capital at National School Of Drama

The sweet melody of flute, dug dug dug sound of the dugdugi, the distinct music of Dotara, nothing compares to the sweet memories of the childhood mela. A flexible girl, a juggler, some clowns in myriad colours are nowhere to be found in today’s time, more so in an urban setting. This week-long ‘mela-like’ treat for children has started in town with the inauguration of the 8thBal Sangam brought by Sanskaar Rang Toli (T.I.E Co.) of National School of Drama.

The ceremony was inaugurated by Ms. Nandita Das, cine and theatre personality, Mr Barry John, renowned theatre and film personality, Shri Ravindra Singh, secretary, Ministry of Culture, Govt of India and Shri Ratan Thiyam, Chairman NSD, Society.      Starting from 14th Nov. this weeklong festival will bring the unique and traditional performing arts to the capital as a treat to the urban children.

Nandita Das, renowned cine & theatre personality said, “This is one of the finest platforms for art, culture, tradition in the form of drama and folk art, which is a great step towards promoting India’s rare talents that India should be actually proud of. I am extremely happy and ecstatic to be here today and supporting this grand festival of children.”

This year, NSD’s Sanskar Rang Toli – Theatre in Education Co. which was established in 1989 celebrates its Silver Jubilee year and Bal Sangam 2013 marks the beginning of the year-long celebrations. Commencing on the Children’s Day, the weeklong festival at NSD Campus, New Delhi promises to be a traditional, cultural, and mela like delight for its attendees. From folk dance, martial arts, acrobats, street performances like juggling, magic shows, puppet shows and many more experiences, Bal Sangam will present 10 group’s vivid, distinct and on the verge of extinction performing arts.

Ratan Thiyam, NSD Chairperson shares on the occasion, “North East Region has very rich traditional and cultural heritage. Various art forms are so rare and exquisite it has become the need of the hour that they be brought back into the limelight and be given due attention they so right fully deserve.”

With special focus on North East Region, Bal Sangam 2013 brings the unexplored talents and for many un-witnessed traditional performing arts by children from this region. It took six months of hardwork in finding these 11 traditional folk performers (child artist groups) from all over the North East by T.I.E. Co. The artists are not trained or taught; rather they have inherited from their families who still practice these performing arts which are now on the verge of extinction. In this category of folk and performing arts Groups which would participate are, Abhiyan from Tinsukia, Assam; A’chick Theatre from Tura, Meghalaya; Bashel Brothers Creations, from West Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh; Kohinoor Langa from Rajasthan; Blooming Cultural Akademy, IrilbungImphal West, Manipur; Dapon The Mirror, Tangla, Udalpuri BTAD- Assam; GuguraBodol, NazirPukur Par, Krishnanagar, Agartala, Tripura; KadamtaliOjapali Dal from Darrang Assam, Neuhof Cultural Club,Aizawl, Mizoram; Padma AdzerChoeling from East Sikkim and TiwaBhasha- SanskritiCharchaSomittee from Nagaon, Assam.

WamanKendre, Director, National School of Drama, “BalSangam is a mela from Sanskar Rang Toli every alternate year which is a grand treat for children. We want as many as children to come and experience the mela so that they are enriched with our traditional and cultural heritage. Parents are also requested not to miss BalSangam with their children as this is the one and only, unique and complete folk performing arts and folk theatre festival by children in the entire country.”

Also taking a step forward towards educating the children, Sanskaar Rang Toli (T.I.E Co) this time will be holding special performances in the morning session with various schools who has tied up with NSD. The students will also have discussion sessions with artists who are experts of the art form presented and attend various workshops organized during the day.

Introducing a special segment for the Silver Jubilee Celebration, out of the 21 groups that will be performing during the Festival, a street performance and9Traditional Folk Theatre Performance groupswill also bring their best performances to the centre-stage.These will include theatres like Bali Wadh&Dwapar Lila by BhaveshChhouNritya Kala, Jharkhand; RaasLeelaby Face, Manipur;Yakshagana Dance Drama by Yakshagana Kendra Udipi, Karnataka; GosianPatherbyNational Bhand Theatre Budgam, J&K;Darz-E-Patherby Kashmir Performers Collective, Srinagar; Lava Kush by MudalapayaYakshagana Kendra, Karnataka;MaachbyAnkur Rang Munch, MP; PurliaChhou, Royal Chhou Academy, West Bengal and AnkiyaBhaonafrom Prayaas, Nagaon, Assam.The idea is toprovide a platform to the original theatres without the touch of modernism.

Abdul Latif Khatana, Founder Member and present Chief of T.I.E Co. says, “The Mela is an effort to provide a platform at the National level to folk and traditional artists to keep them in practice with their rich cultural tradition. The festival also aims to spread awareness among urban children about the rich cultural heritage of the country. The special focus of the Mela 2013 is the performances of folk and traditional performing Arts from the North East states and only folk/traditional theatre performances from different region of India. Besides various performances, Art and Craft workshops are also part of the Mela.”

The fanfare and hubbub of Bal Sangam 2013 starts from 14th November and goes on till 20th November, 2013 at the New Delhi Campus of NSD at Bhagwandas Road. Timing 4:00PM to 8:00PM from 14th to 17th November and 6:00PM to 8:00PM from 18th to 20th November.

Barry John, Founder-Director of the TIE Company on the occasion of Sanskar Rang Tolientering its 25th Year said, "The TIE Company has done a lot to be proud of, but there are massive tasks still waiting to be done. I wish there was a quick and easy way to prove to those who are ignorant or prejudiced about the benefits to be derived from Theatre activities, but of course, there is not. Meanwhile, Theatre’s potential to humanize people, to have them working creatively together, to resolve conflicts and violence, to empower people positively, lies languishing."