IAM - Folklorama Magazine 2008 - Indian Association of Manitoba

Enterainment at India Pavilion 2008
A mix of classical and Modern
Submitted by Anupam Sharma.
On July 26, 2008 approximately seventy-five people attended auditions to be selected for
performances during Folklorama. There were others who could not make it for this time and
had made prior arrangements. Those auditing consisted of children, youth and adults. Cheering
them on and lending support for the young were the families as well. It was indeed quite an
occasion where fun and work took place in tandem.
Sharan Tappia, chair of the entertainment committee and her committee members- Aman Rai,
Cindy Brar and Surjit Dhillon- were pleased with the commitment and effort. They remarked
there is obviously no shortage of talent in the community. Based on auditions, the India Pavilion
will bring together a good mix of the classic, folk and the modern. Representing the country
in its entire range diversity at once is a formidable task requiring a broader project scope and
resources. Together with Mary Totthingal, chair of the cultural committee, their hope is that
a visitor to our pavilion will experience at least a slice of India’s rich diversity in entertainment
and cultural areas.
This year for 2008, India Pavilion is able to focus on Punjab and Northern India, Gujarat and
Rajasthan. In terms of items and offerings featured from these states are the well known Bhangra
and Gidda, Dandiyan and, folk dances. The modern and popular is represented by dance songs
and/or remixes from popular Bollywood films. Popular Bollywood films are currently a global
craze such that at a recent World Economic Leaders’ Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the guests at
India’s hospitality suites danced to the immensely intoxicating song- “kajra re”(kohl lined eyes).
Anchoring the folk and the modern are light classical Kathak dance performances from students
of India School of Dance, Jhankar School of Dance and Manohar Group of Performing Arts.
Lending support to the community and its effort is participation from Asha Roberson,
a professional dancer based in Atlanta Georgia. An amazing artist and her work has found
mention in Indian print media such as India Today and Times of India. She is versatile in
classic, folk and the modern popular. Among her testimonials, of particular interest to members
of our community and the larger readership- is her opening dance performance for Shahrukh
Khan’s 2004 “Temptation Tour” in Atlanta George (for the still uninitiated, Shahrukh is to
Bollywood what Brad Pitt is to Hollywood). She has also performed South Indian Classical
Dance in temples throughout USA and most recently for one of the biggest Hindu Saints in the
world, AMMA Chi. Among other artists and dignitaries who have attended her performances are
Madonna, Deepak Chopra and a Prime Minister of India. At the India Pavilion, Asha will lead
with folk dances from Rajasthan and promises to perform two particular songs Kajra re and,
Chayya Chayya (in each others’ shadows)- a sufi rendering composed by the inimitable music
director A.R. Rahman.