INTERNATIONAL DANCE DAY celebrations

Dance is a language, a means of communication to express the innermost of desires. It is also a powerful tool to inculcate values among students.

In 1982, International Dance Day was created by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute (ITI), the main partner for the performing arts of UNESCO.  It is the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), the creator of modern ballet. The International Dance Day message intends to celebrate dance, revel in the universality of this art form, cross all political, cultural and ethnic barriers, and bring people together with a common language - dance. This day was celebrated with enthusiasm at The Indian School-Second Shift on 29 April 2023.

The students of classes 4 and 5 learned some hand gestures or Mudras as are mentioned in Natyashastra, a detailed treatise on dance, music, and theatre written in the 2nd century by Bharat Muni. The mudras included both Samyukt (double hand gestures) and Asamyukt (Single hand gestures), some of them being Pataka hast, Garuda Hasta, Shivlinga, Simhamukha, Tripataka Hast, SarpSheesha hast and Mayura Hasta.

To make the students of classes 3-5 aware of their rich cultural heritage, they were taught about India’s eight classical dance forms, namely Kathak, Kathakali, Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam, Manipuri, Odissi, and Sattriya, the states to which they belong, and their costumes, through PowerPoint presentations and charts.  

Dance is undoubtedly a powerful medium to develop good habits in students. The little ones of classes 1 and 2 learnt an interesting dance on vegetables and healthy eating habits. The students dressed as vegetables and learned how eating vegetables gives us a healthy body and mind. 

To inculcate the feeling of patriotism, the students of classes 3 to 5 were  taught a dance to a patriotic song. The song was a tribute to our brave soldiers who fearlessly fight and protect our borders. 

Hence, dance indeed serves as a catalyst through which we can achieve a healthy body and mind. It is a comprehensive way to contribute to the overall development of a child.