JUGALBANDI 2023

The Indian School-Second Shift believes in being connected to tradition and JUGALBANDI has been a part of our School’s ethos and a source of great pride. Dance and music are divine forms of art and a way to express human emotion and this mega inter-school event invites a combination of a group of dancers and singers from various schools all over Delhi.

This year, Jugalbandi was held on 13 October 2023, where more than 100 students graced the stage. The competition was open for students of classes 5 to 9 and each team was allowed a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 10 participants.

Our annual School theme, ‘Reclaiming My Planet’, the driving force of all our initiatives during the year was also the theme of Jugalbandi 2023 and the competitions were designed around the objective of inculcating new sensitivity for Mother Earth in our young minds. The performances of Jugalbandi 2023 entailed an amalgamation of any two elements of nature, in both dance and music, that glorify the beauty of Mother Earth.

The occasion started with the choir of The Indian School-Second Shift welcoming everyone with a melodious song, 'Rimjhim rimjhim baras jaye'. Headmistress, Ms Sheeja Menon, addressed the august gathering and declared the event open. She  welcomed the esteemed judges for the day and presented them eco-friendly and handmade welcome gifts. Noted dance exponents, Ms lnes Smiljanic and Ms Ridhima Bagga graced the panel as judges and Shri Hari Narayan Dash and Shri Prashant Kumar Pradhan were present to judge the music performances.

Ms lnes Smiljanic is a professional dancer, teacher, choreographer and founder of the Kalashakti Institute for the Performing Arts. She has trained in Kathak for over sixteen years under eminent gurus, Pt. Birju Maharaj and Pt. Jai Kishan Maharaj. Ms Ridhima Bagga is a professional Indian classical dancer and teacher, trained in Kathak for over seventeen years. She is a graded artist of Doordarshan and also a scholarship holder from the Ministry of Culture and the Sahitya Kala Parishad. Shri Hari Narayan Dash is an exponent of Hindustani classical vocal music. He  sings in Odissi. He has a master’s degree in Hindustani Vocal from Pracheen Kalakendra, Chandigarh and a master’s in Odissi vocal from Puri Sangeet Sabha, and was awarded the Pratibha Sanskritik Samman 2010 for best music director and the Vidhalaya Ratna Samman 2018 from the Odisha government. Shri Prashant Kumar Pradhan is a Hindustani classical musician, a sitar and Mohonveena player. He took his Bachelor's degree in sitar at Utkal University and a Master's Degree at Delhi University's Faculty of Music. He trains students, both Indian as a well as foreign and has adapted his teaching style to suit the needs of diverse groups.

The competition commenced with the music performances and then moved on to the dance performances. All the participating schools brilliantly captured the theme and showcased some awe-inspiring performances. The host school did not compete for any position, only performed on the occasion. As the competition concluded, a nostalgic video was shown to the audience that traced the journey and evolution of Jugalbandi through the past years. Ms Ines Smiljanic and Ms Ridhima Bagga addressed the students, motivating them to aspire and achieve their dreams. They congratulated all the participants for their amazing performances and efforts.

On merit, the participants were shortlisted for three positions in each event by the judges of each category. The winning teams were awarded trophies by the dignitaries and participation certificates were given to all.

This mega inter-school event was a perfect blend of talent, imagination, creativity and dynamic participation. The Indian School-Second Shift applauds the originality of ideas that extend from the bond of learning. The event was not only a joyous experience for all but also an effort of the school to provide holistic education to the students, by maintaining a balance between scholastic and co-scholastic activities. Jugalbandi 2023 was a successful endeavour due to the combined efforts of everyone who was a part of it.