JOIN USIGI airport has become the new venue for cultural exchanges with a five-day dance festival .
A unique initiative of the Delhi International Airport Private Limited (DIAL) – holding a five day classical dance programme at the IGI airport has been received with appreciation by travellers, including tourists.
The programme is being done in collaboration with the Birju Maharaj Parampara – a dance troupe founded by Padma Vibhushan Pandit Birju Maharaj.
The programmes have been choreographed by Pandit Jai Kishan Maharaj – son of Pandit Birju Maharaj and include various regional dances like Kathak, Bharatnatyam and Chhau. Besides, DIAL has also organized for Haryanvi, Kalbelia and Dandiya dance programmes to be performed at the same venue.
Pt. Jai Kishan Maharaj told Metrolife, “Our troupe is a pure Kathak performing group but we included Bharatnatyam as well to give a regional variety. Kathak, being from UP, makes use of music and notes in Hindi, while Bharatnatyam, being from Tamil Nadu, employs Tamil language. Besides, we included Chhau as well since it has spectacular costumes and jumps which, we thought, would enthuse foreigners more.”
He adds, “In each of the performances, we have included nritta (pure dance) as well as nritya (dance-drama) elements to make it interesting for the audience. We wanted it to be an enjoyable medley of the traditional and contemporary faces of these dance forms.”
Thoughtfully, the raag, taal, bol and story behind each of the dance compositions is being announced before the performance so that travellers, domestic as well as foreign, are able to fully comprehend and enjoy the programmes.
And, no doubt, travellers at IGI are appreciating the programme. A lady from Russia, who didn’t wish to be named, said, “I have never seen a performance like this at any airport in any country. Indian classical dances are anyways beautiful and to get to experience them here was a pleasure.”
Her companion added, “I was astonished to see this programme going on but
enjoyed it very much. It was definitely a relaxing experience among the hustle-bustle of international travel.”