The Bengaluru edition of DHiE Expressions 2024, a multi-cultural flagship event of Deccan Herald in Education (DHiE) was inaugurated at Karnataka State Government Employees Association auditorium (Naukarara Bhavana), Cubbon Park, on Tuesday.DHiE Expressions 2024, an inter-school competition, co-powered by Pilot, was organised by Deccan Herald and Prajavani, in collaboration with WonderLa Parks and Resorts and Poorvika Mobile as associate sponsors. .Inauguration the festival, Dr Woday P Krishna, a technocrat, educationist and social activist said, "Today children should have a 360 degree education comprising curriculum, co-curricular activities like debate and olympiad and extra-curricular activities like tours and trekking.Leadership and networking are the takeaways of a good education." .Going parallel with Legislative, Executive and Judiciary, there are three types of thinking minds: a person with an executive mind is a go-getter getting things done; a legislative mind is a questioning mind and a mind which goes by rules and norms is a judiciary mind." Reflecting on DHiE's impact, he praised its role in fostering reading habits among young people and acknowledged the challenges of guiding students through today’s information-rich age..The inaugural event set the festive tone with group dance competition in the junior and senior categories. The group dance was judged on the criteria of song selection, style and creativity, expression and presentation and coordination. Schools from across the city gave expression to their creativity in the themes and their moves and swings with classical, contemporary, folk and freestyle dance presentations to a packed hall with loud applause and cheering.The all girls group from Vidya Mandir Education society performed a Kannada folk song enacting the farm activities like sowing and threshing with hay as their prop. The all-boys group from Trinity English High School, Marthahalli all performed a folk song. The all-girls team from Sri Jananakshi Vidyaniketan from RR Nagar performed a folk dance with brass manjeera. The Holy Spirit School also performed a folk dance..The elephant as an endangered animal and the elephant as Ganesha was a dominant theme. The Ganga International School's theme was on poaching of elephants for ivory with the group making the typical actions of an elephant. The South School J P Nagar was also on the elephant theme with ivory replicas as props. The Great Eastern International Public schools performed a festive Ganesha dance with a dash of acrobatics. A contemporary dance with acrobatics came from the students of MVJ International School. The New Cambridge English School enacted the Ganesh legend (how Ganesha got his elephant head) through their dance..The mix group from Silicon City Academy of Secondary Education in police costumes depicted police action with lathis, pistols and guns as props. "Give up plastic" was the theme of Seshadripuram Public School portraying animals which die from eating plastic.The SJR Public school took the audience on a journey through history with a patriotic theme. Patriotism was also evident in the group dance of MEI International School, Chikkabanavara with the participants dressed in red and yellow Kannada colours and the red and yellow Kannada flags as props..The all-girls group from Sri Ayyappa Education Centre, CBSE performed a bird theme dressed in pristine white gowns. The Jubilee School, Vijinapura representing ragpickers, beggars, street acrobats with hoolahoop transform themselves to enter a dance contest. The Jubilee English High School from Vijinapura also performed a vigorous Thapan Kutu dance. The National Public School, Koramangala dedicated their dance to "Salumarada Thimmakka" performing her dedication of planting and watering banyan trees..For sheer variety there was a Rajasthani folk dance from Mother Dolphin English School with the traditional Rajasthani Lehenga and choli as costume.In the senior category Embassy Public School, Magadi Main Road performed a freestyle contemporary dance, While Trinity High School made classical moves to Western music with trident as a prop.The Assumption English High School performed the Dandiya and Garba and the Ganga International School took the audience on a journey of the seasons. The South School, J P Nagar and the Widia Poornaprajna School. Tumkur Road had themes of atrocities on women and empowerment of women. While Prasiddhi school presented the "Happy Women create happy families" theme..The Silicon Academy of Secondary Education enacted the legend of Hanuman and Rohit who performed the role of Hanuman received praise for his performance from Danny, one of the judges.The East West Academy, Rajajinagar demonstrated that dance has no barriers with their blend of traditional and contemporary dance. The Vijayabharathi public School performed a contemporary dance on the theme of peer pressure and the burden of studies ending with 'Never give up.'Expression with its group dance event brought together young talents from across the city, allowing them to explore, express, and connect through art. The event underscored the importance of a holistic education—one that values cultural roots, social responsibility, and creative expression. With themes ranging from folklore to environmental awareness, and patriotism to peer support, the festival resonated with the aspirations and values of the next generation. DHiE’s Expression is more than a festival; it’s a vibrant forum for the city’s youth to dream, dance, and make their voices heard.
