Bhopal: Child Rights Observatory Madhya Pradesh, in collaboration with its affiliated unit, the Music and Dance Teachers’ Forum, successfully organized the ‘Protsahan Manch’ (Encouragement Platform) to promote classical dance.
As part of this initiative, the event ‘Nritya Manjari’ featured captivating performances of Bharatanatyam and Kathak by disciples of five distinguished classical dance gurus from the city—Ms. Alpana Vajpeyi, Amita Khare, Kshama Malviya, Manju Mani Hatwalne, and Shweta Devendra.
Supported by the Life Insurance Corporation of India, Central Region, the three-part series Protsahan Manch aims to provide budding artists, training under the Guru-Shishya tradition, with a platform to showcase their talent in classical music and dance.
The evening commenced with a mesmerizing Pushpanjali performed by the disciples of Shweta Devendra, followed by a graceful rendition of Saraswati Vandana and Vasant Raas by Amita Khare’s students.
Manju Mani Hatwalne’s disciples invoked the divine through their performance, while Kshama Malviya’s students enthralled the audience with a Shiv Dhruvapad in Kathak. Notably, her disciple Priyanshi Kataria delivered a remarkable solo Kathak presentation.
The program concluded with an enchanting live music and dance performance by the students of senior guru Alpana Vajpeyi, marking a significant highlight of the evening. Making their stage debut, young dancers Meenal Tiwari and Shrestha Vishwakarma left a lasting impression on the audience with the live music.
The event also marked the inauguration of the newly constructed stage and performance space by the esteemed chief guest, Dr. Meera Das, senior conservation architect and cultural scholar and BLF initiator. She expressed optimism that this venue would fulfill Bhopal’s growing need for creative public spaces.
Distinguished guest Dr. Neena Srivastava, HoD, Music at Sarijini Naidu Girls Degree College lauded the initiative, emphasizing the importance of providing opportunities for classical music and dance artists.
Rashmi Saraswat, the Chief Executive of the organizing body, announced that from March onwards, the venue will also house an art gallery, transforming it into a multi-arts center. The program was eloquently conducted by Sunil Shukla.
This initiative is set to nurture emerging talent and contribute to the city’s rich cultural heritage, ensuring a vibrant future for classical performing arts in Bhopal.
