The ninth edition of the Delhi International Arts Festival opened with enchanting dance and cultural performances by national and international artistes. Devi Singh reports
The evening began with multi-style classical dance production, Vande Mataram, directed by Pratibha Prahlad, distinguished Bharatanatyam dancer and founder director, DIAF. The performance was a tribute to divine mother and motherland. It portrayed the nine facets of Goddess Durga, bringing in the nine classical dance forms.
This was followed by the performance of Taiwan Bamboo Orchestra, led by Wu Shin-Yin from Taiwan. It is the only professional orchestra in Taiwan that employs musical instruments made of bamboo, eco-orchestra. Indian Folklore Fusion led by Unnikrishnan Pakkanar from Kerala performed thereafter.
The performances were followed by SOOF Ensemble comprising of musicians from Africa, the Middle East and Israel. The concluding performance was by Baniswaif group with Whirling Dervish.
DIAF is seen as India’s signature arts and cultural festival which also provides a significant platform for cultural diplomacy, projecting India as a cultural powerhouse and enhancing diplomatic relations with other countries.
Talking about how the festival has evolved over the years since its inception in 2007 Prahlad told us, “The festival is produced and consumed every year with new people coming from different areas. DIAF is a benchmark around which other festivals are gauged. It is undoubtedly India’s most prestigious arts festival. People from all over the world come to perform and their respective embassies, partners and governments are always excited. But the challenges remain like fund raising. By next year which is the tenth year we plan to have allocated budgets so we don’t have any last minute jitters.”
International component of DIAF has a look East segment with performances by the Chongqing National Opera from the Sichuan province of China, lovebird Spears, an Opera, Martial arts and Chinese Drums from Taiwan, Taiwanese Bamboo Orchestra, legong and Sumatra dance from Indonesia, and a cross-cultural music band from Singapore.
look West includes famous bands from the USA, Israel, Czech Republic, Poland and Turkey, Flamenco music from Spain, Salsa from Mexico, contemporary dance theatre from Portugal and France and Tap Dance from the United Kingdom.
Deciding on the artists and the performances is a grueling task for the curators. “I travel the world and see a lot of international performers and invite them and others are recommended by their Embassies and cultural centers. We also watch their videos on YouTube and see if they are appropriate for our festival,” Prahlad said.
Performances from Central Asia include music and dance from Kyrgyzstan and Russia. Jordan performs from the prism of West Asia art forms. SAARC will be represented by theatre from Pakistan, dance from Sri lanka and an art exhibition by Preema Nazia Andaleeb from Bangladesh.
Taiwan, a new entrant, will be represented by two renowned cultural troupes, Taiwan Bamboo Orchestra and Ming Hwa Yuan Opera. Taiwan Bamboo Orchestra is popular for its creative use of bamboo instruments was the star attraction of the show. Speaking on the same Prahlad said, “We have the Opera from Taiwan and they are performing in India for the first time which is pretty fantastic. They also rendered music for the movie Mission Impossible.”
All the instruments, be it the traditional bamboo flute or the sheng (a mouth-blown reed instrument), have been designed and developed by the orchestra leader. The Ming Hwa Yuan Opera represents the best of Taiwan's creative culture. This opera is the only traditional drama known to have originated in Taiwan. Having endured various political and cultural upheavals, the stories presented are based on folk tales of the region. The orchestra after performing on the opening night of the festival will feature in the look East section.
“I believe having an appropriate kind of venue corresponding to the art form is really important. Having an interface between the tangible and the intangible is what matters,” said Prahlad on the multiple venues for the festival.
The opening night of the festival was held at the Purana Qila. The festival will present a rich milieu of dance, music, theatre and films from various countries at different venues across Delhi.
photos Sanjeev Kumar