A series of cultural programmes, including classical music, dance, folk, theatre, films, yoga and talks by several eminent artists at the 1st Rural School Intensive (RSI), which began here on Monday, is grabbing much attention of rural schoolchildren from across the State.
The programme, organised by the SPIC MACAY in collaboration with the State Government, is well attended by nearly 500 rural high school children and 100 art teachers. Performances of about 100 artistes and craftsmen from various genres of music, dance, folk, theatre and crafts will enthrall the participants during the week-long cultural extravaganza. The programme was inaugurated by School and Mass Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra and Culture and Minister Ashok Panda in the presence of SPIC MACAY founder Dr Kiran Seth and Director Rashmi Mallick.
On the first evening, the participants witnessed performances of eminent Odishi danseuse Sonal Mansingh and flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia. The evening was also dedicated to artists like BKS Ayengar (Yoga), Adyar K lakshman (Bharatnatyam), Zohra Sehgal (Film), UR Ananthamurthy (Writer) and Olav Dale (Composer-Saxophonist), Sitara Dev (Kathak) and U Srinivas (Mandolin).
The event aims at providing the participants with an intense experience of various art forms, that would create a life-long interest among the children and provide them with an opportunity to experience our living heritage and culture, said the Spic Macay founder.