CULTURE

GLITZ&GLAMOUR
Showcasing dreams with a droll sense of humour
Smriti Kak

Life is about dreams, and man’s ability to achieve them, reason why Rajat and Poonam Banerjee chose to stage their dreams, which scores of others could identify with.

The week gone by saw the Capital enjoy a comedy, ‘Dreamsellers’, produced under the banner Gatearch, which took the audience on a roller-coaster ride. Set in the office of the ‘Dreamsellers’, the play showcased their escapades as they sold their “unconventional yet heartfelt” dreams to their clients.

With passion to rise above the mundane to a level of artistic endeavour that Generation X can relate to, Rajat and Poonam, formed Gatearch productions in 1999. The group has grown since with the addition of many bright new talents on the Delhi theatre scene.

Rajat has scripted and directed two successful English musicals - “The Year 2000” (based on the Y2K threat) and ‘Dangerous Thrills’, while Poonam handles the production and backstage of the Gatearch Productions.

Creativity can well be the duos middle name, while Rajat dabbles in other aspects of the creative field, like choreographing musicals, making corporate documentaries, technical presentations and TV programmes, Poonam has participated and assisted in a number of plays and choreographs. She has also compared many international conferences and symposiums.

Taking about their play, “It is set in the context of a modern office in Delhi, juxtaposed with clients, who range from underworld dons to people who dress strangely, and stunningly models to restaurant owners.”

The story revolves around five executives and how they deal with a myriad group of clients, how things get mixed up, and most importantly what happens to their dreams.

The ‘Dreamsellers’ are a group of executives who help people pursue their dreams. They make you realise that you have dreams; they show you a scenario of where you could be if you followed your dream. A lively social satire, ‘Dreamsellers’ brings out the insecurities, ambitions and dreams of modern day society in a hilarious context.

Conceived, scripted and directed by Rajat Banerjee and produced by Poonam Banerjee, the play had a lively background score and superbly choreographed dance sequences.

Architects by profession, Rajat and Poonam have created a theatre group that is fuelled by the talents of other bright young professionals to create humorous and eclectic plays reflecting modern day society and the contemporary issues it faces. “As of now theatre and entertainment is a hobby, but we plan to take it up seriously,” says Rajat.

The business of looking good
Tribune News Service

Bharti Taneja training students at Alps.

The business of beauty is profitable as also creative. With good looks and groomed personas being the order of the day, teaching beauty has become a serious vocation.

Says Bharti Taneja of Alps Academy of Hair Design and Beauty, “With more and more women becoming career-oriented, the world over and the perennial time constraint has thrown up enormous opportunities for professionals in the beauty fields to fulfil their innate desire to look and feel beautiful. Changing lifestyles, greater exposure and tremendous enthusiasm among youngsters has made beauty care big business today.”

Cosmetology has now become a very lucrative and “happening” field. Professionals claim that the world of fashion and glamour can no longer do without it. They also point out that training in cosmetology also offers a passport to the world of glamour.

While Bharti Taneja’s Alps Academy of Hair Designing and Beauty provides beauty and hair studies, Blossom Kocchar’s Pivot Point also offers training in various beauty and therapeutic procedures. At Alps, besides imparting scientific and aesthetic knowledge, students are provided constant practical training for which clients visiting these centres are given free haircuts and regular beauty services. Alps Academy runs courses in hair styling and make-up, skin and hair treatment, electrolysis, nail art, mehndi, eyelash perming, personal grooming and charm, aromatherapy and permanent cosmetic make-up.

“At Alps we provide courses in basic hair dressing and cutting, advanced hair styles and make-up, fantasy and special effects make-up and skin and hair treatment. Nail Art and Personal Grooming and Charm are also popular courses,” said Taneja who has students from abroad as well.

She adds, “We provide maximum flexibility as far as teaching hours go. The advanced courses are planned in a way that suits the schedule of the student and we also have hostel facilities for the students.”

At Pivot Point students, which has been imparting training for the last 15 years, students are groomed in beauty culture, basic and advanced courses in make-up apart from nail technology. Professionals concede that these courses are a gruelling training, for the art of looking good and making people look good is not an easy job.

Film on gender roles in Asian performing arts

The Asia-Pacific Performing Arts Network (APPAN) will screen ‘The Sacred and The Profane’, a one-hour film on the theme of the male-female role in Asian performance arts here on Wednesday.

The Deputy Chairperson of Rajya Sabha and President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Dr Najma Heptullah, will be the chief guest on the occasion. The special film made on the recent 5th APPAN International Festival and Symposium held on the banks of the Ganga and Rishikesh, from 24-28 January, features nearly 70 performers, scholars and journalists from nine countries of the Asia-Pacific region and the West as well as from India. A discussion on cultural exchange and closer interaction between India and the countries of Asia-Pacific region will follow the screening, led by Ms Suryakanthi Tripathi, Director-General, ICCR. TNS

For women only! Don’t miss reading these tips for Holi

How to apply colour artfully? Learn from this damsel.

With the festival of colour, Holi just a few days away, many women are concerned about the after effects of synthetic colours on their skin. To help women maintain their glowing skin, a leading cosmetologist, Ms Sunita Arora from Natures Essence Private Limited has the following tips:

• Prefer natural colours without the harsh chemical components during the Holi.

• Cover the exposed skin with some lubricant like mustard oil or coconut oil or olive oil to protect the skin. It will act like a protective covering.

• Do not rub or scrub the skin to remove colours. Instead apply a moisturiser and rub gently to remove the hues.

• Do not use soap as it dries the skin. Instead use a mixture of Besan and milk after applying the moisturiser. So go ahead and enjoy this holi. TNS