Now this describes the process of adaptation of new and appreciation of old better. And that is very important, "We don't want only the older generations to love our classical dance, so to engage the younger generation, we kept options open," reasons Ryabova Natalia, director of the dance group, Roza Vetrov as she seats down to have the very Punjabi lunch. As is quite obvious now, their Sport Ballroom Dance will be a fusion of Russian folk, Latin and standard and even elements of modern American dances. "Fusion renders our dance a universal appeal. Improvisations make people love the performance and what serves as a compliment is when they come to us to learn it," she adds while biting into butter chicken and shahi paneer. At least we could gauge her love for this dance when she told us she has been doing it for 15 years now and still there isn't any stopping. "There is no end to learning the ballroom dance. As we keep on incorporating steps from other dance forms, a lot of practice is required." Not to forget another point she made, "Whatever changes we bring in to the original dance form, we make sure that the essence remains intact. We strictly don't compromise with the natural grace in the dance, and if that happens, then dance looses its charm."

The whole troupe is excited about performing with the French and Indian dance groups. "We hope it will be a great experience where cultures will seep through boundaries. I am eager to see Bhangra, which I have heard is a very energetic traditional dance form."

Enough dance talk, we began with another topic, which wasn't intentionally introduced, food. "We have so often heard about the spices of India and now have the practical experience," says Yadova Raisa, a dancer in the troupe. She next adds after gulping a glass full of water, "It is very spicy but tasty."

Now how can we forget the most important topic we talked about, Indian Cinema. Ryabova was quick to prompt, "My mother has a huge collection of old Hindi movies. " No surprises of she next mentions all yester year actors, Raj Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor, Nargis, Dharmendra…" Now Slumdog Millionaire just cant be left out, "Eight Oscars assure the movie has something great about it. After the dance fest gets over, watching Slumdog... will top my agenda," she signs off.

We didn’t think the conversation would begin on such an informal note, but it did and made us happy. “We all are so eager to watch Slumdog Millionaire. Though we have read and heard a lot about it, we could not watch it since it hasn’t released in France,” say all of them. Next came the topic of Aishwarya Rai, “She is a good actor and artiste.” We were pretty sure about the first description but wasn’t “actor” enough to explain the “artiste” part. Their dance teacher, Marie-Laure Vincent takes the lead this time, “There is a difference. An actor just delivers dialogues and an artiste emotes through art just as we do through our dance”. Guess we were coming on the track as we began to talk about their form of dance, ballet, “Dance is a language for us, through which we communicate. People might not understand our language but they understand what we express while dancing. Dance connects us with the rest of the world.” It’s proved once again art is a universal language!

They let us know more about their classical dance form. Nina Bernard, another dancer from the Fench ensemble, Les Petits Rats, takes the initiative this time, “It is a seven centuries’ old dance that was first performed in the time of Lewis IV, the King of France.” And as expected certain things have changed since then, but a lot is still intact. “It was then performed only by men, now more women do it, since they add their inherent elegance to it.” We could notice this woman’s pride. Learning this dance form is a serious business and Marie tells us why, “Kids who wish to learn this dance are caught young. It takes a minimum of seven years to gain expertise in it and that is probably what has still kept this dance form so popular in France.”

In the group of eight dancers, most of them are still completing their higher secondary education. And when most of their contemporaries fancy learning the western modern dances, they find their interest in ballet. “It is a very gracious dance and seeing it will make you fall in love with it,” guarantees she.

Other than the obvious ‘universal’ art, there is something else too that connects the city people with our French guests. They all come from the Royan city located in Southern France. Stephanie Bertrand, another dance teacher, talks about the connection, “After the city was ruined in World War II, most of its buildings were designed by Le Corbusier that makes similarities between structures of Chandigarh and Royan quite natural.”

What was supposed to be an annual curriculum trip became a reason for collecting memoirs of a nation wide tragedy. A classroom project turned into a reflection of journey full of emotions, as students witnessed a night of terror at a bank on the ill-fated day of 26/11. Opening the Pandora’s box that has every possible sentiment attached to it, is ‘Incredible India’, an exhibition by 42 students of Art College-10. A collection of over 150 photographs and paintings that tell their stories and experiences of a 16 day long, but rich journey across Mysore, Mangalore, Goa, Mumbai and exploring the cultural genius of Khajoraho and Elephanta.

Here camera became their vision. “The trip is an annual feature, a part of the curriculum. But this time we decided to display the experiences on a large scale,” said D.S. Kapoor, the tour in-charge of the college.

The exhibition is a lively mix of moments; some light, some heavy, showcasing slices from daily life and others showing exuberance of youth. So, you have Khajoraho captured at its artistic best and Mumbai clicked bindaas before terror striked it. “We were shopping at the Colaba market just moments before the 26/11 attack. Suddenly, everything happened at such a pace that we couldn’t think or do anything and we were stranded in a nearby bank for an entire night, hearing sounds of terror,’ said Nitin Kumar, a student. What they witnessed that night, came out on the canvas. Installation, displayed at the exhibition is an artistic image of the helplessness these young artists felt that night. “It felt like we were stuck inside a prison of terror and were unable to break out,’ said one out of the group of five students who created it.

And it’s not just the pain and horror of the attacks that makes for the highlight of the exhibition, but the everyday expressions of life in some of the most remote parts of the country. Like the fisherman trying to tow a boat out of the sea in a village near Mangalore, or villagers tying old chappals around the coconut tree as a ritual for good luck in Goa.

Freezing their moments of some pure fun, are another set of photographs, a girl sharing a bite with a goat, a high jump in air with Sanchi Stupa in the background or a (lucky) man posing perfectly between a string of beautiful girls (despite the stand alone fact that they score on extremes on the scale of beauty!).

The exhibition is a piece of life wrapped in their creativity. From their camera lens to the strokes of their brush, every frame tells a story, one that you will be interested to know!

On till February 28

lifestyle@tribunemail.com

Any classical dance art may be rooted in tradition, but it survives through innovation. In fact the connoisseurs of art have been projecting their innermost strivings to enrich the different forms of classical dance, ” opines young academician and Kathak danseuse Swapnil Karmahe.

Settled in the city, she belongs to Khairagarh, the Mecca of classical music and teaches at the Government College.

Sharing her passion for classical dance, Swapnil says that it was the musical environment at home and her vocalist father who encouraged her to learn and worship music.

“It was my father who inspired me to take up dance. And I realised that a disciplined learning is essential because the art form is so complex in itself, with music, abhinaya, drama and presentation elements all coalesced to create an awesome spectacle. While all the dance forms exude their own aura but my choice fell for the Kathak. It is a dance form that has charm of graces, virile expositions, vivid scope of emotional expressions as compared to the puritanical rigidity of Bharatnatayam or other traditions.

While my pursuits for academic career went on, classical dance remained my first love and I leant the rudiments as well as advanced knowledge of Lucknow gharana Kathak under the tutelage of Dr Mandvi Singh, a professor at the Khairagarh University,” says Swapnil.

She adds, “I have been lucky for having been a Ganda bandh disciple of Kathak guru Dr PD Ashirwadam. I have learnt for twelve years from him, which continues even today.”

Having secured the Doctorate in classical dances under Dr Ashirwadam, she got the national scholarship (2001-03) from HRD ministry and the prestigious Swarmani award from Sur Samsad Mumbai, which was followed by gold medals at the Inter University meet for three years in succession.

“Of all my public performances I relish my Kathak dance recitals in the Kathak Utsaves at Kamani auditorium New Delhi in 2003 and at Vadodra in 2008 held under the aegis of Delhi Kathak Kendra.”

Swapnil however reluctantly shared the challenges she faces from another musical genius in her musical family. “Yes the formidable challenger is none other than her own protégé and younger sister, Sumedha Karmahe who made it to the top five of 2009 Sa Re Ga Ma world contest finals. Affectionately known as the Barbie doll of Chhatisigarh, Sumedha had won tremendous applause from the music lovers world over besides some assignments for playback singing in films and private albums. She has already recorded for an art film Tahan, four Bengali and Bhojpuri films.

“For the time being the charming challenge from sister Sumedha is indeed a welcome,” says smiling Swapnil

lifestyle@tribunemail.com

Dev Patel, the lead star of multiple Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire is planning to appear on the real Who Wants to Be A Millionaire? show along with director Danny Boyle in a bid to raise money for street children.

The 18-year-old Patel played a Mumbai slumdweller Jamal in the rags-to-riches story which depicts the extraordinary journey of the protagonist from oblivion to fame and fortune as he goes on to win USD 20 million on the Indian version of Who wants to Be A Millionaire?.

The film also stars two real life Mumbai slum children Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail and Rubina Ali, who were flown from their slum houses to attend the star-studded Oscar ceremony on February 22.

The British-Indian actor, who plays the grown-up Jamal in the film, is reportedly in talks to appear on the ITV1 gameshow along with Oscar-winning British director Danny Boyle.

The producers may even rope in Indian actor Frieda Pinto as 'phone a friend' to recreate the story of the film during the show.

Patel has collaborated with a UK-based children's charity Railway Children will appear on the show. The charity organisation helps street children. — PTI

Slumdog Millionaire actor Freida Pinto, who has just bagged a role in Woody Allen's next film, is determined to star alongside her schoolgirl crush Leonardo DiCaprio.

"I had a big crush on him back in school. I had this little Leonardo DiCaprio scrapbook with his picture on the front. Now, he's going to think I'm a creep after this," said the model-turned-actor who shot to fame with Danny Boyle's multiple Oscar winning drama "Slumdog Millionaire.

But if she fails to land DiCaprio as her leading man, Pinto has a back up in mind too.

"I'd have to say Jack Nicholson. He's the one person I've been dying to meet and for some reason, I just haven't seen him anywhere," she said. — IANS

A good Hollywood party these days combines certain indispensable elements: a beautiful room filled with beautiful people, good food and drink, efficient valet parking and a cause.

At this year's Oscar parties, the cause element was especially important. (Oscar host Hugh Jackman wasn't the only entertainer who noticed that Oscar was throwing a glittering bash in hard times.)

But that didn't mean forgoing glitz. Like everybody else on the planet who can't make it to the Kodak Theatre, celebs and politically active members of the industry community like to get together and watch the Oscars. But forget the nachos.

At Elton John's glittering event to raise money and awareness for his AIDS foundation, the aperitif of choice was a Godiva chocolate martini. And if that wasn't enough, a phalanx of nattily clad servers passed trays of chocolate bonbons.

Judging by the size of the dresses, it didn't appear to be a crowd that regularly indulges. But, hey, it was Oscar night. Even model Elle Macpherson was nibbling on a sweet while holding a conversation with the hyper-critical Simon Cowell.

Among the A-list attendees in a giant tent at Pacific Design Center were Carrie Underwood, Chris Noth, Eva Longoria Parker, Quincy Jones and Taye Diggs. By the end of the night, nearly $4 million had been raised. Elton John, in a show of gratitude, sang a couple of songs with the featured singer of the evening, Raphael Saadiq.

To raise money for Ziman's foundation, Children Uniting Nations, a large colorful mural by artist David Russo (with assistance from 1,500 foster children who pressed their paint-dipped hands onto the surface) was displayed in the hotel lobby. It will be auctioned off via the Internet in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Olivia Newton-John, Leeza Gibbons and David Foster sponsored an Oscar-watching event called "A Night to Make a Difference" in a tented area off Mr. Chow restaurant in Beverly Hills. "In a night when we are honoring emotions we wanted to honour celebrities who lead by example," said Gibbons. Among those recognised for their efforts, mostly raising money for sick children were Laila Ali, Holly Robinson Peete and her husband, Rodney Peete. — LA TIMES-WASHINGTON POST

Vikram. K Kumar who has won a national award for his short film Silent Scream talks about his supernatural thriller 13B and his passion for films. Having worked as an assistant director with noted filmmaker Priyadarshan, he has also directed a Telugu film Ishtam (produced by Ramoji Rao) and a Tamil film Alai with Sibu Trisha.

How do you describe the film 13B?

It is a supernatural thriller. It took me almost two years to write the script and the outcome is above my expectations.

What made you cast Madhavan in the lead?

My film is a bilingual, so I needed an actor who was not only at par performance wise, but also someone who was comfortable in both the languages Tamil and Hindi.

There were rumours about Kareena being paired opposite Madhavan in the film, is that true?

No, not at all, Kareena was never even considered; forget about approaching her.

And as far as Neetu is concerned, I saw her film Traffic Signal and thought she acted well. Neetu is very versatile in terms of her looks. She can look like a glamorous dame at one time and a simple down to earth housewife at the other.

Why did you choose a supernatural thriller over a commercial masala film for your debut? Do you think the era of formula films is over?

Horror is not a niche genre and my film is out an out a commercial film.

Did any particular film or director inspire you while making 13B?

I love watching supernatural thrillers and have watched all the classic ones. But 13B is an original creation and has not been picked up or inspired by any Hollywood film.

Are you superstitious?

Not really. And 13 as a number fascinates me.

Any new projects in pipeline

There are seven to eight stories that I already have in my hand, which are ready to be taken to the next step.

— Dharam Pal