One in two children goes to bed hungry in India, many of them are the only breadwinners in the family. Gender discrimination is rampant throughout the country with domestic violence and dowry requirements for its women. Every year, more than 17,000 farmers commit suicide due to unbearable crop conditions, most of which is manmade by large dams and projects that displace millions. Many others suffer from the conflict between the State and Maoists. But the Association for India’s Development (AID) that began with $600 and 15 volunteers has found that the problems and solutions to many of these problems are connected and have worked since 1991 to make a difference in the lives of the impoverished people of India.
Once such program that is bringing light to a dark situation is the cast and crew of AID’s Articulate Ability dance. It began with five children between the ages of six and 10, who miraculously found their way to the Ramana Maharashi Academy for the Blind in Bangalore. Their stories are inspiring, but the message that they send through their dance is profound.
These young boys fell in love with the traditional folk dances of India, some dating back 3,000 years and they banded together as brothers and taught teachers how to teach the blind to dance. Led by Artistic Director and Choreographer Mysore Nagaraj and taught by teacher and Choreographer Dr. Suparna Venkatesh, these young boys have mastered the art of both Southern and Northern Indian dance, leaving their canes aside and performing across the globe to spread their message in the hope of India’s future.
Performing at the Joan B. Crock Theater on Sept. 20, these five talented men mesmerized a near full house with the perfection of dance, all of which is deep rooted in Indian religion and culture. They continuously dazzled the crowd with perfection in motion, and a sense of joy as they performed with an amazing perfection on par with any accomplished dancer. From folk, to classical and martial arts, Articulate Ability delivered a stellar performance.
But the evening was more than just dance. It was a night filled with rich art history, the stories of five young boys that defied the odds and a stark lesson in reality of what the impoverished people of India are facing today as a nation.
Hosted by AID San Diego, the evening was one of wonderment, hope and cultural education. To find out more about AID go to AIDIndia.org and to find out how to become involved locally visit sandiego.aidindia.org.
