At the Kalakrida showcase, students from under-served communities perform their learnings of different art forms

Hosted by the organisation AHUM (Art Heart U & Mind), the showcase is the culmination of a summer programme for almost 100 school children

The AHUM (Art Heart U & Mind) Trust, in collaboration with the Satya Foundation, Jakkur will present a performance of their annual art intensive summer programme, Kalakrida, which loops in children from under-served communities.

Almost a hundred students were taught different art forms such as creative writing, theatre, music, konnakol, painting and movement during the three-week summer programme. These children will present their learnings and experiences at the showcase. 

Bharatanatyam dancer and founder of the trust, Anuradha Venkatraman, says, “The children will perform the songs they wrote on as well as a medley of Kannada songs that they learnt at the music class. This will be followed by Layavinyasa, which explores rhythm cycles in konnakol.”

“After this, the children will narrate the stories they crafted in their creative writing classes and then, perform a contemporary movement piece titled Trapped in the Feed. There will be a Kannada adaptation of the play The Chalk Circle, after which the children will exhibit the art works created during their painting classes.” 

Usually, the Kalakrida programme, which was first curated in 2016, takes in about 120 students during registration. However, Anuradha points out, many of them drop out since they also have contribute to the family income during summer holidays. This year, 95 students studying in government schools in Jakkur completed the programme and will be a part of the event. 

“Through this showcase, these underprivileged children are given a freedom of expression which they do not enjoy in their home or school. Since most of the focus of education is on rote learning and STEM education, we forget that art helps in developing non-cognitive skills which are more valuable and necessary to face the world, understand teamwork and even solve problems,” she says. 

“We step in to fill this gap by bringing art and aiding their emotional growth in a positive way.”