www.natyakalaconference.com/devika.html -
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Last Visited: 12/29/2008
The title was given by Dr. David Kahler, Vice President World Education, who observed some of the sessions that were done earlier in a project called ‘Using traditional performing arts in education' because I was always looking at harnessing the power and dramatic elements in our performing arts as something to look at our body, our control on our situations, our refusing to be humiliated.
I believe success is being happy in whatever situation one is and not just bettering one's lot with more money.
It is how one is treated in the surrounding environment that is the success of one's life.
This is what I keep talking to girls about.
Bharatanatyam and its form, Koothu, Devarattam, Oyilattam, etc are to not only connect to our traditional expression forms but also to look at rural India's strengths.
Dr. Kahler talked me into agreeing for my Aseema Trust to take a three year grant from World Education to do this project with the girls of Avvai Home and Navbharath Matriculation School.