Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Ramadan 17, 1445 H
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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

The blend of old, new

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THE crème de la crème of choreographers, dancers, researchers and connoisseurs of dance were in attendance at the 2,500-year-old Dora Stratou Theatre opposite the Acropolis Museum.


The event was the recently concluded 50th World Congress of Dance held in Athens, which saw the Sultanate putting up a stellar performance.


12 dance professionals under Premila Ramesh, Director, Nrityanjali, led Oman’s delegation at the World Congress, the Pearl anniversary.


Nrityanjali’s presentation titled ‘Layam’ won impressive reviews.


The audience was awestruck by the scope of choreography and footwork coordination.‘Mazhai’ (Rain) was another thematic presentation based on


environment and importance of saving green Earth.


Several animal props hand made by her students added colour.


Premila also presented a lecture demonstration highlighting the values of Indian classical art forms with live performance at the Ionic Center Kavafis Hall.


Yet another contemporary dance ‘Asathoma’ also enthralled the audience.


Anahit Saribekyan, noted Armenian dance researcher and teacher has termed, Oman’s performance as ‘amazing.’ She


praised Premila’s work as a perfect choreographer and dance teacher guiding the promising artistes.


Recognising the sincere work of Premila, Prof Dr Alkis Raftis, President, Conseil International De La Danse (CID), encouraged her to take CID closer to as many dance professionals as possible in the Sultanate.


“CID embraces all forms of dance and would like to provide them with international recognition.


Unesco recognises three of the traditional dances of Omani and would like to see many more of this rich cultural diversity from Oman,” says Dr Raftis.


Anahit performed an abstract monumental dance at Dora Stratou Theatre, under the Vanadzor Section of CID, and Anah Sari International Arts Academy from Athens.


At the Congress, the newly launched ‘Ani’ dance group from Agbuani Athens performed a dance under the guidance and instructions of Anahit who also led an impressive workshop on hands technique and fractals in dance.

Prof Dr Alkis invited the artistes to Plaka, the picturesque old town under the Acropolis of Athens, his home village.


The town is nestled amidst countless historical sites worth visiting within a few minutes’ walk from the ancient theatre.


As part of the Congress team of 30 dedicated volunteers, all of them CID members, made sure all of them felt at home and joined them in making an unforgettable experience.


The International Dance Council or Conseil International De La Danse is the official umbrella organisation for all forms of dance in all countries of the world.


It is a non-governmental organisation founded in 1973 within the Unesco headquarters in Paris.


They organise the Congress each year with the largest gathering of dance specialists world-wide and in April had formally declared open the Muscat section of CID.


Picture credit for Anah Sari photo: by Theo Lian


Liju Cherian


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