School Concert - A Visual Treat!

Remember the Art Mela that was orchestrated in the movie Taare Zameen Par? 

I, J and my mom had the privilege to experience that in its full glory and charm at my daughter's school concert today.  

The teachers and their team broke the monotony of performing in the auditorium and brought the thrill of performances in their own Open Air Amphitheater. 

What a charming atmosphere we were welcomed to! 

But wait - this sounds a little abrupt. Let me start from the last month or so when N began talking about the concert practice. 

Initial days were the same old routine "Bore ho raha hai Mom.. Same old practice we have to do so many times.. Can I skip school today? etc etc. " (Honestly, even I was dreading less routine and more practice) It slowly progressed to exciting sharing of practice anecdotes. Toward the end of the month long practice sessions, her version had completely transformed to excitement, thrill and can't-wait-to-show-you-my-concert enthusiasm! Unending dialogue repeats and humming of all the songs... her evenings went by in being engrossed in her concert thoughts every single day. 

Finally came the day when we were instructed to do things on time so she could reach school 5 pm SHARP. A delay of 5 minutes was also not acceptable. So we all obliged and dropped her in the atrium on the dot. While we waited for the program to begin, the spring air was filled in with cute excitement of kids practicing their steps for 1 last time and others helping their teachers to arrange stalls in the Haat Bazaar. Right as the invite said - we were welcomed in the Bazaar with a Lezim dance performed enthusiastically by the teeny heads. 

The cute 2nd graders were soo happy to apply Mehndi and vegetable dye Tatoos on our hands, fragrant Gulaal on cheeks and foreheads.. Along with giving us potlis filled with flower petals others predicted adorably bizarre things using colorful props. Yet others filled our mouths with colourful Holi sweet made out of Dal n Jaggery! What a start of the evening already! 

Sweet Stall in Haat Bazaar

Petal Potlis

As soon as we walked upto the Amphitheatre we couldn't help but start floating in the colours the space adorned for the Spring as well as Holi!

Marigold flower decor, earthern diyas, paper craft and colourful rangolis made way for us to get seated and wait in anticipation for the little ones to take the stage. We could see the hard work of the Art Team, Teachers, Maushis, Students and everyone involved in not only the decor but also the backdrop comprising of beautiful art work. How much effort they put in creating this mesmerizing atmosphere for the kids and us! Wow! The thought itself brings a smile on my face. 

The kids couldn't hold their horses till the teacher welcomed us to the concept..but sat in their respective places very obediently. When the kids started talking about Holi and how it is celebrated in various parts of the country with full zeal and fervor... we were amused on how much more they have learnt in the last few weeks about our rich heritage! 
Our hands couldn't stop clapping on the Josh of the kids dialogues, dance, poetry as well as expressions.. Uff what adaa each of them carried! :-D As the kiddo introducing Punjabi Warrior Dance rightly said - "Dil khush kar ditta yaaara..Oyeee!!" 

Our hands clapped, smiles broadened and toes tapped along with them. 

We couldn't help but admire on how well they stitched in the concept of "Be the Change - You Want To See" in this charming festival. Be it teaching us as well as themselves how they can make colours out of natural ingredients .. or standing up to someone who can be a bully in such festive times. It was a novel concept presented with a lot of hard work, sincerity and enthusiasm. 

Few other wow moments were kids being exposed to beautiful and good music and not just the same old Bollywood numbers one could expect. The poems and songs also sounded very well written and researched. 

The poems were written by the children themselves.. Hats off to the teachers to encourage and inculcate these talents this early on.

As the Head of School rightly said toward the end - Bringing the children out of the Auditorium to the Amphitheater, they not only brought the kids closer to us.. but also gave them the opportunity to be a part of the entire program and not just watch from a corner. Less intimidating, more personal and much more joyful for everyone involved! 

The hour long visual delight concluded with parents showering the flower petals from the potlis on their offsprings and dancing with them.. with lots of pic ops of course! It was a complete fest that we experienced...

The images keep reeling in my head from the colourful and unique function that we experienced today. Kudos to the Director who brought in this idea.. and a BIG round of applause for the Team who made this possible. If our schools keep having such progressive and beautifully woven learning concepts for our children - we can be very very sure that the next generation has a very bright future lying ahead of them! I am extremely happy and feel very guilty of questioning the need of so much concert-practice. The kids have obviously learned some valuable lessons during this time that curriculum cannot always teach!

Art Work by Kiddos

I sincerely wish I could share more pictures of the concert - but this being a public forum I cannot take chances with the privacy of little children involved. 

N collecting flower petals to play Holi in the last leg

So for now.. Imagine Loads of Colours - beginning from the sky, to the backdrop, walls, dresses, rangolis, flowers in the air and finally their cute little smiles....

Hope the spring brings in cheer and happiness for all those sweet kiddos! Wishing them and you all A Very Happy Holi!