Report: Shodhan Prasad
Dubai, Jul 29: Over 400 arts and culture enthusiasts including Emiratis, Arabs, Europeans, Africans, South East Asians and Indians witnessed a magical summer recital of Indian classical dance by Dubai-based performing arts & music academy Nanda by Iswarya during 4th edition Nanda Gokula on June 22, at the Horizon International School in Dubai, UAE. The recital was held under the theme Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The world is one family), with over 50 UAE-based dancers representing 10+ Indian states including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra, Telangana, Maharashtra, Punjab, West Bengal and New Delhi performing much-celebrated dance forms such as Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam and semi-classical.
Choreographed by founder of Nanda Guru Iswarya Bharadwaj, a young pregnant mother and a celebrated Indian classical dancer who gave up her corporate life to fully focus on performing arts, and preceded by chief guests Prof Peter Barlow, executive director of Sharjah Performing Arts Academy and Shri Jitendra Vaidya, president of Indian People’s Forum (IPF UAE), the recital was supported by IPF UAE, Karnataka Sangha Dubai, Trescon, Precision Metals, SR Group of Companies, Lucky Star Computers, Minds Ahead Academy, AutoSure and SAR Events.
Speaking on the occasion, Iswarya who performed in over 500 stages in countries like UAE, India, UK and USA, and a recipient of over 50 national and international awards including prestigious titles like Kalathilakam and Nritya Chaithanya, said, “I’m truly blessed to be raised in an inclusive, tolerant and cooperative country like UAE which has allowed me to spread Indian classical dance forms across various Emirates. Since 2017, I have hosted several mesmerizing recitals & Nanda Gokula 2024 is my most favourite as we showcased concepts never seen before and celebrated several cultures, all through the lens of Indian classical dance. My dream is to perform for the Prime Ministers of UAE Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and India Narendra Modi one day.”
Several cultural and community heads were felicitated during the recital including social service champion Uma Shankri, cultural stalwart Shilpa Nair, Karnataka Sangha Dubai President Shashidhar Nagarajappa, founder of Indian Women Dubai Reema Mahajan, Trescon’s chairman Mohammed Saleem and CEO Naveen Bharadwaj.
About Nanda by Iswarya
Dubai-based Nanda by Iswarya is a dream project of Guru Iswarya Bharadwaj to celebrate Indian classical performing arts and music all across the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Launched in 2017, NANDA has trained over 250 students of varied races and ages.
Nanda primarily focuses on creating awareness, teaching, performing, collaborating and choreographing Indian classical dance forms such as Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam and Kerala Nadanam, and is introducing Indian classical Carnatic music too.
In addition to cultural & community events, Nanda has performed in various business events like annual investment meeting (AIM) and in the audience of dignitaries like UAE’s former minister of state for tolerance Sheikha Lubna Al Qassimi and Indian musical maestro A R Rahman.