On the evening of December 8, 2022, the school playground, decorated with lights, looked magical. It was all set to host Aditi Utsava.

A little bit about the genesis of the evening’s performance: in the Dance classes this academic year for Elementary and Middle School, students have been learning Garba and other circle dances from around the world. There has been a long tradition, worldwide, of circle dancing, which brings people together in an atmosphere of celebration.

It is this idea of bringing people together, as a community, after a gap of many years, which was the inspiration behind the evening’s programme. For most of us, the Pandemic meant isolation. The very fabric of our societies was shaken when we could not take even basic human contact for granted. After a long period of uncertainty, we have begun to return to our schools, our offices, to travel with families and meet with friends. And it is to celebrate and to affirm our sense of community that we all gathered here!

The evening’s celebration was an inclusive occasion. The students of Grades 4 and 5 along with the Middle School dance students led the dances. Many teachers and staff members had also spent a few weeks rehearsing to be a part of the evening’s festivities. Everyone, young and old, were encouraged to join in. A few dances from diverse cultures across the world were chosen for this evening. The students were asked to teach their parents some of the basic steps of the dances. The dances were simple and would be easy for everyone to be part of. This was not just a performance, but a participatory event.