AIAA Shimla Launches 69th National Drama and Dance Festival, Celebrating Art and Culture from June 6-10
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Shimla (HP), June 6: The All India Artists Association (AIAA) Shimla, India’s oldest association promoting art and literature through theatre, drama, music, and dance, is set to host the 69th edition of its Annual Drama and Dance Competition & Festival. The event will take place at Kali Bari Auditorium and Gaiety Theatre from June 6 to 10, 2024. Adding to the allure of this year’s festival is the Sudarshan Gour Dance Festival-2024.
“It is a great pleasure to be here yet again with our 69th edition of the country’s most loved and appreciated Drama & Dance Competition. Our talented artists eagerly await this prestigious event. This year, AIAA Shimla will host around 800 artists from 20 states, showcasing their potential. We are fully prepared to conduct this mega event with utmost joy and enthusiasm,” said Shri Rohitashv Gour, the president of AIAA Shimla.
Dr. Rekha Gour, AIAA vice president and chief organizer of the event, revealed that there will be 24 teams competing in drama and 260 dance performances spanning various categories including classical, semi-classical, folk, and modern styles such as Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Kathakalli, Mohini-Attam, Bhangra, Lavni, Garba, Manipuri folk, contemporary, Bollywood, and salsa. The drama segment will feature social, comedy, experimental, and children’s plays.
The festival will also include felicitation ceremonies for distinguished awards such as the Shri Balraj Sahani National Award, Shri Gopi Krishna National Award, Shri Sudershan Gour Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Indian Heroes Award. Renowned theatre personalities like Actor & Director Ms. Bharti Sharma, Praveen Chandla, Punjabi playwright Shri Pali Bhupinder Singh, Kuchipudi dance couple Dr. Pasumathy Vithal & Dr. Bharathi Vithal, and Kathak exponent Shri Subhash Chandra will be honored. Social activists and NGOs will also be recognized for their valuable contributions to society under the Indian Heroes Award category.
This year, AIAA Shimla introduces a National Conference on Art and Theatre as an addition to the annual event. Invited dignitaries will discuss the importance and values of art, sharing their life journeys and experiences to inspire other artists.
Notably, Shri Rohitashv Gour, a celebrity and TV personality who is the brand ambassador for PM Narendra Modi’s Swachchta Abhiyan, will now also serve as the Swachchta-Hi-Seva Ambassador for Shimla (HP).
The Shimla Summer Festival promises to be a grand celebration of art, culture, and community spirit, bringing together artists and enthusiasts from across the nation for a memorable event.
