‘Dance Forms of India’, now a card game on Indian culture

NEW DELHI - Jayalakshmi Eshwar, a leading exponent of Bharatanatyam, has come up with a unique card game named ‘Dance Forms of India’, where children and their parents can learn about the various forms of dance and enhance their knowledge of Indian culture.

“I basically came up with the game cards for children and grown ups. It is more of a general knowledge card. The card contains details about various dance forms, the costumes, the instruments used and various gurus. Children can learn and know about various forms of dance in a playing method,” Eshwar told Asian News International (ANI).

“The parents can also play the card game along with their children. The card provides all details and a history of various dance forms. It will help children in not only enhancing their general knowledge, but also provide an ample opportunity for them to know about Indian culture,” she added.

Eshwar further said the response so far has been quite good.

“Many people, who have played this card game, think its a brilliant concept. The girls especially, they are overjoyed and delighted to play this game. Even the parents say that its an intelligent game and better way to spend free time than watching senseless TV shows.”

Eshwar, who has given Bharatanatyam performances at various national and international festivals in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, North Korea, China, US, Scandinavia, Europe, Latin America and Gulf countries, said she came up with the idea of a playing card game during her show at Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET), when she got an opportunity to interact with many children.

“The next card game that I have decided to bring out will be exclusively for Bharatnatyam. Those, who have two years of dance experience, can easily play that game. Even Oddisi dancers can play that card game,” she added.

Eshwar’s thematic group productions include ‘Tat Tvam Asi’, ‘Bharatam’, ‘Nrityarupam’, ‘Snow White’ and ‘Seven Dwarts’ ‘Bhaktameva Stothra’ on Jainism.

Eshwar is a Doordarshan A-grade artiste and an ‘Indian Council for Cultural Relations’ empanelled artiste.

She gives instructions in dance to special children, works with the ‘India International Rural Cultural Centre’ and is visiting faculty at 25 Scottish schools at the invitation of ‘Asian Artists’ Association and the Strathclyde Education Council’.

She heads the Bharatanatyam Department of the ‘Triveni Kala Sangam’ in New Delhi. (ANI)