Entertainment for a cause

WALKING INTO Music Academy on Friday, August 10, one found a bunch of young people on stage dressed casually in t-shirts and loose pants rehearsing - all of them in various stages of an exercise routine which would prepare them for the evening ahead. The audiences had yet to trickle in and the organisers were busy trying to get things going on schedule.

But then audiences continued to trickle in till way beyond the scheduled time of starting and when it did the wait seemed truly worth it - more for the cause than the song and dance called Imaginaire. In aid of women and children afflicted with cancer, the Brigham Young University's Dancers Company was presented by CAN STOP in an evening of colour, motion, fun and feeling. CAN STOP or Cancer Support Therapy to Overcome Pain, the outreach programme of the Sundaram Medical Foundation started by Dr. Vijaya Bharati has been constantly and consistently providing support to cancer patients in terms of counselling, drugs, therapy and everything that goes to make the illness bearable. Regular counselling especially for children and women is special on their agenda for which volunteers from all walks of life provide amazing support.

Acknowledging the good work done by CAN STOP the representative of BYU Dancers company dedicated most of the numbers to the organisation in a show of solidarity and empathy. This company has performed a variety of dance styles - from classical to light to jazz numbers all over the world and is now in India for performances and workshops. The BYU nestling among the Rocky Mountains, Provo, Utah is one of the largest private universities (the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) in the U.S. with an enrolment of more than 30,000 students representing over 100 countries.

The youthfulness of the dancers imparted a feel good ambience to music that was neither sombre nor serious - it was in fact light and very uplifting so much so the dances that incorporated different styles - seemed frothy and full of life - right from that first one that had them dressed in the wild West fashion - to the one which tried to communicate the idea of inner sanctuary.

It was all about connecting - with people, ideas, and spiritualism. They were ambassadors of culture and their warmth and camaraderie were much beyond their young age. ``Imaginaire'' was repeated on August 11 presented by the Madras Musical Association.

CHITRA MAHESH

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