How Delhi Schools Welcome The Festival Season

“The greatness of a culture can be found in its festivals.” – Siddhartha Katragadda

Whether you like to go to a music festival or participate in a local folk tradition, festivals are reminders that hope and togetherness still exist in this world. And in a country like India, especially the modern city of New Delhi, schools like to celebrate every religious tradition.

New Delhi is a melting pot of cultures that welcomes people from all states of India. People come here for work, and if they get past the pollution, crowds and the competitive spirit, Delhi becomes a tolerable city to live in and prosper. When the month of September starts until the autumn break in October, Delhi schools come alive with the preparation of sports day, annual day, and festival celebrations.

Teachers meeting the principal and the vice principal is relevant for planning a refreshing theme for the upcoming stage performances. Students of every class and section are encouraged to participate in some extracurricular activity of their choice.

I have worked as a dance teacher in Delhi schools, and the excitement of the season is heard everywhere, from stringed instruments playing to dance footwork sounds to special requests for adjusting extra classes to craft teachers striding in a hurry across the halls.

In this article, I will give a glimpse of how Delhi Public Schools prepare students for stage performances for the winter festival season.

POST CONTENTS
Planning and preparing for the festival theme
Scheduling studies with extracurricular activities
Practice and the performance
The curtain call

Planning And Preparing For The Festival Theme 

I mentioned above the multicultural facet of Delhi, and that is proudly showcased in the themes for the stage performances. Respecting every section of society and making students aware of the diversity of India, schools select at least 4 folk and 4 modern themes for music, dance, and play.

Mostly, they represent Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, and Christian traditions. Modernization is represented in western dance competitions, orchestra performances, and may even be in a play. Parents love the Christmas theme for their children because Santa Claus tells stories and distributes gifts at the end of the show.

After selecting the story idea, teachers collaborate with the props and costume department, as it can take time to prepare and may need repair at the last minute too. At the same time, in the first week, teachers prepare a sample of their work, get it confirmed from the vice principal, and start the selection of students and classes.

You may also like to read: 10 Simple Ways To Encourage Kids In A Dance Class

Scheduling Studies With Extracurricular Activities 

Scheduling is a big part of stage performances during the festival season. Studies are always prioritized, but the pressure on schools for good public representation to become the talk of town is also high. Parents have lots of questions, but at the initial stages of preparation, they are happy to see their children selected for a specific activity.

In the coming months, this excitement turns into competition, frustration to find the perfect makeup, unnecessary feedback from the principal, and weird colorful props entering the school premises.

Practice And The Performance 

Many times, Delhi schools hire theater and dance professionals to teach a specific group of students. The class teacher is always there to interfere and give her creative ideas, but when 70% of the work is complete, the artistic picture starts getting clear.

For dance performances, handling a large group of students is like taming a bull, especially the pre-teens. Teaching creative formations is no less a task than preparation for the Olympics.

On the final day of the showcase, the school is dressed like a bride, and you know how Indians dress up for a wedding. The complete school premises is filled with decorative ribbons of vibrant colors, flowers for the initiation puja, and bouquets for the chief guests.

Everyone backstage is in a rush as the audience starts trickling in. The chief guests always come late according to Indian standard tradition and light the traditional prayer lamp as a symbol of commencement for the performances.

You may also like to read: How To Cope With Stage Performance Anxiety

The Curtain Call 

Stage performances for the festival season consists of classical South Indian dances, western group dances, orchestra performances, plays with a moral of the story for children, folk dances of Punjab, beautiful vocal performances of the school choir, and prize distribution for winners in sports and academics.

In this way, Delhi schools prepare and showcase their prestige and growth. The parents are happy when the children are happy, and that’s the ultimate relief for teachers and the principal of a public school.