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OTHER
INTERESTS
Workshops
For nearly 10 years, Sujata Srinivasan
has conducted creative writing workshops for children. Since 2004, she
began conducting workshops on India and Indian culture for both children
and adults at public libraries across Connecticut. Each workshop is
customized to meet individual requirements. All workshops include vibrant
pictures, cartoons, music, dance, and an exhibit of art from India. Some
include sari-tying and a sampling of Indian food.
The India-focused workshops range from 45 minutes to two hours, and
consist of either one or a combination of the following elements:
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Storytelling: Includes Indian
folktales and mythology, and creative non-fiction (tales of growing up
in India – the boom boom cow, coconut tree climber, the bhagavathar or
pious musician visiting each house for a cup of rice, the fortune teller
and his parrot, the iron man, etc.). An exclusive workshop on Indian
festivals is also available.
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Dance & Music: An
introduction to the classical/folk dance and music of India. A
lecture-demonstration by Sujata Srinivasan, a classically-trained dancer
in the Bharatanatyam art form, as well as a group of performing artists
of Indian dance and music. Participants are encouraged to try various
bhavas (facial expressions) and mudras (hand gestures) to tell a story.
The audience is then invited to join in the dance.
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Theater: This is an eight-day
workshop. Young participants adorn costumes, make puppets and sets, and
put up a play for family and friends.
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Scapbooking: Children learn to cherish
their trip to India and discuss various aspects of their journey
ranging from life with grandparents and extended family to the food,
sights, and Indian customs. They share stories, find common threads, and
discover similarities to their lives in Connecticut. The most recent
trip to India is recorded in a scrapbook that includes essays and poems.
This is a fun and enriching activity for children of all ages.
For additional details, rates and
bookings, please contact Sujata Srinivasan at
sujata.sriniva@gmail.com
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Storytelling Workshop
Illustration (c) T.C. Nagarajan |
Young ones interact with dancers from the University of
Connecticut's Indian dance group UConn Surya, at an India workshop
in Waterbury |
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A display case at an India workshop in New Britain |
The audience at an India workshop in Waterbury |
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Creative writing workshop
at the Manchester Public Library |
Creative writing workshop
at the Manchester Public Library |
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