Dance to your heart’s fill at Bengaluru’s inclusive dance festival ‘Tandav’

Bengaluru-based NGO Smileys is organising an inclusive dance festival. The event ‘Tandav’ is being held for the sixth consecutive year. This year, organisers expect over 300 participants with and without disabilities. Team Smileys is excited for 15 December, big day for ‘Tandav’.

Smileys have always been torch-bearers to inclusion. Started by brothers Vishnu Soman and Vishal Soman from Kerala, Smileys has hosted many inclusive programmes across India. The team is now gearing up for their next big event. The sixth edition of India’s only inclusive dance festival Tandav will open doors to children and adults with disabilities on 15 December at Bengaluru. Organisers claim that the ‘Tandav’ is all about fun, frolic and awareness about disabilities too.

The response for previous years have been great. People love dance. Those who don’t dance come to volunteer. But at the end of the event,p everyone dances and volunteers together. Most importantly, everyone generates empathy towards people with disabilities. – Vishnu Soman, Co-founder, Smileys

Entering the sixth year of Tandav

Over 300 participants and 200 volunteers are expected to be part of the event which takes place every December. Being their biggest ever project, team Smileys is excited for the upcoming weekend. “We expect a huge turn over this year as well. We have a cause for conducting this event. It is inclusion of all with dignity. We believe that if we include a person with disability into your life, then you can do that to people from other religions, caste, gender and culture”, adds Vishnu.

Participants come together to explore the different dance forms. Street Tandav was introduced as a new concept. A super hero, who is inspired by the world of dance and inspires others, challenged children at Ananda Tandav, Rudra Tandav, Samharaa Tandav and Lasya Tandav events. This has been happening over the last four years.

Deepa Shashidhar and her 11-year-old son Yashas who has a disability, have been part of Tandav for past years. “It has been a great experience for my son. We have been a part of almost all events organised by Smileys and Tandav is definitely one of their best. The volunteers are open to teaching children and they are showered with so much love. The dance steps are taught according to requirements of slow learners. Most importantly, both kids and their parents are given a warm welcome”, says Deepa.

The event will be held at VET College in JP Nagar. For more details, contact Abhishek at +91 97390-17384.

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