Abuja’s dance treat from India’s Surabhi Singh
There was intensity, passion and rhythm as dance and music flowed from India’s Kathak exponent, Surabhi Singh. The event was the celebration of the States of India, India’s 70th independence anniversary and the book launch of Onyeka Nwelue’s ‘The Beginning of Everything Colourful.’ It was also an evening marking 60 years of India-Nigeria diplomatic engagement.
With her 16 beat cycle and her six beat rhythm among other performances, Singh ensured that the would-have-been officious outing was a calm relaxing and entertaining one.
Although it was a solo performance accompanied by only a set of tabla, pump organ and veena, the choreographer danced for a full troupe.
She regaled the audience with her grace, mudras (symbolic hand gesture used in Hindu ceremonies and Indian dance), the nimbleness of her feet all matched with her facial expressions.
Singh is a prominent teacher and performer of the Kathak, one of the eight forms of Indian classical dances, which she describes as her passion and gives her a sense of freedom which she translates to create and choreograph a unique ballet.
It was an evening of colours, glamour and a delightful dance treat well-delivered.
Speaking at the event, India and Nigeria informed that both countries are set to enhance their cultural relations with plans underway to expand their relations.
The Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, said the 2018 International Arts and Craft Expo would explore India’s cultural diversity and promote partnership between India and Nigeria.
He added that, “We are going to have exchange programmes between both countries which will commence from next year and will showcase the strength of our cultural beliefs as a people. I believe that it will open a new door to the collaboration and the culture, arts and tourism aspects between both countries.”
The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Nagabhushana Reddy, said such culture events were also planned to showcase India’s cultural diversity and explore ways to promote cultural relations with other countries.
“More importantly,” the envoy said, “we are trying to bring to the larger Nigerian audience the celebration of Indian states.
“We have these new series of celebration of Indian states launched by the Prime Minister in India so that the inherent talents and capacities of the state governments and their engagements with the external world,” are visible.
Reddy added that, “The foreign ministry plays an important role in showcasing their inherent art as well as opportunities that exist in the states. It is part of that series we have brought today.”
With India still Nigeria’s largest trading partner globally and Nigeria India’s largest trading partner in Africa, he informed that plans were underway to organise a joint trade meeting between the ministries of commerce of both countries to identify “how to further expand trade opportunities.