Varsha Naik and Sandip Soparrkar celebrate “USA Dance Day- Dance for a Social Cause” promoting the cause of drugs...

Part of an international series, this movement was created a decade ago by the visionary choreographer Dr. Sandip Soparrkar to help raise awareness about important social issues around the globe. This year’s chosen topic was Substance Abuse and Drug Addiction. With the help of the inspirational Varsha Naik and her Navrang Dance Academy, a transcendent evening of performance, community education and empowerment was arranged.  The event was held at J.P.Stevens High School, in Edison, New Jersey

The Event started with a beautiful musical rendition of the US national anthem and recital of the Indian National Anthem too.

The opening performance choreographed and written by Dr. Sandip Soparrkar was one of the most powerful and effective anti-drug messages. The audience was captivated by the narrative of the piece — the performers from Navrang Dance Academy including Varsha Naik helped bring the story to life in a way that made Dr. Soparrkar’s work easily accessible to all in attendance.

Later on, there were 11 beautiful dance performances from various talented artists. Multicultural and International Dance forms like – Bharatnatyam, Mohiniyattam, Colombian Salsa, Paraguay folk, Tap dance, Bachata, Indian folk, Tollywood, Ballroom, Bellydancing and Zumba fitness dance entertained the audience that evening. All encouraging the slogan Be high on dance not on drugs.

Dancers of many traditions came together for an evening of jaw-dropping performances and helped raise awareness about the dangers of Drug Addiction. Life was celebrated and honored through choreographed movement that uplifted the souls of all in attendance.

The Cheif guest and Keynote speaker for this years USA Dance Day was Lion Daniel M. Elkins. Mr Elkins is a professional drug prevention specialist and community mobilizer for the Delaware Prevention Coalition. He is also the charter president of Bellefonte Lions Club. Lion Daniel has dedicated himself to helping communities fight the rising drug epidemic in this nation.

Mr. Elkins said ” I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Soparrkar, Varsha Naik, and Navrang Dance Academy for hosting such a wonderfully positive event and for inviting me to participate. The outpouring of support from corporate sponsors, news media outlets, local government, and members of the community for this event is awe-inspiring. Everyone who helped Varsha Naik and Dr. Soparrkar make this incredible community event possible should be truly proud of their accomplishments.” He stressed on the importance on community support and education regarding the sensitive topic of drug abuse among teens and young adults.

Special guests of honor was councilmen of edison township Ajay Patil ,

Upendra J. Chivukula from State of New Jersey, Lion Armando Gurra  were also present at the event.

Dr. Sandip Soparrkar was thrilled to see the community attendance and said “For me Dance is not just a medium to entertain but even a way to educate and create awareness and I and overwhelmed with the way Varsha Naik has brought people to together celebrating dance.”

As a closing note Varsha Naik said, ‘Navrang Dance Academy promises to continue Dance for a Social Cause every year and we promise that each year we will try and bring to light various causes that are prevalent in the society.’

Many Dance group from and around New Jersey Area performed in International Concert like: Sowparnika Dance Academy  Malini Nayar, Step up Dance Jesse Yip, Kala Aradhana Dance and music Academy Smt. Lavanya Mahadevan, Nirmiti Dance school Seema Chandane & Aarushi Chandane, NJ dance and shows  Carolina Baez, Chaitanya Dance school   Sneha Reddy, Al RITMO de cali Mariana Dussan, Anne Hitchcock, Jonathan Ronen. The Event supported by Pyar.com, Seema and Col Virendra Tavathia , Komal Dangi, Prajakti Gupte, Poonam Singh , Sudendra and AnuKumari , Stephany Kim – Chohan,Sumathy Iyer,

Kaushal Kathwadia, Jyothi Bhuvanraj ,Pradeep Gupta , Raj and shilpa Pandya .

Message : Be high on Dance not on Drugs .

————Pigeon Media- (Abhishek Dubey)

Actor Chandrachur Singh turned singer for Yadvi – The Dignified Princess set to Release in CA & New York...

Bollywood in Current times has numerous actors. The one thing is common in the film industry is chocolate heroes or lover boys. However, among all, there was one star who has not only considered chocolate hero, but also made a mark with as serious Roles. Yes, we are talking about none other than 90’s favourite chocolate hero, Chandrachur Singh. ChandrachurSingh has worked in many memorable films like Maachis, Tere Mere Sapne, Josh and so on. The 1996 Filmfare Award winner for Best Debut for  Maachis, Now made his singing debut with song, “Rangreeza” in the film Yadvi-The dignified Princess, accompanying him is the Pawani Panday, “Laila Main Laila” song fame.

He is playing a character of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala.  One of the Wealthiest and famous Maharaja of India, who was first to own an airplane in India, that also Write Brothers Model and donated Ranji Trophy for cricketers, which is still given to Cricketers till today. The Maharaja Is known for many contributions in history of India. Music Composed by Anuj Garg and panned by Nasir Faraz.

The film now is set to  release in Manhattan, New York and Beverly Hills, California. The film directed by New York Based Actress, Jyoti Singh with a script based on a real life story/Screenplay by Gauri Singh, her sister.  The film will screen at the Music Hall Theater, Beverly Hills, CA May 25 to May 31 (5 times a day for 7 days) and at the Cinema Village, Manhattan, NY, June 1 to June 7 (4 times/day for 7 days).

Chandrachur is very talented since childhood. Chandrachur is a trained classical singer and his passion is singing. Notably,before being casted for “Tere Mere Sapne” Amitabh Production,  he was teaching Music in Doon school, Dehra Dun.

Yadvi-The dignified Princess also stars Vibhu Raqhav, Rahul Godara,  Nikkitasha Marwaha, Reshaa Sabharwal, Namya Saxena, Ketki Puri, Minnie Pandit, Kuvam Handa, Yadvi Handa, Aishwarya Singh, Bernadine Linus, Mariane Borgo (French actress), Dina Rosenmeir (Actress from Denmark), & Minnie Pandit. Cinematography by: Jigme Tensing and Edited: Vick Krishna.  The film is produced under the banner of RVP Productions, executive producer, Sumeet Verma.

————Pigeon Media- (Abhishek Dubey PRO)

Deepti Naval inaugurates Vimala Nandakumar’s Art Exhibition The Girl -Sarva-shakti-Mayi...

Mumbai experienced the most prestigious and iconic art event where well known social worker cum artist Vimala Nandakumar (Founder- Chairperson of Shaktii Girl’s Education Trust) showcased her new collection of Paintings titled “The Girl -Sarva-shakti-Mayi”. The Exhibition was inaugurated by the Bollywood famous personality Deepti Naval, Aarti Savur (CEO Parishar Asha) and Ujjwala Haware (Chairperson of Haware Engineers & Builders Pvt Ltd) at Cymroza Art gallery Mumbai on Thursday 24 May. While praising the work of Vimala Nandakumar, Deepti Naval said, “It’s a pleasure to be present here and take a glimpse of Vimala ji’s paintings. Each painting is a subconsciously motivated image provoking a feeling, an emotion and a thought at the same time.”

Shaktii  is an  After – School Programme for underprivileged girl students at Kharghar , Navi Mumbai. Since its inception in 2015, Shaktii has helped many girls. The exhibition is an effort to raise  funds for the Trust. The proceeds from the sale of paintings will be donated to Shaktii Girl’s Education Trust.

The exhibition includes the paintings, all by Ms Vimala Nandakumar (acrylic, oil, water colour, charcoal, soft pastel colour and Tanjore paintings). The theme of the exhibition is “The Girl” described as Sarva-Shaki-Mayi, in her many moods and aspects. In addition, a few paintings outside the above theme are also on display.

Shaktii programme endeavours to educate, empower and edify girls. The programme is free. The school fees paid by the students are reimbursed at the end of the term. Students are taken on field trips. It is a child-centric programme with emphasis on learning Mathematics, English and Science along with music, art, craft and dance. Specialists are invited to teach life skills to the girls.

By buying a painting at this exhibition you are helping an underprivileged girl student achieve her dream.

————Pigeon Media- (Abhishek Dubey PRO)

Hetal Shukla Art Exhibition Titled – Eye Didn’t Note...

Hetal shukla art exhibition titled “Eye Didn’t Note” inaugurated by Jaykumar Rawal (ministry of Tourism Govt of Maharashtra), Ram Shinde (Water Conservation and protocol) and Vijay Kalaantri (Voice Chairman, World Trade Centre Mumbai). The cognitive associations we attach to a currency note can sometimes be so powerful that we refuse to recognise it as anything else.

That’s the sort of mental shackle that artist Hetal Shukla wants to break with his latest exhibition, titled Eye Didn’t Note. For it, he asked 100 people, as an experiment, to recollect the images on a `100 note. But almost none of them could do so, because the only value they put to the piece of paper is monetary, not aesthetic, one. Shukla thus themed his exhibition around the subject, reimagining currency notes as more than just paper money. Pay a visit to Jehangir Art Gallery before May 21 to check them out.

——–Abhishek Dubey(PRO)

Actor Isteyak Khan directorial debut film Muhurat – Othello of MccLuskie Ganj...

Padmshree Mukund eminent Folk artist along with actor cum director Isteyak Khan and Producer Vikas Vasitha opened the Muhurat Shot of Bollywood upcoming movie “Othello of MccLuskie Ganj” in Jharkhand Ranchi.Ishtiyak has bagged a role in Har Shaakh Pe Ullu Baithaa Hai in the new Star Plus show and Shared screen Space with Bollywood Megastar Amitabh Bachchan in ad film. Host of the evening was Rishi Prakash Mishra who introduced the main cast and crew of the film that features Bollywood actor Sanjay Mishra, Ipsita Chakraborty, Tina Bhatia, Vishwanath Chatterjee, Ashish Shukla, Vikram Kochhar, Monica Mundu, Shukumar Mukherjee, Lamp lohar and Monita Sharma Sinha. The film shooting has started in a Small village of Jharkhand MaccLuskie Ganj. The film produced by under the banner of V Square Films.

The film is based in “Mccluskiegunj” where Bhola and the villagers are living happily and with unity. Bhola has returned from delhi where he had gone to work in drama but failed so he plans and convinces everyone to create a drama inspired from “Othello” in Mccluskiegunj. He decides to call Guruji who is award winning director from Delhi to help them and direct the drama. Bhola invites all kind of people from village for casting like “Bhaiyaa ji” who is dabang , “Suleman” who wants village to develop, “Tarzan” who is rich and even Chaiwala “Chandan” to play characters. As the rehearsals begin it gets negative and corrupted cause of some reasons and while playing the drama how inner conflicts and their own emotions comes out which leads film to interesting and thoughtful end.

——-Pigeon Media-  (Abhishek Dubey PRO)

Neetu Chandra inaugurated Sandip Soparrkar’s 5th India Dance Week – Dance for a Cause...

Bollywood’s Diva Neetu Chandra was the esteemed chief guest who lit the auspicious inaugural lamp of “India Dance Week – Dance for  Cause” Season 5 on 28th April initiated by Sandip Soparrkar and Phoenix Marketcity Kurla. She was also seen shaking a leg on her super hit song “Ada Haye Haye Ada” from the film Garam Masala. When she took to the stage and started to dance the crowd cheered and demanded to see her iconic moves, which she obliged to everyone’s delight.Dressed in an off white jacket designed by Deepak Shah of More Mischief Sandip Soparrkar opening the evening and introduced the host Actor Siddhaanth Surryavanshi Dance,  followed by actors Yuvraaj Parashar, Aartii Nagpal and Vedika performing a heartfelt dance on the theme of “Say No to Drugs” for NGO Stairs.

Apart from that there were classical dances by Dr Uma Rele of Nalanda, folk dances by Shreyas Desai and Myriad Arts, Villoo Bharucha’s School of Ballet performed Russian and French Style Ballet, Brian Fernandes dance Academy showcased modern dances and Sandip Soparrkar Ballroom Studio presented  a various colourful Latin and Ballroom Dances. India Dance Week Dance for a Cause is the only dance festival in the country that has Indian classical, Indian folk, international folk, ballet, Bollywood, ballroom, hip hop, jazz, Latin dances and many other dance forms performed by professionals from all over India.

India Dance Week dance for a Cause does not believe in dividing the dancers as per the forms they practice, instead joins their hearts as dance lovers and provides them a platform to showcase their love for the art of dance. The 5th season of India Dance Week is not only promoting dance, but also following their motto “Dance for a Cause” by supporting the issue of Drug Abuse through NGO Stairs. The 15 min dance drama scripted and directed by Sandip Soparrkar spoke of the issue of Drugs issue in youth today.

Speaking on the issue of Drug Abuse Neetu Chandra Said, “Drugs ate slowly eating up the roots of our society and this issue should be addressed immediately or soon we will have nothing left in our youth, love, care and well bonded family is the only way we can help people get out of drug problem, so let all stand up and fight and Say no to drugs.”

—Pigeon Media-  (Abhishek Dubey PRO)