This year's Christmas holidays for some children in Madurai — from socially and economically disadvantaged groups, including street children, children coming under the purview of juvenile justice system and slum children — was indeed an unusual experience and meaningful holiday because they learnt a performing art suitable for their age.
They participated in Workshops on Performing Arts which was organised by Sakthi — Vidiyal, a voluntary organisation working for the cause of Child Rights.
There were three five-day workshops on Street Theatre, Folk Dances and Puppetry on the premises of the organisation at Muthupatti and Rathinapuram.
Professional trainers imparted skills and facilitated the workshops through participatory methods.
The objective of the workshop, said Jim Jesudoss, executive director, Vidiyal, was to ensure that children belonging to underprivileged sections of society get enough opportunities to share their concerns and worries. These workshops aim at providing children a space to express their issues through creative arts.
Vidiyal volunteers said that they are also committed to the promotion of art forms — that are on the decline in our society — which were once known as the art forms of our soil. Our children get an opportunity to creatively express their thoughts, feelings and issues, while reviving these declining art forms.
This year 18 girls and 25 boys in the age group of 12 to 14 participated in the workshop on street theatre.
The workshop included exercises on body image, mirroring, voice modulation, improvisation, visualisation, sculpturing, using props and so on. Children enjoyed these sessions and used their creative skills.
At the end of the workshop children produced three plays on Child Rights, Rights of the Girl Child and Right to Education.
Jolly time
Twenty-one girls and 17 boys aged 10 and 11 participated in the workshop on folk dance and learnt Sillattam which is also known as Maan Kombu attam. They also learnt Oyilattam.
Fourteen girls and 10 boys belonging to the age group of 15 to 18 participated and developed two puppet shows on social themes. Puppet making was part of the workshop which the children found very creative and interesting. They learnt the history of puppetry, types of puppets, and how to use finger and glove puppets.
