India School of Dance, Music and Theatre

India School of Dance, Music and Theatre

India School of Dance, Music and Theatre. Formed on 1 Oct 1980 by a pooling of resources and personnel from the India Association (involved in cultural activities including the India Pavillion activities for Winnipeg's annual Folklorama beginning in 1970) and many other local organizations from the India community. Classes were inaugurated to provide instruction in classical and folk dance styles from different traditions in India as well as in Hindustani and Carnatic music. The founding director of the India School is Pamela Rebello, who has also served as president of Raga-Mala Performing Arts of Canada (a national organization based in Calgary which has regularly sponsored concert tours and workshops, and has published Bansuri, an annual periodical on the music and dance of India). The South India Arts Akademi of Manitoba also has been involved in organizing Carnatic music concerts in Winnipeg, often in cooperation with these other organizations.

Music instruction has been provided by Ananda Balasubramaniam, a Carnatic classical vocalist, in the South India traditions, and by Gyan Vijayvergiya, a vertsatile musician in the Hindustani tradition providing instruction in bamboo flute, tabla, and harmonium. Other teachers have provided private lessons in association with the school.

The India School was incorporated in 1983 and established itself in its own location in Winnipeg. Previously instruction had been carried out at the University of Manitoba. Recitals continue to occur both at the India School's studios and at the university, occasionally in association with its School of Music (students from the School of Music may take independent study credits in the music of India at the India School).

The India School has published two monographs on the music of India: Carnatic Music by Ananda Balasubramaniam (1985) and Hindustani Music by Pankaj Chand (1986), which serve as instruction texts, providing basic information on the styles; and also a monograph on dance, Folk and Tribal Dances of India by Rina Singha (1984). Many of the recitals of visiting artists have been recorded and distributed at recitals along with similar material made available through Raga-Mala.