People with disabilities to present choreodrama

CHENNAI: D Ricky Martin loves the time he spends on stage. The 18-year-old, who is speech and hearing impaired, enjoys the fight sequences of his dance theatre production.

"I love the parts where I get to fight," signs Martin, who is from MGR Illam, in Ramapuram. He is among the 200 people with differing ability who are part of 'Arulin Mozhi - The Voice of Grace', conceptualized and directed by Ambika Kameshwar, founder-director of Ramana Sunritya Aalaya (RASA). The production will be staged at Narada Gana Sabha on February 28 at 6.30pm.

RASA focuses on the holistic development of each individual through music, dance, drama, storytelling, arts and crafts - a structured methodology called theatre for holistic development, which was developed by Kameshwar.

"We work with special children using theatre arts. We have three centres in Chennai where children come for full day input, and we give life skills training through theatre arts. Apart from it, we also go to different special schools for outreach and give theatre arts inputs," says Kameshwar.

'Arulin Mozhi' has all the tools of theatre - dance, music, and drama. The two-hour production revolves around the 'voice of grace'. "Sometimes, we are faced with a situation in life where we have to choose between two paths and both look right. Then, if we surrender to our inner voice, which usually guides us, we will be able to choose the right path," says Kameshwar, who has stories right from Devi Bhagavatham, Ramayana and Mahabharata to Thyagaraja. "We have seen how many of them have faced this conflict and resolved it. They have chosen the path, which is good not just for themselves but the word in entirety."

All the members of the cast suffer from some kind of disability. Aged six to 60 plus, they have been rehearsing for the last three months. B Ganesh, 19, and his 17-year-old friend are from the home run by Andhra Mahila Sabha. "We love coming here for rehearsals every day, being on stage and acting," says Ganesh.

Theatre actually helps transform children with special needs, says Kameshwar. "Dance and movement provide one of the most personal and effective means of communication. Music facilitates mental, physical and emotional wellbeing, while arts and crafts help individuals express feelings through a variety of media, including painting, sculpting and drawing. "When used as developmental tools, it makes even shy children more confident," says Kameshwar.

For passes, contact: +91-98401 39607, +91-81483 01013.