WUD Hosts Performing Arts Conference

The World University of Design (WUD), Sonipat hosted the first International Performing Arts Conference in India, known as Anveshana. The conference aimed to foster dialogues and discussions to reimagine how traditional arts can be preserved, enhanced and made relevant in today’s global context. Additionally, it also aimed to promote collaboration and synergy among all art forms, including the three domains of dance, music and dramatics by providing these artists a common and collaborative platform. 

The event showcased keynote speeches by industry experts, presentations and performances by artists, highlighting the richness of Indian music, classical dance and performing arts. Artists from India's performing arts community graced the occasion, actively engaging with the audience. Revered figures such as Pt Jaikishan Maharaj, Kathak Exponent and Senior Guru (retired), Kathak Kendra; Guru Shashidharan Nair, Eminent Choreographer, Kathakali and Chahhau Exponent and Tripura Kashyap, Co-founder of creative Movement Therapy Association of India (CMTAI), were honoured as the Guests of Honour, lending their expertise and prestige to the event.

Keynote addresses were delivered by luminaries including Maestro Saskia Rao-de Haas, Cellist and Educationaist; Sandhya Raman, Indian Costume Designer and Founder, Desmania Design; Pandit Shubhendra Rao, Indian Classical Musician, Cultural Entrepreneur and Music Educator and Lakshmi Krishnamurthy, Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural Research Awardee.

These sessions covered a wide range of topics, including traditional and innovative approaches within the arts, the evolution of music education, and the modern reinterpretation of the guru-shishya Parampara. 
Discussions delved into the significance of costume designing in dance, the transformative potential of Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) and the interdisciplinary benefits of traditional art forms. Moreover, speakers explored how technology can seamlessly integrate into traditional dance forms, creating new possibilities for expression and engagement. Topics such as the use of artificial intelligence in choreography, digital archiving, and the integration of modern educational tools were discussed.

The conference commenced after the unveiling of the Anveshana Book of Proceedings, which features papers and performance abstracts from both national and international authors and artists across different institutions. This book stands out as one of the very few in India featuring student and faculty presentations on performing arts in an ISBN book.

The conference concluded with classical dance and musical performances by both artists and students, signifying a harmonious step towards global unity and collective action for performing artists across all domains. It intended to encourage students to consider performing arts as a viable career option.