DANCE MOVEMENT THERAPY COURSE WITH KOLKATA SANVED TRAINERS BY PROFESSOR BONNIE BERNSTEIN

DANCE MOVEMENT THERAPY COURSE  WITH KOLKATA SANVED TRAINERS 

BY PROFESSOR BONNIE BERNSTEIN,  M.Ed, MFT, BC-DMT

2nd December-20th December 2013 

We are very happy to share with you that like previous years

 Professor Bonnie Bernstein, International Dance Therapist

, M.Ed, MFT, BC-DMT. came this year also. For last 6 years

 she is contributing her time and skill to enhance our

 Trainers capacity in Dance Movement Therapy. She teaches

 Western Dance Movement Therapy techniques, methods

 and Theory. She will teach till 20th December 2013 to our

 trainers. 

She is working with 16 trainers and trainees of Kolkata

 Sanved. We will constantly update you all about the training

 workshop. We are very thankful to have her within us.

WELCOME TO 'ANONDER SHOISHAB'-CELEBRATING CHILDHOOD 12 NOVEMBER 3.30P.M.

WELCOME TO 'ANONDER SHOISHAB'-CELEBRATING CHILDHOOD in Collaboration with American Center & theDepartment of Women and Child Development and Directorate Social Welfare, Government of West Bengal

70 Children will perform. Children-in-Conflict with Law (CCLs) residing at Dhrubashram, Ariadaha will participate in this programme for the first time. Eight partner NGOs (All Bengal Women's Union, Apne Aap Women Worldwide, CINI, Dhrubashram, Hamari Muskan, Mukti, Newlight, OFFER) across Kolkata.

The programme will be inaugurated by Ms.Helen LaFave, U.S.Council General and Dr.Sashi Panja, Parliamentary Secretary, Government of West Bengal, Member of West Bengal Legislative Assembly. 

Please join us in this exceptional afternoon.

CELEBRATING CHILDHOOD with KOLKATA SANVED 

12TH November 3.30p.m. at American Center

We are happy to announce that like every year, this year too we are celebrating Children’s Day on the 12th November 2013 in Kolkata in collaboration with American Center. Please block  the day in your diary to celebrate childhood with us.

KOLKATA SANVED celebrates children's day on 12th november at AMERICAN CENTER.

Will be inagautrated by- Helen LaFave 

Kolkata Sanved uses Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) as an alternative approach to counselling, psychosocial rehabilitation, expression, and empowerment for victims of human trafficking and violence.

Kolkata Sanved launches new programme in Mumbai

Dear Friends,

Greetings! 

We are pleased to inform you that Kolkata Sanved is officially launching its "Saving Lives Through Dance" programme in Mumbai on 19th July, 2013. Partnering with Save The Children India, Mumbia, Kolkata Sanved has created a truly innovative Anti-Trafficking programme based on our puclished research report: “Restoring Smiles Through Dance.” This report was also written in partnership with Save the Children India, Mumbai and was supported by Kamonohashi Project, Japan. The official launch event is a Stakeholders meeting in Mumbai to introduce Kolkata Sanved. 

Thank you for being with us and supporting us on this journey. 

 Kolkata Sanved Team

VITAL VOICES FILM ON LEADERSHIP 

Please watch this film to know more about women leaders globally. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOyx4XwwHXM&feature=youtu.be

DANCE MOVEMENT THERAPY CERTIFICATE COURSE

KOLKATA SANVED AND CENTER FOR LIFELONG LEARNING, 

TATA INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, MUMBAI  

CERTIFICATE COURSE ON DANCE MOVEMENT THERAPY

 

Dear All,

Greetings from Kolkata Sanved !!! We take great pleasure to inform you of the collaboration between Kolkata Sanved and Tata Institute of Social Sciences,Mumbai (TISS) from the year 2013 for the Certificate Course in DMT (Dance Movement Therapy).The course commences from the coming month of August, 2013. Please find attachement for the course. 

For further inquiry of the course please contact the following person:

Ms. Namrata Kanuga at kolkatasanved@gmail.com and 

phone- (033) - 24993126(11a.m.-5p.m.)

JAAGO RE : TWEET FOR CHANGE....... VOTE FOR US

Stand with Kolkata Sanved  Against Exploitation

Dear Friends

Exciting news! Kolkata Sanved has been selected for the Tata Tea Jaago Re #Tweet4Change contest!! 

Kolkata Sanved will win money for each Twitter Tweet that we receive in support, so we need YOUR help. Please share this mail with your other members, your friends and well wishers also.

To vote in the contest, click on this link:

http://www.jaagore.com/tweet4change/

-Then, find the box that says “Kolkata Sanved” and click on “Tweet4Change” below that.

-If you already have a Twitter account, then log in and your vote will be processed (and Kolkata Sanved will get 100 Rs!)

-If you don’t have an account, then please create one using the link at the top of the page--all that you need is a working email address (it’s absolutely free!!)

You can vote up to FIVE times, and Kolkata Sanved received 100 rupees for EACH VOTE.

While we hope you vote for us, whoever you vote for will help end violence against women. This really is your chance to help make a difference to promote lasting change in this fight.

Please let us know if you have any questions or problems. 

THANK YOU for your help!

Regards,

Sohini Chakraborty

Founder Director

Kolkata Sanved

9th Anniversary of Kolkata Sanved

It’s been a Journey of hardships and happiness , of tears and Joys, but above all of  triumphs  - Kolkata Sanved.

Today, 29. April 2013, we celebrate our 9th Anniversary of Kolkata Sanved

We thank everyone who supported and believed in us through out our Journey and we will pursue to try our best for the following years.

A proud moment

On 31th March 2013, at Science City Auditorium, Kolkata, the Senco Gold presented Ruposhi Bangla’s APARJITA 2013. It was a grand event of saluting women of Bengal with an undefeatable spirit of womanhood from 9 different categories.

The categories were Entertainment, Art & Culture, Social Welfare, Health & Wellness, Bravery, Uniqueness, Entrepreneurship, Sports and Education.

In every category there were 3 Nominees and from the three nominees, one was chosen by the people of Bengal through Votes.

This day was yet another proud day for Kolkata Sanved Family as our Director, Miss Sohini Chakraborty won the Ruposhi Bangla’s APARJITA 2013 in the category of Social Welfare.

She was announced as pivotal in changing the lives of many with her innovation. The therapeutic power of dance which has been explored by Sohini Chakraborty has been shown in various segments of the society.

We thank the other nominees, the juries and everyone for their support who made it possible to win this award.

Murshidabad - a great performance

Reporting from After Care Home for Girls at Shilayan by Priyanka Mueller, Intern of Kolkata Sanved

On the 15^th of march the participants of the After Care Home for Girls at Shilayan had a performance at the Shelter Home under the supervising of their DMT trainers Sampa and Soni di.

Sampa and Soni di who are regularly going to Murshidabad to teach the Children at the Shelter Home DMT prepared with the participants a performance. The preparations begun a long time ago and finally the date of the performance should come.

On Monday the 11^th Sampa and Soni di travelled already to Murshidabad to do the final settings and preparations with the inhabitants.

On the 13^th Sreeja di reached the Home to support Sampa and Soni di. Tuesday Sohini di, Somita di, Bithika and myself travelled to Murshidabad to document everything and support our Trainers.

Bithika and myself got ready and meet Sampa and Soni di at the Shelter Home. There we also meet the DMT participants who were busy practicing the performance to make it perfect.

All of them seemed to be full of anticipation and they practiced very hard so that the final rehearsal ran well.

tiger make - up

Sampa and Soni di did not had to help too much. They knew the steps and everything went well. At the end of the Rehearsal Sampa and Soni di just gave them some few tips and motivated them so that the next day performance would be a full success.

The next day began very early for the Kolkata Sanved Team in Murshidabad. We got ready and the full team went to the After Care Home to meet the participants and to prepare the Roundtable Meeting.

All of the residents expected our arrive.

First we had to prepare the Round table Meeting where Members of different Organisations and of the Shelter Home came to discuss how DMT helped the participants and how the future with DMT can look like.

Round table meeting

During the meeting, Sampa, Soni di and myself helped the performers with their outfits and make up.

The meeting was almost over when the ready made performers walked to the place where the stage was set.

All of them positioned themselves on their positions and waited for the show to start.

The Audience came and took their seats and then it started.

The performance was divided in three groups.

The youngest had a small dance prepared and performed with full of joy.

The next performance was a small theatrical dance. It was about the nature. There were trees, butterflies, tigers, deer, peacocks as well as wind and river.

At the end there was a performance by the older participants who had prepared a dance.

The 30 minute performance was mainly about the nature. Sampa and Soni di choose the nature as the main topic because they feel like, that the nature is a very important part in our life. Without nature we can’t life. And everyone should appreciate the nature with all their creatures like the animals. For them as well dance is very important so they tried to make a performance out of this two very important facts for them.

And it was a full success. To put this two very important topics for the trainers as well as for the participants together and do a performance out of it was successful. The audience liked the performance and they honored all the hours of practicing and hard work with a lot of applause.

A big praise applies on Sampa and Soni di who had more then 80 girls under control and did such a big performance with them.

Also a thanks belongs to the participants that they worked so well with their trainers and made it possible to set such a nice show.

The Trainers and the residents are looking forward to see each other at the next DMT session and to dance all free all their emotions through dance again.

the whole murshidabad team

If I can fly

From the 28th to the 31st of January Kolkata Sanved  welcomed the Fine Arts Photographer Brooke Shaden who has specially arrived from America for the "If I can fly" - Workshop.

 The 4-day workshop was insisted on the fact that the Kolkata Sanved Trainers and Trainee tell a story which can be photographically explained by self portraits.

Brooke Shaden and the Kolkata Sanved Team discussing the mood boards

It was not necessary to be their own story. It was the choice of the participants what they wanted to tell. A story about joy, grief, hope, dislikes or likes.

The participants got some time to think about a story and what they want to tell and how they want to express their selves. After some time each of them shared their story with the group and explained their mood boards to them.

The second day started for the girls to think about the details of their mood boards. What is the story about? What is the mood of the situation? How can you express is with one snap?

For all these questions and more Brooke was on their side to help them to find the right way and to create what is in the girls mind.

As the story should be told by self portraits Brooke explained to the girls how a camera works, how to use it, and how to set it to make good pictures.

After lunch time we packed our bags and went to New Market to get all the props for everyone with different story. It took us some time until everyone was satisfied but after a great long day they were happy with the things they found.

A very excited day went by and all of us couldn't wait for the next day to come to shoot our own pictures.

In the morning they already started on their own to do their make up and hair, to get the set ready, and to prepare their clothes/costumes.

They again showed what a great team they are because everyone helped each other with make up ,hair and the whole styling.

Participants are getting ready

And then it started:

One after the other was able to do her self portrait.

While one took a snap the other renewed their lipstick or watched or gave helpful tips.

Brooke Shaden assisted everybody. She gave good tips so that the pictures would look even better and stood to the girls helpfully to their side.

On the last workshop day Brooke took the portraits of the participants  including me, laura, Sohini and Namrata. We have been told to bring our favorite saree or cloth  with us to shoot the pics.

Like the day before we worked as a great team helped each other with the make up and hair styling so that Brooke could start with the first one very soon.

Brooke had for everyone a special pose in her mind so she helped us to feel comfortable in it and took the snaps.

As the trainers and trainees are all dancers and they know their body and how to move it it was very easy for them and for Brooke to set them in the right pose and to click the pictures in a short time.

Brooke with one of the trainee showing her how the picture came out

After all the pictures were taken by Brooke the trainers and trainees styled Brooke and took a portrait of her.

At the end of the workshop we watched all the pictures which were taken in the last 4 days and enjoyed so see how much fun we had.

Kolkata Sanved thanks Laura from Blossomy who established the contact. A special thanks goes to Brooke who specially for this workshop arrived from America without her we could never had such a fantastic workshop and thanks to her for donating a camera. Another thanks belongs to Amy who traveled with Brooke and who is also a photographer, she supported everybody as good as she could.

Throughout the workshop the whole Kolkata Sanved team learned a lot, how to express yourself trough one snap and where to keep the focus and even more. As well the whole team enjoyed these four days a lot and all of us have now new skills which we try to train as often we can.

Thanks to everyone who made this Workshop possible.

the whole workshop team

Laadli Media Awards For Gender Sensitivity

On 22^nd November the fourth round of the Laadli Media Awards for Gender Sensitive by Population First supported by UNFPA and in collaboration with Kolkata Sanved was held.

The eighteen awardees have been chosen from among more than around 213 entries that were received from around 150 journalists and media persons. The awards cover six languages and 20 categories.

Most of the awards winning entries reflect a concern and sensitivity on the part of the journalists to bring into focus the trials and tribulations of women particularly from tribal communities.

They also reflect critical thinking on the retrograde social practices and beliefs which abridge the rights and restrict the freedom of women. It is heartening to note the underprivileged an marginalized women getting such media attention.

The Programme Schedule was filled by a performance by Kolkata Sanved, the presentation of Awards, Songs by Usha Uthup and a short drama by Suanjana Das Gupta.

Kolkata Sanved presented “Prioti – The Driving Force” which is not merely a performance but also an expression of energy and spirit. It is about the Sanved, their quest to move forward, the sstrength that has given them the courage to dream and encourage others to dream as well.

Kolkata Sanved is proud to be a part so that we could also raise our voice trough dance and be a part of the Laadli Media Awards for Gender Sensitivity.

America meets Kolkata Sanved

 On the 8th November the American Consulate came to visit us.

The theme of this meeting was the traditional India. And so the preparations started early since we wanted to decorate the work accordingly.
On the morning of the visit every one of Kolkata sanved helped to set the last handles so that everything would be perfect.

And then it came the time when it was said : America meets Kolkata Sanved.

Suitable to the topic we welcomed our guests in a traditional indian way.

After the welcoming we showed them our office and a film made by Kolkata sanved. So that they could get a image what our work is about.
To delve into it they had a conversation to our Director Sohini.
After all the talking we wanted to visualize what was said.
A DMT session was prepared in which every one part took. The topic about that session was “fun”.
And everyone had a lot of fun. We enjoyed it a lot.
After the strugle of the session we wanted them to relax and enjoy during the performance of the girls.

The girls said they have been very nervous. But all the nerviness wasn’t necessary because the girls showed their talent and their know how.
Our visitors were impressed and both sides had the time to exchange questions and get to know each other better.
To a traditional indian invitation the food belongs as well which the americans and Staff from Sanved enjoyed a lot. It was very Yummy :)

 

 

And then the evening ended with a lot of fun and two different cultures got to know each other better.

BULLETS CANT STOP DREAMS

BULLETS CAN'T STOP DREAMS

Dear Friends Stand up for the cause 

and take action

I am sure you’ve heard about Malala Yousafzai, the 15-year-old Pakistani girl shot in the head by the Taliban on October 9, 2012 in a failed attempt to silence her — and her leading voice for girls' education and the right of all children to go to school. Take a few moments of your day to learn about the Malala Fund, girls' education and what Malala is fighting for.

Contribute to her cause at MalalaFund.org or, donate $10 by texting "BRAVE" to 27722.

Light a Candle in a Child's Heart

 

 

Every child should have a light in his heart. Children are very special. And  therefore, they should be celebrated every day and reminded that they have that special light in them.

Since this is sometimes missed out we took the Children's Day on occasion to celebrate the children and show them how important they are.

This year our children’s Day theme was “Light a candle in a Child’s heart”.

All the preparations that had to be done, the decoration and the errands made us feel full of anticipation. Finally the last hand grips had to be made and we were ready waiting for our guests and especially for the children.

When the bus full packed with all the children of Hamari Muskan arrived the joy was great. We welcomed them. Then we sat in the yard which we decorated just for them. There we talked, did a final rehearsal for the performance and inflated balloons with which we played.

The time passed by very quickly and soon all the other guests came. One of our guest was Alokananda Roy, a famous awarded dancer. We were very happy and glad to have her with us and that she took the time to celebrate with us this special day for children.

With her help, we unleashed our Diwali fire.

 The girls of Hamari Muskan had prepared a performance. They danced full of pride.

But also the other children had prepared something and everyone was full of pride to show their prepared performances. It was a lot of fun, watching the performances. The program was fulfilled with dancing, singing, drumming and poems pre said and more.

Whether young or old, we are all children, and so everyone took part in the free dance and everyone, without exception enjoyed it.

And after that everyone was hungry and we were thankful for strengthening.

We lit all over the office the lights and when everywhere the lights very on and everyone had a sparklers ignited it looked like a complete sea full of candles.

But every enjoyable day has to end sometime so we thank all the children who made this day unforgettable and amused all of us we hope we could kindled a new light in all these children’s heart.

 

 

PLATFORM BEAT - A Kolkata Sanved Initiative in collaboration with Praajak & supported by India Foundation For The Arts

PLATFORM BEAT - A Moving Experience

Reporting from New Jalpaiguri Station by Priyanka Mueller, Intern of Kolkata Sanved

On Behalf of Kolkata Sanved Sabita Debnath Dance Movement Therapy Trainer, Bithika Roy , Video documentationist, myself along with our Resource person Rajkumar Rajak conducted and organised Platform Beat performance at NJP Station  in Shiliguri which was hold in collaboration with Praajak. 
This initiative supported by India Foundation For The Arts. 

We came together to create a performance which was shown on the 14.10.12 in Shiliguri at the station. The workshop was a 7 days workshop which was held in Shiliguri and never ended because the boys and the trainers staid at the same place which made us feel to be a small family it was a great experience than so we had fun whole day and night and it helped us to get to know each other and to work very easily as a group.

After Breakfast the workshop started with some games sometimes outside in the yard or in our workshop room. Then we did some mediation. Afterwards we had our lunch and then to bring some action back we played the music and had a lot of fun during the free dance. The boys loved to show their movements and their talents.

Then we started with the boys to show them some movies how a performance can look like. We answered questions like ' what is a stage' , 'how to set a play' and and and...

After the boys had an idea and all the questions where answered we started to practice the performance and set the play.

We had no clue what our performance is going to be about but we tried to take things from the boys which they showed us, what they love to do and bring all this movements into a great performace. After some time the kids also saw their costumes and after it everyone was totally in the performance.

Of course sometimes someone forgot the steps but then there were always the others who showed the movements and helped.

The boys were so excited and into the movements that their also practiced them in their free time to become better. More closer the day of the performance came also the boys became more nervous and excited.

On the day of performance when we sat in the bus to go to the station we sang, took pictures and had fun but when we left the bus and walked to the stage which was built for us everyone could feel that the boys and also the trainers are excited, nervous and full of power to rock the stage.

What the boys did.

The show was a complete success.

We got the attention of many people who saw the performance and asked what we are doing and wanted to now more about our work.

     

The boys had a lot of fun and enjoyed it to get all the attention and all the eyes where on them. And even we had some sound problems that could not stop the boys and disturb their concentration and fun the just danced and performed as they have never done something else.

After 7 days staying day and night together the time to say good bye came and everyone was sad about that. But at the end, we can say we had a lot of fun in these days. We were just like a small family enjoying the time. We as the trainers loved to see the movements and the talents of the boys and the boys enjoyed it t show them to us.