- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: Bollywood aerial extravaganza comes to London's Trafalgar Square
- Date: 20th August 2007
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARTISTIC COORDINATOR AND DANCER FOR 'LES PASSAGERS', GARANCE BONO-DUGOR SAYING: "We hope that they (audience) take away that there is a possibility to share traditions cultures between East and West."
- Embargoed: 4th September 2007 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Kingdom
- Country: United Kingdom
- Reuters ID: LVA9D7YF8SK6F1UMKWVDCIZMHV07
- Story Text: London's Trafalgar Square Festival comes to a breathtaking finale with a Bollywood aerial extravaganza.
A Bollywood inspired aerial and visual extravaganza marked the end of the Trafalgar Square Festival in London on Thursday (August 16).
The four-day long festival, entitled 'Namastey Trafalgar Square', aimed to transform London into an Indian city through the work of Indian artists who gave the city's architectural icons and scenes a touch of Bollywood style.
At the foot of Nelson's Column, one of Britain's most iconic statues, organisers erected a giant canvas which was slowly converted into a Bollywood film poster.
Even today, most Bollywood film posters are still hand painted in India and the techniques are as old the film industry itself.
Poster painter Sushant Sandal said he wanted to transport viewers to the streets of Mumbai and provide awareness of India's old poster painting tradition which has been handed down from generation to generation.
"There are a lot of people who don't know in the world such art is being done. Or there is some kind of art like this. But for us it's been, we are living, breathing this art, for the last 40- 50 years. And at this stage right now, where the art is vanishing it's a, it's real joy for us when people see this art and they appreciate and they like the, like what they see. It's special for them when they see such huge poster done," said Sandal.
After a coat of paint, the extraordinary 15 metre-high and 12-metre wide poster was used as the stage for spectacular dancing by renowned French aerial troupe company 'Les Passagers'.
The dancers performed vertical dancing routines choreographed to Indian music and flamboyant costumes.
The Artistic Coordinator and dancer for 'Les Passagers', Garance Bono-Dugor said she was particularly proud of the way the dance allowed for cultures to mix.
"We hope that they (audience) take away that there is a possibility to share traditions cultures between East and West," she said.
In France, 'The Passengers Company' is well known for its art shows on vertical stages.
The company has toured around the world but Namastey project is the first collaboration with Indian painters.
The festival was a hit with viewers like Hussein who said it was good to see multicultural art displays in London.
"It's spectacular, it's very nice. I mean it's amazing that the Asians have come down to Trafalgar Square and doing their bit. And it's just amazing. It's nice to see. It's unique," he said.
Another viewer thought the intricacies of the acrobatic dancing took Indian dancing to a new level.
"Of course like Indian dancing is so famous and this takes it to a next level actually. I mean it's amazing," she said.
The poster and Festival finale will will evolve over four days and is just one of the highlights of 'India Now', a three-month long season celebrating London's growing relationship with India and exploring India's culture. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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