About the Mamata Shankar Ballet Troupe: Florence High School’s Creative Writing Program teaches students to write for The Group follows the style evolved by Uday Shankar, which has the inherent grammar of Classical Indian dance and yet is innovative, contemporary and not shackled with the moors of rigid classicism. publication. Students write poems, short stories, essays, and one-act plays which The graceful body movements are blended with the idiom of vibrant folk dances of India to attain a are entered into local, state, and national writing competitions. Creative Writing statuesque quality of lyricism. The group believes that dance inculcates the feeling of love & compassion, students also write, edit, design, and publish Signatures, Florence High School’s gives a meaningful dimension to human emotions, and binds the mind and heart of the youth to the award-winning literary-arts magazine. cultural heritage and tradition. About Mamata Shankar: The mission of the Bengali Association of Huntsville is to educate the communi- Mamata Shankar is the Principal of the institution. She is an accomplished dancer, choreographer, and an ty about the culture and heritage of Bengal and its neighboring regions through actress. She has trained in Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, Kathakali, and the Uday Shankar style of dance. She educational, cultural, and recreational activities. is the daughter of Uday and Amala Shankar, wife of Chandrodoy Ghosh, niece of Pt. Ravi Shankar and sister of Ananda Shankar. Shoals India & South Asian Association (SISAA) is a non-profit organization About Chandrodoy Ghosh: based in the Shoals. SISAA’s primary mission is to enhance awareness about Chandrodoy Ghose is the Founder-Director of MAMATA SHANKAR BALLET TROUPE. After receiving the rich traditions of India and its neighboring countries. the basics of music at Santiniketan (the institution founded by Nobel-laureate, Rabindranath Tagore), he learnt Kathakali and the Uday Shankar style of dance forms at the UDAY SHANKAR INDIA CULTURE CENTRE in Calcutta, under the guidance of Mrs. Amala Shankar. He led the Indian Cultural delegation to China, Mongolia & Japan (1985), Maldives (1989) and to WEST INDIES & GUYANA (1997). Admission: Members of the Troupe: Ms.Amrita Bhattacharya, Ms.Payel Chakraborty, Ms.Sreeparna Chatterjee, Mr.Bidhan Roy Chowdhury, Reserved: $25 Ms.Adrija Dasgupta, Mr.Ratul Shankar Ghosh, Ms.Sreya Mahanta, Mr.Dhruba Mitra, Mr.Jubin Mitra, General Admission: Advance $12; At the Door $15 Mr.Krisnajit Munshi, Ms.Sudeshna Nag, Ms.Oendrila Roy, Mr.Rudra Prasad Roy, Mr.Asit Sengupta, and Mr.Netai C.Sett. Students: $10 (At the Door) — Limited Availability Performances: The Troupe has performed in major cities of the USA including New York, Washington Children: No Charge for 12 and under D.C., Baltimore, Atlanta, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Lubbock, Nashville, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Ticket prices include a sample platter of "Taste of India" (6-6:45 p.m.) Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Denver, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, St. Louis. In Europe, they have performed in Sweden, Norway, Germany, Finland, France, Greece, Belgium, and in the UK. In addition to these countries, they have performed in Japan, Australia, South-east Asia, South America & the For more information about the event, please email to [email protected]. Caribbean’s, and the Middle-East. Also, visit www2.una.edu/sborah/mamatashankar for updates about the event. Besides performing in Florence, AL this year, the Troupe will be performing in Madison Square Gardens in New York, Washington DC, San Diego, Phoenix, Portland, Kansas City, Houston, Syracuse, Nashville, Cleveland and some other major cities..