MELBOURNE 2006 COMMONWEALTH GAMES CULTURAL FESTIVAL – BOLLYWOOD AT THE BOWL

Sunidhi, accompanied by lavishly costumed Australian dancers mesmerized an overflowing capacity audience at the stunning Myers Music Bowl Melbourne on 25th March. The grand finale of the Commonwealth Games Arts Festival was a spectacular success re-enforcing the overwhelming magic of Bollywood across the world. The twenty five thousand strong audience (thousands, as per official figures were turned away as traffic police struggled with 5 kilometre long queues) swayed to every track from popular films sung by Sunidhi.

A traditional Indian wedding procession heralded the dramatic entry of Sunidhi, carried by dancers in an elegant palanquin and accompanied by the Jaipur Kawa Brass Band, Dhol players and of course the dancers, into the audience.

Leading the whole procession through the stands were 6 African dancers from Afro-Jambo, draped in leopard skin carrying chandelier like gaslights, which escort marriage processions in India. The popular film tracks played by the Jaipur brass band and the raw rhythms of the Dhol players matched the frenzied twirls of the dancers setting the tone for the Magic of the concert to follow.

PERTH INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL

In February 2005 Shubha Mudgal, Aditi Mangaldas and Gaurav Mazumdar performed to packed houses in the larger Indian showcase at the Festival. Indian Ocean – World Music Group, performed at the festival in 2003

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

The world music group Indian Ocean performed to packed houses at the Prestigious Speigaltent to mark the opening of the Festival.

NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL

Every alternate year the New Zealand International Festival hosts a series of performances from India programmed and produced by Teamwork.