SDIPA celebrates annual Summer Funk 2007

Ahmedabad, May 21 (UNI) Shiamak Devar's Institute for the Performing Arts (SDIPA) today celebrated its annual Summer Funk 2007 by holding exuberant dance performances by more than 700 pupils at a glittering show organised at the Karnavati Club here.

Addressing reporters on the occasion, dance maestro and famous Bollywood choreographer Shiamak Davar said ''I started this institute 25 years ago with just seven students, now thousands of students all over the world participate in the never-ending extravaganza of our institute. The youngest student of our institute is a four-year-old boy and the oldest is an 80-year-old person from Nasik.'' ''In Ahmedabad, we started our institute just last month at Karnavati Club and three centres of Saint Kabir High School, where more than 700 students enrolled with us. Students not only come to our institute with the aim to make it big in Bollywood but also come to us seeking creative satisfaction, personality development or just for the sake of sheer fun,'' said Shiamak, who has made stars like Lucky Ali, Aishwarya Rai, Shahid Kapoor and Boman Irani dance to his tunes.

Talking about his Summer Funk programme, Shiamak said, ''Summer Funk is an opportunity for anyone and everyone to get on stage and conquer their fear and become confident. It is your chance to be a star. So take the chance and let your spirit dance.'' After creating waves in Davos at the World Economic Forum, the celebrated entertainer enthralled world audiences at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games 2006 in Melbourne, Australia. 400 students from SDIPA centres across India performed at the event in Melbourne.

Taking his mission of 'Have Feet. Will Dance,' Shiamak's non-profit trust, Victory Arts Foundation reaches out to under-privileged children, HIV-infected, vulnerable children, children of commercial sex workers, the mentally and physically challenged. VAF endeavours to use the power of performing arts, especially dance, to bring a smile on their faces and add a bounce in their stride.

UNI