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Nandanik Dance Troupe's Vilaya: The Confluence Photos: Arindam Sen and Manoj Menon June 27, 2018 Pittsburgh based Nandanik Dance Troupe presented its first Indian classical dance festival VILAYA - THE CONFLUENCE (Rhythmic Harmony in Diversity) at Pittsburgh's historical Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall on April 13 and April 14, 2018. April 13 showcased local young talents and a panel discussion across generation of dancers, dance teachers, and students. The theater showcased an exhibition on classical dances of India presented by young students of Nandanik Dance Troupe. The senior performers were: Kalamandalam V.R. Venkit in Kathakali Streevesham, Priyadarshini Ghosh in Mohiniattam, Sanjib Bhattacharya and Nandanik Dance Troupe in Manipuri, Sreyashi Dey and Akshara Troupe in Odissi, Nandini Mandal and Nandanik Dance Troupe in Bharatanatyam, Antara Datta and Anga Kala Kathak Academy in Kathak, Yamini Saripalli in Kuchipudi, Jagannath Lairenjam in Pung Cholom. Slide show "It was a heartfelt effort to make this event educational and entertaining and accessible to all generations, especially second generation learning and trying to appreciate an ancient culture. My mission was to get the current middle school and high school students involved by assigning them projects to research various classical dance forms in groups and come up with a pictorial report on the origin, history, technique, costumes, famous gurus and dancers and musical instruments used. These children did a fantastic job at that and presented dressed in fabric from each region of those dances. They also had amazing questions at the panel discussion for all the dancers on the relevance of classical dance in today's fast changing world dynamics. The festival was made possible by the Lift Grant from Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council and the support and patronage of art lovers from all backgrounds," says Nandini Mandal, artistic director of Nandanik Dance Troupe.