Exotic taste of Eastern dance

Nearly 100 students at St Philip Howard Catholic High School benefited from three workshops held by the Nrityavani Dance Troupe. The dancers are Christians, Hindus and Muslims from across India who use classical and folk forms of dance to entertain, educate and provoke. Ann Careless, the school's head of dance, said the students performed dances learnt from the troupe to each other.

The dancers also performed some of their dances and passed on the meanings of their movements and gestures.

'The students learnt a great deal about the dance style and meaning as well as developing their cultural awareness, recognising how different cultures and faiths can work in harmony,' she explained. 'The students thoroughly enjoyed the day and can use some of these choreographed works in their own compositions.'