City-based duo promotes Indian culture

New Delhi: Brother-sister duo of Shreya and Ravi Kaushik from Delhi, who are staying in Europe for the past 10 years, have started, ArtLounge9, a Brussels-based organisation with the mission of “Sharing India with the world”.

Since the past four years, ArtLounge9 promotes Indian culture in the form of folk, fine arts and cuisine across Europe.

Rama — a dance drama based on epic Ramayana, was recently staged by ArtLounge9 at a theatre in Brussels. Members of European and Indian community. crowded into the theatre to see the dance drama. First of its kind in Europe, this show is a compact version of “Ramleela”, tracing the life story of Lord Ram, dotted with colourful dances. "We Indians have such a vast traditions and culture, it is worth sharing with the world,” Shreya, the group’s artistic director, said.

Mr Kaushik, a businessman and technologist, plans to create a performance platform for fellow Indians with talent, who are away from home, through ArtLounge9.

So far, the brother-sister duo have put more than 200 budding artists on prestigious stages across Europe.

"We have a culture history of 5,000 years flows through generations as it reflects in immortal folk-dances and folklore, depicting vibrant and vivid patterns. The folk dances of India are generally quite spontaneous and are the creation of the people's imagination and desire for artistic and emotional expression," said Mr Ravi Kaushik.

Last year they organised one of the largest Diwali festival at the historical site of Atomium. The Indian tricolour was hoisted for two days atop this monument to honour the Indo-Belgian ties," said Kaushik

Before Rama, they produced and staged 3 other shows across Europe, including a showabout "Taj Mahal". There upcoming projects include several large events and new shows based on Durga, Krishna and Buddha.

D14