SPIC MACAY (Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth) is a voluntary non-profit movement founded in the year 1977 by dedicated academicians and students. It seeks to conserve and promote Indian culture and introduce the rich and heterogeneous cultural tapestry to the youth of this country. Through focus on the classical arts, with their attendant legends, rituals, mythology and philosophy, SPICMACAY seeks to facilitate an awareness of their deeper and subtler meaning and values. Classical Indian music and dance carry with them generations of wisdom dating back to antiquity. We hope that the beauty, grace and wisdom embodied in them will become an integral part of a student’s life and inspire them to become a better humanbeing.
Presently SPIC MACAY has more than 300 chapters in India and abroad. In the year 2012-13, over 7000 programs were organized in the country. In order to achieve its goals, SPIC MACAY organizes lecture -demonstrations, workshops and intensives, in various educational institutes, schools, and colleges. We also conduct Baithaks, Virasat, week-long Fests, Conventions and Talks which introduce students to several young and upcoming artistes who perform along with the senior artistes. Held all over India, these programs give students an opportunity to witness insightful performances and workshops in folk and classical arts, literature, crafts, talks, theatre, cinema and yoga and more importantly, informally interact with maestros like Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma (Santoor), Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia(Flute), Pt. Birju Maharaj(Kathak), Smt. Ashwini Bhide Deshpande (Hindustani Vocal), Pt. Vishwamohan Bhatt(Mohan veena), Smt. Teejan Bai(Pandavani), to name a few. We have a Gurukul Scholarship Scheme that provides opportunities to aspiring Shishyas to live for a month with ‘Gurus’ who have dedicated their life to their art forms, be it literature, religion or traditional medicine. The rapport thus created helps the student develop a wholesome understanding of not only the art form but also the artiste as a practitioner of a certain way of life.
Student Chapter of SPIC MACAY inaugurated at Acropolis Institute
Indore, September 01, 2013: “The slower we dance, we can make use of other parts more effectively”, this was transpired by Smt. Gauri Diwakar, Kathak exponent & student of eminent Gurus like the legendary Pandit Birju Maharaj, Shri Jaikishan Maharaj, Guru Ms. Sumita Chaudhary (Jamshedpur) and Ms. Aditi Mangaldas while inaugurating Student Chapter of SPIC MACAY (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture amongst Youth) as a part of the VIRASAT 2013 series being organized in Madhya Pradesh between 29 August to 03 September 2013, under the aegis of Yavnika Hobby Club, AITR at Acropolis Institute of Technology & Research, Indore.
Smt. Gauri Diwakar in her Lecture-Demonstration on Kathak started Kathak with Shiv Vandana. Then she presented three rhythms of singing, reciting and dancing in which she emphasized on 16 Matra. Ahead in the program,Kathak exponent presented Aamad in which she displayed her emotions through kathak by pure dance, dance depicting nature and explaining Lord Krishna.
Creating mesmerizing environment in the program, Smt. Gauri Diwakar danced artistically on Shish mukut kati kanchi…and won the hearts of audiences. Then, Gauri presented different postures in kathak such as pataka, suchi, ardha chandra, shikhar, sarp shrish, bhramar, trishul etc. and forced the audience to try them. Continuing the amazing dance of kathak, Gauri explained basic rhythm and tihai through ladi. Then she beautifully presented bandhish on radhe nav laya kishore…The center of attraction of the program was jugalbandi between gauri and table player, Shri Rahul Vishwakarma which received tremendous applaud from audience. Gauri also danced on the poem of Kavi Makhanlal Chaturvedi ‘Pushp ki Abhilasha…’.Gauri ended the program by taking 33 circles.
Shri Rahul Vishwakarma, Tabla player and Shri Induprakash, Classical Singer also present during the ceremony provided Tabla Accompaniment and Vocal Accompaniment.In the time ahead, the student chapter of SPIC MACAY will organize various national and international performances of well-known artists.
The welcome speech was delivered by Dr. Kamal Bharani, Principal, AITR. The occasion was also marked by the presence of Shri Ashok Sojatia (Chairman BOG, Acropolis Group), Prof. M K Dube (Vice Chairman, AITR) and Dr. M D Agrawal (Director, AITR). The program was coordinated by Prof. Jayant Bihare. The program was directed by Prof. Gaurav Chaitanya, Convener, Yavnika Hobby Club, AITR. Vote of thanks was presented by Dr. Shilpa Bhalerao.
