Classical dancer Garima Hazarika speaks to reporters on the programmes of Mitali Kala Kendra on Monday. Picture by Eastern Projections

May 16: They hold dance lessons all round the year. Only this time, the sessions promise to be different.

The city-based Mitali Kala Kendra has planned a special workshop on dance for physically challenged children as part of its yearlong silver jubilee celebrations.

Director of the academy Gorima Hazarika said the workshop for physically challenged kids would be one of the main attractions of the celebrations. “These kids require a different kind of training. We have contacted some of these children who are enthusiastic about participating in the workshop.

The celebrations will be kicked off at the Machkhowa Cultural Complex on May 20.

The Kendra, a non-profit dance academy, imparts training on Odissi and Sattriya. Its activities include production research and documentation of classical and traditional dance forms of eastern India.

The celebrations include workshops on Sattriya and Odissi. The weeklong Sattriya workshop will begin on May 21.

“We will also organise a workshop on choreography and costume designing during the yearlong celebrations. We are trying to rope in a Bollywood choreographer to train the students,” Hazarika said.

The academy will also hold a Nityanatya Utsav at the end of the year. Though the dates of the festival are yet to be fixed, the academy will keep in mind the convenience of students while sorting out the details, she said.

“We are planning to hold the festival during the winter vacation as we want to encourage student participation,” she said. The academy has already contacted several schools for participating in the festival and the workshops.

The institute admits students over six years of age. The first lessons include training on meditation, basic steps and rhythm and posture exercises.

It takes a student seven to eight years to make a solo performance on stage, Hazarika said, adding that the students are taught dance analysis, too.

Hazarika said the Kendra tries to make the children aware of their duties towards society.