Differently-abled artistes of Ability Unlimited perform Bharatnatyam and Sufi dance at the 10th Anjali National Children’s Festival at Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph pictures

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 11: Differently-abled students of Ability Unlimited in New Delhi gave an inspiring performance at the 10th Anjali National Children’s Festival.

Under the tutelage of dancer and choreographer Guru Syed Salauddin Pasha, around 15 talented artistes showcased Bharatnatyam, yoga, sword dance and modern dance — all the while sitting in wheelchairs.

The programme began with a rendition of the melodious Hamsadhwani raga. The singer was accompanied by renowned flautist Jagat Ranjan Patnaik.

The spectacular jugalbandi of the violinist, the tabla player and the singer left the audience wanting more. Then came the turn of the wheelchair-bound artistes to display their talent.

As Sufi music played softly in the background, two dancers in wheelchairs came on the stage.

Dressed in white, the distinctive attire of Sufi dance, the dancers criss-crossed, circled and zigzagged in their chairs. When the wheelchairs twirled non-stop for a minute, the audience applauded their efforts.

With every act, the stunts became more adventurous and mind-boggling. The act titled “Bharatnatyam on wheelchair” saw four dancers perform the Indian classical dance on wheelchairs. Choreographer Guru Pasha did an excellent job composing this dance sequence, which is heavily dependent on footwork.

“It is impossible to think of Bharatnatyam without footwork. But my students made the impossible possible. They worked really hard for this and have proved to the world that they are no less than others,” said Pasha.

If anyone thought that it was impossible to perform a Chakrasana and Shirsasana while in a wheelchair, the artistes proved them wrong. Not for once did the artistes make their disabilities come their way and performed like professionals.

Next in line was the most dangerous act of the evening – Thang-ta or sword fight on wheelchair. Words like “wow” and “amazing” circled around the auditorium as the wheelchair-bound performers bounced and leaped and fought on stage.

“We have done several performances across the world and even earned a place in the Limca Book of Records. This is our way of saying that if there is will, there is a way,” said Ajay Kumar Tanwar, one of the dancers.

The programme concluded with a modern dance performed to Jai Ho from the movie Slumdog Millionmaire.

“Through our different cultural programmes and performances, we want to tell the world that despite our challenges, we are equally capable of doing things. The Anjali festival is an effort to create an equal and inclusive society,” said disability rights activist and organiser of Anjali Shruti Mohapatra.

The four-day festival at Rabindra Mandap is on till November 13.