Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

Students depict the march of civilizations through history

Anasuya Menon

Showcasing Mesopotamian, Chinese, Mayan, Egyptian and Greek ways of life

A WHIRL OF COLOUR: Students of Vivekalaya Matriculation School performing a dance at the school day function. — PHOTO: S. SIVA SARAVANAN

Coimbatore: The dragon captured the hearts of viewers as it wiggled along keeping pace with unmistakeably Chinese music. The Mayans brought in racy drumbeats and tribal costumes. And after them came the Egyptians in a profusion of colours with their gorgeous belly dancers and solemn looking Pharaohs.

Great civilizations rose and fell in a matter of minutes on the stage. Lights dimmed and brightened as the audience were taken on a journey through the human civilizations, their beliefs and practices.

The school day function of Vivekalaya Matriculation School held at Nani auditorium on Tuesday took a clear deviation from the oft beaten track of cinematic dance and music. The programme brought with it a refreshing sense of history and time.

The costumes of the performers were designed to match the situation and great care was given to each minute detail on stage. It was informative too in that it spoke about some of the great people who were born in these civilizations. For instance, Chinese philosopher and thinker Confucius and Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses made brief appearances on the stage.

The Mayans' way of appeasing their God through human sacrifice was portrayed with ease to the rhythm of their tall drums and their devotion to the Sun God was enacted well.

The pyramids and the costumes of the Pharaohs demanded attention in the section on Egypt.

The typical ancient Egyptian funeral procession was also depicted with great precision.

A brief introduction was given to each session, in addition to information projected on a large screen on the stage.

These representations of Mesopotamian, Chinese, Mayan, Egyptian and Greek civilizations also mentioned the contribution they made in formulating a kind of social order.

The students of Class V to IX took on the various roles.

The programme would sure have made one walk out of the hall ruminating on the glorious past of human beings.

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