Mumbai aerialists to represent India in world championship of pole and silk artistes

A team of 10 Mumbai-based aerialists will represent India in a world championship of pole and silk artistes in Budapest this week.

The team includes artistes from 9 to 15 years of age, who will showcase Indian dance forms such as Bharatnatyam, Kathak, as well as music at the Pole and Aerial Sports World Championship, which is held every year by the POSA Pole Sports and Arts World Foundation.

The team trained under Aditi Deshpande, who pioneered the art of aerial silk in the city, and has been training for the championship for the last three months.

Creative fusion

“Aerial silk needs a lot of strength and grace and typically goes better with slow music tracks. So, it was a bit challenging to set a choreography on a fast-paced song with a lot of Indian classical music elements, but we have attempted it, and the end result is a beautiful blend of a Western sport with Indian elements,” said one of the artistes whose performance includes elements from Bharatnatyam.

The team includes artistes from 9 to 15 years of age, who will showcase Indian dance forms such as Bharatnatyam, Kathak, as well as music at the Pole and Aerial Sports World Championship.
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Special arrangement

The performers have been practicing at Shivaji Park’s Samarth Vyayam Mandir, a ground for pole and rope Mallakhamb in the country. The place is overseen by Padmashri Uday Deshpande, who contributed to making Mallakhamb an internationally popular sport. His daughter Aditi establish Fly High Aerial Art in 2013, where she trains the aerial silk artistes. Ms. Aditi started her academy after she was exposed to aerial silk in United States in 2010. She now conducts classes at Shivaji Park, Khar, Ghatkopar, Vidyavihar as well as in schools such as Ascend International, Bombay Scottish, Mount Litera School International, Somaiya and others.

“I am extremely proud of all the hard work my students have put in for their championship. We hope to return with as many medals as possible. But, winning or losing apart, I am confident that our performers will make India proud,” Aditi said.

The team has been selected by the Indian Pole Sports Association, with Secretary Mr. Shrikant Warankar and treasurer Mr. Suresh Gandhi.