The Sutradhar Institute offers two summer camps every year. Participants of both programs perform a concert at the end of each session.

Camp Ramayana: The Epic in Dance and Drama

Camp Ramayana is a month-long summer camp for children aged 5 to 12. Each session culminates in a stage performance by the students. The Ramayana is a 2000-year old epic, deeply rooted in the culture and identity of South and Southeast Asians. Like all great epic tales, it is a vast, complex story that captures the imagination of adults and children alike. The Sutradhar Institute’s approach is somewhat unique in that campers are introduced to the Ramayana through story-telling, martial arts, yoga, mask-making, Sanskrit (the language of the epic), poetry, rangoli (floor painting) and creative writing--thus appealing to all children’s love of stories and story-telling.  The camp has been operating for nearly 20 years, with many children returning year after year, first attending as junior campers and then later as camp counselors.

Ramayana Camp dates: mid June to mid July, 2012, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Camp Kuchipudi

For those interested in immersing themselves in dance, Camp Kuchipudi deeply explores the south Indian classical dance style of Kuchipudi. Beginners are welcome. Although it is structured much like Camp Ramayana, much more emphasis is placed on dance technique and choreography. Activities include yoga, martial arts, dance technique make up design, Kuchipudi repertoire, and dance ethnography.

Kuchipudi Camp dates: mid July to end of July, 2012, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.