Florence High School’s Creative Writing Program teaches students to write forpublication. Students write poems, short stories, essays, and one-act plays whichare entered into local, state, and national writing competitions. Creative Writingstudents also write, edit, design, and publish Signatures, Florence High School’saward-winning literary-arts magazine.

The mission of the Bengali Association of Huntsville is to educate the communi-ty about the culture and heritage of Bengal and its neighboring regions througheducational, cultural, and recreational activities.

Shoals India & South Asian Association (SISAA) is a non-profit organizationbased in the Shoals. SISAA’s primary mission is to enhance awareness aboutthe rich traditions of India and its neighboring countries.

Admission:

Reserved: $25General Admission: Advance $12; At the Door $15Students: $10 (At the Door) — Limited AvailabilityChildren: No Charge for 12 and underTicket prices include a sample platter of "Taste of India" (6-6:45 p.m.)

For more information about the event, please email to santanuborah@hotmail.com.

Also, visit www2.una.edu/sborah/mamatashankar for updates about the event.

About the Mamata Shankar Ballet Troupe:The Group follows the style evolved by Uday Shankar, which has the inherent grammar of ClassicalIndian dance and yet is innovative, contemporary and not shackled with the moors of rigid classicism.The graceful body movements are blended with the idiom of vibrant folk dances of India to attain astatuesque quality of lyricism. The group believes that dance inculcates the feeling of love & compassion,gives a meaningful dimension to human emotions, and binds the mind and heart of the youth to thecultural heritage and tradition.

About Mamata Shankar:Mamata Shankar is the Principal of the institution. She is an accomplished dancer, choreographer, and anactress. She has trained in Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, Kathakali, and the Uday Shankar style of dance. Sheis the daughter of Uday and Amala Shankar, wife of Chandrodoy Ghosh, niece of Pt. Ravi Shankar andsister of Ananda Shankar.

About Chandrodoy Ghosh:

Chandrodoy Ghose is the Founder-Director of MAMATA SHANKAR BALLET TROUPE. After receivingthe basics of music at Santiniketan (the institution founded by Nobel-laureate, Rabindranath Tagore), helearnt Kathakali and the Uday Shankar style of dance forms at the UDAY SHANKAR INDIA CULTURECENTRE in Calcutta, under the guidance of Mrs. Amala Shankar. He led the Indian Cultural delegation toChina, Mongolia & Japan (1985), Maldives (1989) and to WEST INDIES & GUYANA (1997).

Members of the Troupe:

Ms.Amrita Bhattacharya, Ms.Payel Chakraborty, Ms.Sreeparna Chatterjee, Mr.Bidhan Roy Chowdhury,Ms.Adrija Dasgupta, Mr.Ratul Shankar Ghosh, Ms.Sreya Mahanta, Mr.Dhruba Mitra, Mr.Jubin Mitra,Mr.Krisnajit Munshi, Ms.Sudeshna Nag, Ms.Oendrila Roy, Mr.Rudra Prasad Roy, Mr.Asit Sengupta, andMr.Netai C.Sett.

Performances: The Troupe has performed in major cities of the USA including New York, WashingtonD.C., Baltimore, Atlanta, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Lubbock, Nashville, Buffalo, Pittsburgh,Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Denver, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, St. Louis. In Europe, they haveperformed in Sweden, Norway, Germany, Finland, France, Greece, Belgium, and in the UK. In addition tothese countries, they have performed in Japan, Australia, South-east Asia, South America & theCaribbean’s, and the Middle-East.

Besides performing in Florence, AL this year, the Troupe will be performing in Madison Square Gardens inNew York, Washington DC, San Diego, Phoenix, Portland, Kansas City, Houston, Syracuse, Nashville,Cleveland and some other major cities.