From K J M Varma Beijing, Feb 9 (PTI) China will be treated to Rajasthani folk music and dance by a seven member Indian troupe, which will formally inaugurate the events being lined up to mark this year as India-China Year of Friendship and Cooperation. The troupe consisting of two Kalbelia female dancers, a Bhawai dancer, a vocalist and a drum player will perform in Beijing and Shanghai for 10 days starting from Feb 17, Deputy Ambassador of India, Rahul Chhabra told PTI here today. This is the first event as part of the 'Year of Friendship and Cooperation' celebrations, Chabbra said. The idea to declare 2012 as the year of friendship and cooperation was endorsed during yesterday's meeting here between External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi. This will also a be first full fledged cultural programme being undertaken by the Indian Embassy here after the construction of its new USD 10 million building which was formally inaugurated by Krishna yesterday. The troupe will perform in schools and other institutions, Chhabra said. The Embassy also has a Indian style auditorium, housing Indian cultural centre, which could accommodates about 100 people. Classical Hindustani singer Pandit Keshav R Talegaonker teaches both vocal and instrumental music along with his wife Pratibha at the centre. Last night they performed an Indian classical musical composition with Chinese Yangquin instrument player, Liu Yuening at a special get-together attended by Krishna after the inauguration of the building. The Embassy also took on board a new dance teacher, Anuradha Sharma who performed a Kathak dance during the event. About 50 to 70 students, mostly Chinese, learn the Indian classical music and dance at the centre, Chhabra said. Indian Embassy's new initiative to communicate its activities though Weibo, known as Chinese Twitter is also picking up pace. The Weibo page has over 5000 followers who have been posting some positive feedback. The cultural centre also advertises its weekly Bollywood films through its Weibo network. Chhabra said the recent initiative to hold a documentary film festival also drew good response. Over 2500 people have watched the videos on free to view Youku channel and posted comments, he said.
