In July, 2008, Open Space initiated an outreach workshop series on self-expression through art for students
from the Jagriti school for blind girls in Pune. The objective of these workshops is to enable the participants
express themselves and the world they inhabit through the medium of art; to include dance and movement,
storytelling, writing and theatre.

The first workshop is this series was held at the school premises on July 19th, 2008, with 35 participants.

Anubha Doshi, a Pune-based trained dance therapist facilitated the workshop. She had designed
the module with a view to de-stress the participants through a gradual progression of basic dance
movements, starting with a warm up exercise. Anubha introduced herself by her name coupled with
an action (movement of the hand to indicate the name). Each participant had to in turn introduce
themselves in the same manner, thus inducing movement and introducing them to the basic idea of
using movement as gesture.

This was followed by a series of movement exercises in which the girls were divided into 2 groups.
Each group had to form a circle, and some basic running activities were introduced. Participants were
evidently charged as this was something they weren’t exposed to earlier generating a lot of excitement
amongst them. Anubha took them through a series of group games and movement activities with music
to compliment. A range of ambient instrumental pieces were played and participants were asked to respond
to the music based on the mood and emotions they evoked in each one of them. Most of the participants
felt a sense of release/freedom as if they were birds in flight. Anubha coupled this with an exercise in which
participants actually moved in a pattern as if each one of them was a bird in flight. There was a sense of
collective euphoria amongst the participants and one could see the delight and joy on their faces as
they uninhibitedly participated in the various exercises that Anubha introduced them to.

The workshop concluded with the facilitator playing a medly of Bollywood numbers to get the participants
to dance. This was followed by a summing up of the workshop by Anubha who shared her aim and objective
of structuring the it to de-stress participants and ease them up. The participants were quick to revert with their
feedback and a majority of them found the workshop very relaxing. Many of them felt like they were transported
to another space altogether, feeling an immense sense of release from their daily worries and cares, not to mention
their impending exams. The workshop they felt had unburdened them in many ways and helped them channelise
their energies in a positive manner.

The girls unanimously thanked Anubha, while the Principal gave the vote of thanks, extending her gratitude to
Open Space for facilitating the workshop.