Echoes Naad-Ninaad 2018, the Annual Inter School Performing Arts Competition organized by the Performing Arts Society of Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram was held on 5 May 2018.
A total of 36 schools took part in the event, with more than 1800 participants. The event consisted of 6 competitions – Nritya Abhinaya (Indian Dance), Sway (Western Dance), Swargdeep (Indian Instrumental), Dynamics (Western Band and Group Song) and Swartarang (Indian Group Song).
Present at the event were the Principal, Ms. Vanita Sehgal, the Headmistress, Ms. Rashmi Malhotra and the Head of the Performing Arts Department, Ms. Renu Bassi with her team of teachers.
In Dynamics (Western Group Song), different teams expertly dished out masterful performances while the audience admired the young artists performing a wide variety of styles from country music to ballads.
Swartarang (Indian Group Song) was divided into three categories- Sufi, Kajari and Dadra. The harmonious sounds of music emanating from the performers left the audience in a trance.
The sound of ghungroos reverberated in the hall where Nritya Abhinaya (Indian Classical Dance) was held. The dancers depicted cultural values, stories of love and worship in a captivating way through Kathak, Bharatnatyam and Odissi.
The participants of Swargdeep ( Indian Instrumental) presented a melodious synchronization of tabla, sitar and harmonium and their competitive spirit filled the theatre with a passion for music, which left the judges and the listeners mesmerized.
In Dynamics (Western Band), the bands played everything from light jazz to soulful gospel, from foot-tapping country music to bone-quaking blues rock. Their bravura reflected in every nuance of their performances. When the theatre was not filled with the coherence of the various instruments, it was filled, instead, with the ear-splitting applause of the audience.
Sway (Western Dance) gave the performers a chance to showcase a variety of talents by presenting the audience with unique fusions of upbeat hip-hop numbers, smooth ballroom arrangements, classical ballet routines and even contemporary pieces of protest art.
Smt. Madhumita Raut, who manages and teaches at the Jayantika Associations, and Ms. Nrityashri Alaknanda, an International Kathak Artist, judged Nritya Abhinaya.
Mr. Manjeet Singh, a Music Composer, and Ms. Padmaja Chakraborty, an empanelled artist with ICCR (The Indian Council for Cultural Relations) judged Swartarang.
Pandit Shubhendra Rao, an internationally acclaimed Performer, and Ustaad Akram Khan, a professional Tabla Player, were the judges for Swargdeep.
Mr. Benjamin Jacob and Ms. Devasmita Sharma, Professional Dancers at The Danceworx, were the judges for Sway.
Mr. Hitesh Madan, the Co-founder of Canzona, and Ms. Payal Madan, Head of the Department for Speech and Drama judged Dynamics (Western Band).
Mr. Ankur Sabharwal and Mr. Lokesh Madan, the Co-founder of Canzona, judged Dynamics (Western Group Song).
The Valedictory event began with the felicitation of the judges with a token of regard by the esteemed Principal, Ms. Vanita Sehgal. In her speech, she honoured the memory of Swargdeep, a student who had passed away nearly 4 years ago. The Annual Swargdeep Indian Instrumental competition is held in his memoriam. She also felicitated his parents.
A small video recapping the event was followed by an enthralling classical dance performance by the Indian Dance Society of Delhi Public School R.K. Puram against a backdrop of hypnotic lighting and captivating effects. The Western Dance Society presented a splendid rendition of the classic fairy tale, Snow White.
Prizes were distributed by Ms. Vanita Sehgal, Ms. Rashmi Malhotra, Ms. Renu Bassi and the respective judges.
Ms. Renu Bassi proposed the vote of thanks and wished the students a successful future. The event was a huge success and concluded with the National Anthem.
The overall winners of the event were Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj.
The results of the events are as follows:
| Event | Position | School Name |
| Swartarang (Indian Vocal) | 1st | DPS, Vasant Kunj |
| 2nd | St. George’s School, Alaknanda | |
| 3rd | The Indian School, Sadiq Nagar | |
| Swargdeep (Indian Instrumental) | 1st | Mother’s International School, Sri Aurobindo Marg |
| G.D. Goenka, Vasant Kunj | ||
| 2nd | Mount Carmel School, Dwarka | |
| 3rd | Amity International School, Noida | |
|
Dynamics (Western Vocal) |
1st | DPS, Noida |
| Fr. Agnel School, Gautam Nagar | ||
| 2nd | DPS, Faridabad | |
| 3rd | DPS,Vasant Kunj | |
|
Dynamics (Western Band) |
1st | DPS, Vasant Kunj |
| 2nd | Amity International School, Saket | |
| 3rd | DPS, Noida | |
|
Nritya Abhinaya (Indian Classical Dance) |
1st | The Shri Ram School, Aravali |
| 2nd | DPS, Rohini | |
| 3rd | St. George’s School | |
| Somerville School, Noida | ||
|
Sway (Western Dance) |
1st | Birla Vidya Niketan, Pushp Vihar |
| 2nd | G.D. Goenka, Vasant Kunj | |
| 3rd | Convent of Jesus and Mary, Connaught Place |
