School of Music and Art (SOMA) Purana Bazar has added another feature on its cap as it ventures into world of dance, to promote and educate dance lovers in the state.
The new dance academy was inaugurated on Friday at SMA premises by MLA K.L. Chishi.
Talking at the inauguration programme as chief guest, Chishi said that director SOMA, Mhonyamo Kikon could be the first among Nagas to start a school of music.
Stating the venture as “futuristic” he hoped that through humble and sincere beginning, the centre would attain a “glorious future” which would not only benefit students but the entire Nagas.
Chishi said Nagas by nature are fond of singing but regretted that most of them fail to understand what they are actually singing.
Stressing on the importance of trained musicians, he said there were many talented Naga singers but lack originality.
“Music speaks the language of the heart”, said Chishi and asked the musicians not to simply copy others but to understand and learn it.
Chishi then said that to really sing “wholeheartedly”, singers should understand what they are singing, as understanding music was essential for every musician.
Appreciating the school on their task of training the children, Chishi said that inculcating the habit of learning and understanding music at a tender age was essential so that the children would grow up and bring laurels to the family, society and state.
He also hoped that the school would bring up children in a way that they would understand music and be an inspiration.
The highlights of the programme were musical recital, aerobic dance, melody, beat for harmony, choreography by the students of SOMA.
It may be mentioned that SOMA, the brain child of Mhonyamo Kikon, was incepted with a vision to promote and trained less privileged music and art lovers.
In its initial years, SOMA had two teaching faculty. However at present, the school has ten faculties with an addition of three dance faculties.