NEWS

SHAMALA PILLAY



Featured on the cover of this issue is the late Shamala Pillay, well-known South Indian classical dance exponent and teacher, who passed away last October.

Shamala, who died after a lengthy illness aged only 28, was married to University of Durban- Westville drama lecturer and dramatist Kriben Pillay.

Her career began at the age of four and she graduated at 13. In 1988 to refine her skills in Bharatha Natyam, she went to India where she took up yoga for health reasons. She incorporated yoga principles in her dance teaching as a tool and as therapy for the disabled On her return home in 1991 she opened a dance and yoga school and taught at the V N Naik School for the Deaf.

CHRONIC

Although she gave up dancing in late 1992 because of her chronic ill health caused by the auto- immune disease lupus, she continued teaching until she went into renal failure in late 1994.

Although Shamala severely curtailed her dance activities after the birth of her daughter in mid-1993, she still found time to help other lupus sufferers by offering a counselling service.

A memorial tribute was held last month at the Asoka Theatre.

MADRAS TROUPE



Fresh from Madras, India, a five-person troupe will perform religious and film music in a free concert in the UDW music studio on October 1 at 13h10.



DOCTORATE FOR TP

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A Doctorate for Humanities and Indian Culture was recently conferred on Durban Arts board member and director of the Indian Academy of South Africa, Mr TP Naidoo, by the World Tamil Institute, an arts/language body represen-ting academics and artists of all forms.

For 28 years, Dr Naidoo's regular visits to India to arrange Indian artists and lecturers for cultural productions hosted by the Indian Academy have cemented strong links between India and Durban.

This is the first time that an honorary doctorate has been conferred on a South African by an institution in India. The citation reads: "for his outstanding contribution for the promotion of Indian Culture and Humanities."

TRIBUTE

Mrs Sargoonum Pandian, the Hon Mini-ster for Social Welfare and Labour in the Tamil Nadu Government, paid tribute to Dr Naidoo's persistence and pleas for help for cultural assistance on behalf of South Africa's Indian people.

"Standing there 7 000 miles from my home in South Africa, I felt a deep sense of fulfilment after all those years of frustration, difficulties and obstacles," says TP. "The doctorate is a tribute to all South Africans, especially to those who have always believed that there is more to the success of life than the three `r's. I always repeat the words of my own guru, Professor Elizabeth Sneddon, in that `no-one is a complete person without an artistic or cultural balance'."

WINE AT NSA



A special wine tasting evening will be held at the NSA Gallery on November 21 at 18h00 for 18h30. Cost is R50 pp.

Booking essential on 223-6867.



MARION GEIGER



The featured artist this month at the Africa Gallery in Umhlanga Rocks is wildlife artist Marion Geiger.

"Marion masters the fluid contours of juxtaposing planes, transforming humble paper and paint into a three dimensional galaxy of light and movement," says Lynette van Rooyen of Africa Gallery.

"Growing up in the bush, her art reflects in every shape and line the wildlife to which she was exposed since childhood."

CULTURAL TOURISM DAY



In 1995 leaders of the Cato Ridge region formed the Amaximba Development Trust to promote and uplift the quality of life in the area. A cultural tourism event has been planned for October 18 to 20 at the Msunduzi River Bridge Sports Ground. All artists are invited to participate. Phone (0325) 2-1120.

APOLOGY



The cover of the September issue of D'ARTS carried a drawing by Ashby Sikhakhane which was erroneously cap-tioned and should have read "Fittest of the Fittest". Apologies to the artist.