After the Khana meal together, we will gather in “Parker Hall” to hear our Guest of Honor, Indian Ambassador Meera Shankar speak to us.  Those of us who have heard her speak have been charmed and delighted. Then we will have an evening of entertainment.

Last minute announcement:  We are sad to let you know that Ajit Singh will be unable to appear at the reunion this year.

Pt. Ajit Singh will play the vichitra veena, a stringed instrument without frets, about 3 feet long with 2 large resonating gourds at either end.  He taught Indian music at Woodstock for many years in the 1970s-90s and also has taught at St. John’s College in Minneapolis, MN.  He lives in Dehra Dun and is a highly-regarded, nationally-known performer on the veena.  In addition, he has a music store and a factory that exports guitars and many kinds of drums. He will be accompanied by a tabla player.

Cordula Dahal, born in Germany and educated in France and America, has trained in Indian dance in Nepal and India and performs with her husband, dancer and choreographer Bhim Dahal, both here and abroad.  The Dahals are the founding directors of the Nepal Dance School in Virginia and support their own local-level projects, for women and children, in Nepal.  Tasherit is an instructor at the Nepal Dance School and was trained by her father, Bhim Dahal, in Nepal, and Jaipur, India, in classical Kathak, Buddhist, Nepali Folk and Bollywood dance.  Bhim will be in Nepal, so Cordula and daughter Tasherit will perform classical Kathak and, after a costume change, will encourage us to join them in the fun of learning some Bollywood dance steps. Get ready to move and groove with Cordula and Tasherit!

The art of Frank Wesley, a former Woodstock staff member, will be presented to us.  Wesley’s basic training was at the Art School, Lucknow under the renowned artist Bireshwar Sen.  Seeking a variety of themes and forms, he also studied at the Kyoto Art University and the Art Institute, Chicago.  Finally, Wesley spent a number of years living and working in Australia, which had an impact on his later work, especially the landscape and situation of the ‘aborigines’.

The entertainment will conclude with the 50th anniversary class of 1960 performing for us.