What began as one Grover Middle School student wanting to perform a concert on the Sitar in his parent’s basement has mushroomed into an event featuring close to 80 area students participating in a benefit to raise funds for Katrina survivors. Kids for Katrina Victims: A Talent Show takes place on Saturday, October 29, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Village School, 601 New Village Road, West Windsor. Tickets are $10.##M:[more]##
Sameer Sajji, 11, was watching the images of Katrina on CNN last month when he asked his parents “What will happen to all these people? Can I do something to help?”
Since he enjoys playing the Indian string instrument, he wanted to invite guests to his solo concert and request donations to the Red Cross. He told his parents, “It really does not matter how much money we raise, but it will help show our compassion and concern to those who are in need.”
His mother, Anu, agreed to help him but thought that a bigger hall would be better. She called Bear Creek Assisted Living and they agreed to give the hall, which was great — until they realized it only holds 50 people.
“I was already involved and taking time off from work and thought, let me look for a bigger hall,” she said. She spoke with Brian Stevens, principal of Village School. “He was incredibly supportive and called the district who told us that we needed a sponsor.”
The Red Cross agreed to sponsor the event to give them the insurance required to use the school and the school district waived fees for the event. Triangle Printing, Omni Tech, and Quinox contributed printing of flyers and the program, and food will be donated by McCaffrey’s, ShopRite, Eagle Bakery, and Palace of Asia. One business is donating funds for custodial fees. Princeton Junior League called to offer help and they are sponsoring the program brochure.
Sameer’s father, Vinod, is a software engineer and his sister, Sarika, 9, is a student at Village School. Anu is an auditor for a health insurance company in Long Island with a daily commute of six hours. While coordinating the event she has been working from home and only going to the office once a week. “It just grew like a monster and coordinating the event is a challenge,” Anu says.
The 16 acts include the Flat Soda Band with Grover students; Indian dances by Jharna Rastogi, Madhavi and Pratik Devasthale, and Sridhar Shanmugam; sitar music by students of Hidayat Khan; a juggling act by Michael Weintraub and Michael Weizman; piano music by Raymond Zhang and Sharon Gao; violin by Alma and Caroline Chang; and tabla music by students of Pandit Jayawant Banwal.
Students from the Dance Corner will present “Skater’s Waltz” and “I Feel Like a Woman.” Jharna Rastogi presents “Dance Fusion” and a Hip-Hop Dance by Grover students has been choreographed by Aanchal Khurrana and Priya Saksena. Kirtana Krosuri presents a poem, “Hurricane Katrina.” Shottafunk! Band features 15 students on instruments and vocals and 10 black belts from West Windsor Tae Kwon Do demonstrate their craft.
Most of the volunteers are students. “I really hope that the kids realize we can do something together,” Anu says. “They will grow up with good values.”
— Lynn Miller
Kids for Katrina Victims: A Talent Show, American Red Cross, Village School, Village Road, West Windsor, 609-490-0119. $10; free for children under 5. Saturday, October 29, 3 to 5 p.m.
