“The drama is complete poetry. The ode and the epic contain it only in germ; it contains both of them in a state of high development, and epitomizes both.”
- Victor Hugo

“All of you is one of you,” announced Meeta Mishra, the dramatist, who has taken up the task of introducing students of GIIS Noida to the ‘world of theatre’.

Group-dynamics is an integral part of dramatics and in the session with students of classes V, VI and VII, she has tried to invoke the spirit of team building through a ‘game of five’. This is one of the simplest, yet most challenging drama games where the actors follow commands to the count of each number. While the ‘game of five’ was simpler for the younger classes, for these students each command was linked to facial expressions and gestures. They had to think and pose as a particular object or animal at the call of each number. This activity helped in training the mind to quickly respond to the command which included grasping of the concept and cultivating the right attitude to express. Through body movements and stage-positions the students understood the ‘concept of space’.

The next level of activity was focused towards developing the skill of non-verbal communication. This was done with and without eye contact. The groups were trained to listen, and hear the finer sounds. They closed their eyes and listened to the sounds within them and also identified the softer sounds of their surroundings that were subdued by the noise outside.

Eventually, music united all the emotions and brought out the individuals within the group. Ms. Mishra observed that Classes VI and VII tend to work in their own groups. They like to explore interacting in smaller groups with their friends. Class V showed excellent camaraderie.

The lesson, at a macro-level, was training for coordination of mind and body; synchronizing thoughts with actions. The session helped in honing the power of imagination in these young students.