Thanks Shilpi Mayank-Awasthi for giving me the opportunity to present the webinar on November 9, 2022. Theater Arts for Holistic Development (TAHD), developed by Dr. Ambika Kameshwar, is my way forward with LIFESMART. TAHD provides a blueprint for implementing LIFESMART. TAHD is a design tool that shows how we can design learning experiences to enhance daily Learning (L), discover and nurture Interests (I), enrich Family (F) interactions, and enhance Engagement (E) with the community.
As mentioned in my presentation, I am currently doing my certification in TAHD. Enabling parents to use TAHD to analyze and design experiences, and to find the right experiences and resources for their child through RASA is my interest and focus.
Today, Ananth and I had an opportunity to attend the annual day of the sloka and value education class organized by RASA Arpita, Chennai. Now, I use the TAHD framework to make sense of any learning experience. As an example, I look at today’s performance and student learning leading to the performance through the TAHD lens as follows:
I. Theater Arts Tools
I think about how the five theater arts tools of TAHD are used in the experience. The five tools are:
- Movement and dance
- Music and rhythm
- Storytelling
- Drama
- Arts and crafts
Sloka recitation, storytelling, and drama were the tools that I noticed during this performance
II. The Four Modes of Expression
- Angika (movement/ nonverbal)
- Vacika (speech/language)
- Aharya (costume, props, setting)
- Satvika (expression)
All four modes of expression were evident in the performance.
III. The Four Es
- Exploration
- Experience
- Expression
- Enjoyment
The exploration of the students for the whole year created learning experiences that culminated in a performance that created enjoyment for the perfomers and the audience.
The LIFESMART 100-Day Lab
The LIFESMART 100-Day Lab is one project that I am implementing to support parents through my TAHD journey. Please send me an email to lifesmartlabs@gmail.com if you would like to join us in our explorations!
Dr. Ambika Kameshwar. 2006 Theater Arts for Holistic Development. Ramana Sunritya Aaalaya Trust.
One reply on “Theater Arts for Holistic Development (TAHD) – My Way Forward”
[…] (speech and language), aharya (props and setting), and satvika (emotional expression).Learn more at https://specialsaathi.com/2022/11/13/theater-arts-for-holistic-development-tahd-my-way-forward/We homeschooled and lived this way but TAHD has provided a way to organize and communicate this […]