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Performing Arts

The FREEDOM NOW Campaign has, to-date, only involved women from the red-light areas and marginilized traditional artists from across the country. This effort is primarily an awareness campaign against sex trafficking, and secondly an effort to provide viable economic options for both the marginilized artists and the red-light area women.

The FREEDOM NOW Campaign has been going from the level of small remote villages to districts, from state capitals to national capitals, and all the way to London, UK. In all these performances, the women from red-light areas and marginilized artists have participated in this innovative pursuit of an alternate livelihood. The efforts of these women as artists have been documented in an article published by Cambridge Journal and a book published by the Oxford Press. These teams, on Guria's initiative, have also performed at prestigious venues such as: Shri Ram Center for Art and Culture, New Dehli; Bharat Bhawan, Bhopal. They were also invited by the World Social Forum to perform in Mumbai.

On special occasions, internationally renowned artists, such as Ashish Khan, Girija Devi, Chhannu Laal Mishra, have added value and support by performing for the FREEDOM NOW campaign.

Past Events

2017

GUJRAT DANCE PERFORMANCE

Students from Varanasi's red-light area were given an opportunity to perform a dance at a large venue in Gujurat. See a video of their performance here:

2014

COLOURS OF INDIA - CAMBRIDGE

A concert of traditional dance and music from the four regions of India was held in Cambridge to celebrate Holi in collaboration with a local charity called 'Sakhya: Friends of India.' The venue was full and 120 people learnt about Guria!

2013

Pearls of Love: Jakhaniya, Ghazipur - FREEDOM NOW

2011

Pearls of Love: Ghazipur District - FREEDOM NOW

2010

Pearls of Love: Varanasi DIstrict - FREEDOM NOW

LONDON CONCERT SERIES

The Guria FREEDOM NOW! concert series took place in London and Cambridge during July 2010. The main aim of these events was to raise awareness for Guria and for the issue they are fighting against – human trafficking and child prostitution. The concerts were very successful in achieving this as well as raising much needed funding for Guria. There were brilliant performances from renowned classical musicians, including sarode maestro, Aashish Khan.

Friday July 9

A concert was held at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan inWest Kensington with world famous sarode player Aashish Khan, along with Amie Maciszewski (sitar) andNicolas Magriel (sarangi) all accompanied by Yousuf Ali Khan on tabla.This concert was attended by over 200 people and through ticket sales and donations we raised ￡3,205 for Guria. It was attended by Zee TV, largest Asian channel in the UK, with a reach of over 500 million viewers worldwide, who interviewed the artists and event organiser, Sarah Wraight.The awareness campaign in the lead up to the concert included Radio, Newspaper and Internet coverage. Coverage on Resonance FM included a programme with music from Aashish Khan and an interview withSarah to explain what Guria do in India and the aims of the event in the UK. The concert was listed in the press and an article was published in the newspapers - Eastern Eye, London Bangla, Bangla Post andIslington Gazette, which have a combined weekly circulation of over 80,000 copies. The event was publicised through an internet campaign, including promotion through around 30 websites.

Sunday July 11

Aashish Khan performed at the Cambridge 'Heart of the World' music festival, accompanied by Yousuf AliKhan (tabla) and Amie Maciszewski (tanpura.)This performance was attended by 50 – 100 people. Awareness was raised through an introduction and exit talk about Guria and distributing leaflets. It was covered by various Asian TV channels, including ATN Bangla.

Tuesday July 20

The cultural wing of the Indian embassy, the Nehru centre, hosted a performance from Amie Maciszewskion sitar, accompanied by Yousuf Ali Khan on tabla and Louise Elliott playing tenor sax & flute. The ensemble played a fascinating fusion of Hindustani music with jazz.The event began by screening a short (15minute) film about Guria directed and produced by Amie Maciszewski and Ms Mars, which highlights the amazing work Guria does including undercover filming of a brothel raid, their education centres, and innovative programme of helping marginalised people through traditional music and dance as an alternative to working in red light areas. It was attended by around 80 people, and was a great success with many people fascinated and interested in both Indo-jazz fusion and the work Guria does. Aashish Khan (sarode) & Amie Maciszewski (tanpura)Talking about Guria at the Asian Mela stage Yousuf Ali Khan (tabla), Louise Elliot (flute) & Amie Maciszewski (sitar) Read more about this series of events here..