International Conference on Storytelling September 16, 2007

Amongst many, the conference will see celebrated storytellers like Muriel Bloch of France, Tanya Batt of New Zealand, Manolo Silayan of Philippines, Ayesha Dogar of Pakistan, Ellis Vance of America, Wendy Cooling of Britain, Keiko Tani of Japan and Ahmed Redza of Malaysia.

Besides encouraging reading habit amongst children, they will promote peace and cultural integration and showcase the diversity of storytelling techniques from different cultures, through their words.

Also, well known Bharatnatyam danseuse Shovana Narayan, Odissi dancer Geeta Mahalik and folk dances by Vietnam's dance, music and theatre group will exhibit the art of storytelling through traditional performing arts.

And there will also be ballet performances by special children, puppetry and presentations based on the stories of Panchatantra.

There will be four working sessions to focus on the themes of cultural manifestation through the art of storytelling, stories beyond boundaries, storytelling to promote the word and cultural integration through literature and performing arts.

Eminent litterateurs, scholars and teachers from India, including Feizal Alkazi, Geeta Ramanujam and Pavan K. Varma, director general of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Navin Menon (Children's Books Trust) will participate in the discussions.

Organised by the Association of Writers and Illustrators for Children (AWIC), Indian Section of the International Board of Books for Young People, the conference's aim is to spread the message of peace and cultural harmony through storytelling.

There will be an exhibition of children's books as well.