Who We Are:
Dhwani Zaroorat is a performing arts school for lesser privileged children in Delhi founded by kathak dancer/choreographer Vaswati Misra. It is the only academic school for under privileged children in New Delhi that follows the "art in education" approach.

The school is unique that it uses the arts (i.e. music, dance, art, theater and yoga) as the main medium of education. Started as an experiment in 2003, the school now has over a 100 students, has had a zero drop-out rate and is ready with its first batch of senior students to appear for 10^th class board exams through the National Open School in 2010/11.

Our Mission:
To make high quality performing arts education accessible to a greater number of children irrespective of economic background.

Founded in 2003 by Kathak maestros Vaswati Misra and Krishna Mohan Misra and their cultural organisation, Dhwani, the school is located in Khanpur Extension of South Delhi and is attended by 100 students (aged 6-18). The children all come from the adjoining slums, from homes of rickshaw pullers, domestic staff, unemployed poor and construction workers.

One of the major aims of Zarrorat has been to hone the talents and skills of it's pupils so that upon completion of their education they are in a position to enter the marketplace and convert their creative skills into generating an income for themselves.

Secondly to create schools in slums in other parts of Delhi and the creation of a performing arts repertory specifically composed of performers from Zaroorat .

Why Performing and Fine Arts?
In any enlightened society business and the arts complement one another. Best practices in each test creativity and the intellect. Both motivate to create excellence. A well rounded individual contributes and derives value from life and the society he belongs to. The performing and visual arts provide many different skills: management in the allocation of time, money and space; communicating skills in conveying meaning, problem solving and discipline. As such , Schools such as Zaroorat enable their students to achieve cultural literacy thus providing not only tools for self-expression, but also equipping them with life skills and preparing them for a career within arts as performers, practitioners or teachers.

Schools, based on the Zaroorat module can be an important factor in helping the urban poor break out of the cycle of literal and cultural poverty that they are enslaved by

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The School:
The students are taught by a staff of 14 highly qualified, dedicated performing arts and academic teachers. The school provides free basic academic education up to 10th Std – (IGNOU certification), books, uniforms, food, transport, medical check-ups and hostel facility.

The Children:
Our children have taken to the training offered to them with great enthusiasm and we have discovered some extraordinary creative potential in a few of them. As a result of this they regularly perform along side professional dancers of Dhwani's repertory and are invited regularly to perform at events organised by various Ministries and Departments of the Government, some corporations and cultural organisations as well.

How you can help?

If you are an individual you can contribute to the Dhwani Zaroorat Fund. Alternatively you can sponsor a full day’s meal for a child.
( Rs 35 , per child , per day).

Dhwani acknowledges and thanks to the following institutes for their support ...

• CREDIT SUISSE
• SAIL

We also thank all individual contributions made for our fund.

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Major Events that Dhwani Zaroorat children have participated in …..

2010 May
Four children sang for the Annual Production of Pt. Shambhu Maharaj Kathak Academy – ‘Clouds’

2009 November
Presented a Dance Drama at Sai International Centre , Lodhi Road for RAWA foundation.

2009 November
Presented Group Choir for International Dance Alliance Conference at IIC Delhi 

2009 July
Awareness Program for Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment on International Day Celebration for Older People at Kamani Auditorium

2008 October
Presented a Group Choir for Dakkhinayan

2007 December
NREGA, awareness program for Ministry of Rural Development

2007 December
Presented a Dance Drama on environment for RAWA foundation at Siri Fort.

2007 November
Participated in various activities like cartoon / T-shirt painting, treasure hunt in science section, vocal performance, participating in puzzle games, quizzes, craft exhibition at Bal Mela " DHANAK DIN" at Teen Murti Bhavan.

2007 October
Vocal performances at Dakkhinayan, GK II and South Extension part II

2007 September
Participated in vocal, quiz and interaction program with elderly people at Pragati Maidan Book Fair

2007 August
Dhwani Zaroorat Choir presented patriotic songs at Durgabari for their 15^th Independence Day Celebration

2007 July
Partcipated in a workshop organized by Healing Touch.

2007 April
The school celebrated it’s "5^th Inaugural Function" at Khanpur Extension. The function included various cultural programs along with a very creative Science and Art exhibition

2006 December
Organized a "Christmas Carnival" at the Mela Ground, C. R. Park, New Delhi, which was inaugurated by Shri. L.K . Advani  & Pratibha Advani , where renowned artists from Delhi & Kolkata trained our students to put up craft stalls etc

2005 December
Dance, Gymnastics & Puppetry by Dhwani Zaroorat Students for a music dance drama extravaganza "PINOCCHIO" [ written by noted Indian lyricist Gulzar , music done by  the tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain & choreography by Smt. Vaswati Misra .]

2004 April
Peace Awareness Programme organized by Times Fundation Group

2004 December
Demonstration  given by 5 Dhwani Zaroorat students at the Jamia Milia Islamia University after receiving Self Defence Training by Delhi Police Women Cell .

Painting competition at Pragati Maidan.

Group Choir at Durga Bari, Shiv mandir, Children's Book Fair, Chinmaya Mission, Bipin Chandra Pal Audium.

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