KATHMANDU: “Language used to create problems, but once I overcame this barrier it has been a great fun and opportunity to be here with Gurukul,” Linnea Stegmark said excitedly sharing her experience of participating in a day-long workshop with Aarohan Gurukul theatre group on March 13.

Stegmark, a dance teacher, had come to Nepal with a team of high school students from Norway. Along with her were 17 students of theatre studying in Seljord Folkehogskule in Norway and their team leader Roar Boeye. These students performed dance, sang songs and also enjoyed the Nepali theatrical performance together with the artistes of Gurukul in an informal programme organised at Gurukul on the same day.

“We got a chance to know a lot about the Nepali people and culture and even about Nepali theatre,” Boeye expressed. “In fact we had planned to do something in solidarity as a part of annual programme of our high school which brought us here to Nepal with Gurukul,” he added.

The Norwegian team presented a musical where dance and song were accompanied by dialogues. Meanwhile the Nepali team presented Kachahari, a play based on the theme of corruption that is prevalent in the government offices of Nepal.

The most interesting part of the whole event was when the Norwegian team danced to the Nepali folk song Balla paryo nirmaya and the way they sang Resham firiri in clear Nepali tone. All those present were pleasantly surprised to see this.

“Their visit to Nepal was planned almost a year ago, and we have seen it as an opportunity to share culture and experience with each other,” stated

Sunil Pokharel, artistic director

of Gurukul.