Taal Raises Record Funds
Friday 16 and Saturday 17 March saw over 250 Bancroftians from Thirds to Upper Sixth take part in the annual Taal event. With its fusion of dancing, music and acting, Taal is more than just another School production, it brings a touch of Bollywood colour and glamour to Bancroft’s. Over 16 years it has grown to become an integral and much anticipated fixture in our calendar as well as an important part of the School’s cultural life. The event is totally student driven with members of the Bancroft’s Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Muslim Society (HSBM Society) writing, choreographing and directing the event. The students assume full responsibility for everything, from finding sponsorship from local businesses to sourcing costumes.
Daffodil Dhayaa, U6 student and one of the Presidents of Bancroft’s HSBM Society, said how important Taal has become, “I’ve been involved in Taal since year 7, either through acting or dancing. The most rewarding part of the Taal is seeing the cast grow, the dances develop and the actors gain confidence on the stage. Seeing the show piece together before my eyes was certainly the most rewarding part, the sense of accomplishment that came with seeing the production we had put together is indescribable.” Daffodil wrote this year’s Taal play, which was a loose modern day adaptation of Aladdin, complete with Genie, played with exuberance by Thevaguru Swarnaprabna.
Taal is a major fund raiser for charities and this year it is supporting three charities. United World Schools, a charity which is transforming the lives of some of the poorest and most vulnerable children in the World through educational opportunities; money raised will support Bancroft’s partner school in Cambodia. Pan Asian Women’s Association, which provides education for teenage girls in 32 Asian countries aiming to lift these girls out of poverty, and SOS Children’s Villages which aim to give orphaned and abandoned children a family, a community and a future. This year Taal raised an incredible £27,000 (twenty seven thousand pounds) to support these three very worthwhile causes.
I was so pleased to have been invited to Taal. The students showed so much talent and enthusiasm and gave a magical theatrical performance full of wonderful music and dancing. Cultural events like this help bring our communities together and help us celebrate the cultural diversity which is in the Borough
Councillor Linda Huggett, Mayor of Redbridge
The Saturday night’s performance, which was preceded by an Indian meal prepared by the Bancroft’s catering team, saw Councillor Linda Huggett, Mayor of Redbridge in attendance who enthused about the evening, Head, Mr Simon Marshall described Taal as a “wonderful celebration and a tremendous student-led effort. It was also a fantastic achievement to raise so much money for charities.”
