Archive

A group of 19 seven-year-olds have chanced upon a treasure chest full of jewels. It was stolen from Princess Zara by goblins. With teachers Anuradha Sanghavi and Shalmali Dave guiding the discussion, they are looking for ways to return the box that is in front of them to the Princess. The 10.30 a.m. session is in progress at ‘Centrestage with Anahita Dastoor,’ "the educational boutique” at Santa Cruz when Parsiana visits on April 5, 2017.
Ideas thrown up by the little minds vary from "Let’s Google her,” and "Let us go to the palace, the king will give us a reward” to "We should go to the police” and "Let’s email her from clues in the chest!” The teachers gently veer away the conversation from the "We should keep the jewels” option and ask if keeping the treasure is good practice. The little heads shake to indicate an overwhelming "No.” The child who suggested that option is now in agreement. The book-lined room, with furniture designed for children, later becomes the backdrop for a presentation to be made to their parents in late April. They are rehearsing a short sketch they will be going on stage with, in the next few weeks. Outside, the cheery foyer decorated with bright posters is home to three resident cats — Lulu, Bagheera and Brandy, and a one-and-a-half-year old Dalmation Leo, the newest addition to the center. The pets make for a homely atmosphere, and "also help shy children open up,” says Dastoor. 

 

 

 

 

 

Centrestage offers grooming in three suites — drama, communication skills and spoken English. Drama offers group improvisations and story-telling. "We help develop language skills through poetry recitation, play writing and role plays,” states Dastoor over coffee in one of the vacant class rooms. The "child-led approach” to puppetry, acting, script writing and costume designing encourages the development of creativity,” according to her, as children "respond imaginatively to a range of pretend situations.” Public speaking using audiovisual aids and non-verbal communication "enhances listening and concentration skills,” adds the educator. The spoken English stream prepares students for all 10 grades of the Trinity College of London Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE). To complete the drama and communication skills exams of the College, students need to pass eight grades, she mentions. Many students stay on for completing all the grades for all the three streams of drama, communication skills and spoken English.
As a Trinity certified teacher since 2008, Centrestage’s website states that Dastoor is the first Indian examiner to conduct examinations in India. Also in Thailand and Malaysia, she informs us. Earlier the College would fly down examiners from the UK, she states. "Now students of Centrestage can take their exams right here at this location,” she notes. The College in London is an international examination board that has been providing assessments since 1877. Exams may be taken in acting and speaking, communication skills and spoken English (in addition to the performing arts) at three levels — foundation, intermediate and advanced. Successful candidates receive certificates showing their level of achievement as pass, merit and distinction.
While she has been in the teaching profession since 1982, conducting private classes from her parents’ home in Santa Cruz and teaching speech and drama at Arya Vidya Mandir and Jamnabai Narsee Schools in parallel, she set up ‘Centrestage with Anahita Dastoor’ only in January 2015. "I now have a second home here,” she says, waving at the four classrooms.

 

 

 

 

Dastoor tells us that her staff consists of 14 teachers, of which a dozen are her past students. Fees for each student are Rs 1,750 per month, and the students come in one day a week. There is a waiting list of 2,000, she smiles. "I don’t want to overstretch — I want to take in only that many students as we can do justice to.” Currently 700 students avail of Centerstages’ courses. Explaining that she is very hands on, the educator states that she allows her teachers a significant say in how to go about the curriculum: "‘You tell me how you would like to teach this module,’ I say to them. Each teacher has a different idea about teaching the same module.” Dastoor makes notes while each class is on, popping in and out to see if things are on course. "Feedback for each teacher is very necessary,” she says, excusing herself to pop into an ongoing class, before returning in about 10 minutes.
Centrestage offers the same curriculum to children from economically-challenged segments of society. "They drop whatever they can in a drop-box… sometimes Rs 50 per month,” she says. Currently there are only a handful of such students. "I am keen to take many more.” Centrestage extends its facilities to stay-at-home moms of children too. There are sometimes housewives who may not be fluent in English and may want to be part of their husband’s and children’s lives. "For them we have intensive eight-week courses where the focus is not on speaking correctly: we provide inputs for communication skills and confidence building.”
The great-granddaughter of Ervad (Dr) Sir Jivanji Modi, scholar and community leader, Dastoor’s father Kaikobad retired from the engineering department of Air India, while mother Dhun is a home maker. Brother Hoshedar who lives and works in Germany partially financed the infrastructure at Centrestage. "Not as a gift, I am paying it back,” smiles the teacher. Husband Aneel Katiyar manages his own advertising agency that makes ad films and event promotions. "And all the children associated with Centrestage at any point are mine,” she adds.
Aneel "is the one with the head for numbers — I stay away from accounts as much as I can,” states the teacher. It was Katiyar who first wrote to Parsiana informing the magazine about Centrestage. "I was happy conducting my classes from my mother’s house,” muses Dastoor. "It was he who goaded me into setting up this center,” she avers. An alumna of Maneckji Cooper School and Mithibai College, Dastoor has fond memories of her teacher at Besant Montessori in Juhu — Jer Garda, who "sort of spotted my flair for drama.” It was Garda who goaded the Dastoors to groom their daughter in the field of communications, she adds.
Maybe she will have another center by 2025, states the communications teacher — "one more space” where I can be with more children and get them "to be well spoken,” ends Dastoor. She can be contacted at anahita@centrestageworks.com