Rotary Club of Plainsboro (RCOP): Since 2008, RCOP has started an annual tradition of a Spring Dance Festival, which also happens to be our major fund raiser. Over the years, we have been hosting this event and it has grown from strength to strength. This year the event was hosted on May 11, 2013 at the Cross Roads Middle School, North Campus in South Brunswick, NJ.
The club started the dance competition primarily to encourage local dance schools in Middlesex and Mercer counties. The dance schools teach young adults to learn traditional and fusion dance forms of India. Through dance, young adults are taught commitment, integrity and responsibility towards the community. This year several local dance schools came forward to participate and the club had to turn away a few! RCOP's past dance competition events were very well attended and as the Director of the event Mr. Pronob Gupta aptly put it -- we will have "standing room only". This year, 9 dance schools have confirmed participation. They will be competing in the fusion and traditional dance forms and trophies will be awarded for each category for all three groups – minor, junior, and senior. About 175 young adult dancers will be participating in the event. Dances are choreographed by dance teachers of the said schools and are judged by senior dance teachers from the tri-state area.
RCOP also publishes a brochure with advertisements from sponsors and well wishers. Proceeds from the funds collected are used for taking up local and international projects. For example, the Jaipur Limb project has a major community impact in India. A single camp of the Jaipur Limb project typically helps about 2000 people to get artificial limbs and calipers. This dance competition itself involves our Interact Club and spreads awareness about us and the Rotary Club among the parents and friends of the participants in the local community. On an average RCOP has raised about $10,000 through this event every year they have had it. A lot of commitment and dedication goes into organizing the dance competition. This year, the Director of the event, Mr. Pronob Gupta has spearheaded the effort with guidance from past president Mr. Sunil Nambiar under the leadership of RCOP’s current president Mr. Mahalingam Narayanan.