The children are from three local schools - the Red Cross School, Rewachand Bhojwani Academy and Akshay Nandan. The show is the brainchild of Losita Bhattacharya, a classical dancer trained in Odissi and choreographer of this presentation. With Anand Modak doing the music score, it has been coordinated by Vinita Randive, a special educator, and managed by V.O.I.C.E.

``Most of the children do use hearing aids, but their hearing power is only about 10 to 30 per cent of the normal. While they can gauge a change in the music played to them, they cannot pick up high-frequency sounds,'' explains Losita. Which is why the scores for their ballet had to have more low-frequency sounds like those from percussion instruments like the tabla. Anand Modak, who is interested in composing music for the hearing-impaired, had some such pre-recorded scores. These were touched up for this particular performance.

``We decided on a mythological story, as that could allow us to add a classical touch. The story of Ganesh's birth is common knowledge. Explaining it to them in parts, we used Amar Chitra Katha comics. The roles were allotted, and then came the difficult part: helping them pick up the beat and rhythm. They know how to count, so beginning with a four-count beat, we'd tap them on the palm, press their hands, basically communicate through touch,'' she adds.

Ensuring the children's concentration was not easy. Which is why they started on a low-count beat. But seeing how quickly they picked it up, they graduated to seven counts, which is used for many semi-classical dances. And the practice commenced at the Red Cross school premises. ``The principal, Rani Parasnis, was most enthusiastic about the entire affair,'' says Losita.

A narrator was needed to keep the story together, and instead of having somebody read a script, the Friend's Puppet Group was roped in to perform the role of Sutradhar. As the curtains open on this unique performance, the children deserve a rousing round of applause.