ment ▁for ▁the ▁Arts , ▁National ▁Dance ▁Project , ▁California ▁Arts ▁Council , ▁Rock ef eller ▁Foundation , ▁Ir v ine ▁Fellow ships ▁in ▁Dance , ▁among ▁others . ▁ ▁Ser ving ▁society ▁through ▁the ▁arts ▁Das ▁began ▁working ▁with ▁the ▁New ▁Light ▁Foundation , ▁a ▁Kol k ata - based ▁N GO ▁that ▁works ▁to ▁free ▁the ▁children ▁of ▁red - light ▁district ▁workers ▁from ▁the ▁cycle ▁of ▁prost itution ▁and ▁ab use ▁through ▁support ▁services , ▁education ▁and ▁care , ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 3 . ▁ ▁Das ▁and ▁the ▁teachers ▁of ▁Nr ity a ▁B har ati ▁taught ▁the ▁children ▁of ▁the ▁New ▁Light ▁Foundation ▁Kath ak ▁dance ▁as ▁a ▁means ▁for ▁cultural ▁and ▁self - aw aren ess ▁and ▁emp ower ment . ▁ ▁The ▁New ▁Light ▁group ▁was ▁invited ▁by ▁the ▁German ▁Ministry ▁of ▁Culture ▁and ▁International ▁Co operation ▁to ▁be ▁a ▁part ▁of ▁Kinder ▁K ulture ▁Kar av ane ; ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 8 , ▁the ▁New ▁Light ▁children ▁travel led ▁to ▁Germany ▁for ▁a ▁ 6 - week ▁performing ▁tour . ▁ ▁Das ▁also ▁worked ▁with ▁the ▁Cal cut ta ▁Bl ind ▁Opera ▁( or ▁Sh y amb azar ▁Bl ind ▁Opera ), ▁teaching ▁Kath ak ▁to ▁vis ually ▁challeng ed ▁perform ers ▁through ▁emphas is ▁on ▁its ▁rh yth mic ▁and ▁musical ▁components . ▁ ▁Das ' s ▁teach ings ▁emphas ized ▁the ▁concepts ▁of ▁‘ ty a ag ▁aur ▁seva ’ ▁( s ac rifice ▁and ▁self less ▁service ). ▁