More auditoriums, cultural hotspots on 2014 wish list

NAVI MUMBAI: Music, dance and art festivals are becoming increasingly commonplace in the city. However, the grudge many performing artists have is the lack of quality auditoriums and amphitheatres.
They claim the ones present are not good enough to hold an event of the magnitude of a Kalaghoda or Prithvi festival. So, high on their wish list for the New Year are more auditoriums and cultural hotspots.
But going by what mayor Sagar Naik said, it seems lovers of art and culture will soon have a lot to rejoice.
"The civic body will hold a competitive cultural festival in February. There will be categories like music, Indian and Western dance and folk performances. In January, we will notify the details and accept online registrations," he said.
In mid-February, civic body will start renovating the Vishnudas Bhave auditorium. One more auditorium, with a capacity of 960 seats, in Airoli will also be coming up soon.
Gayatri Subramanian, noted Bharatnatyam dance guru from Vashi, will host a dance festival at Urban Haat on December 29. She said, "There are just one or two auditoriums that are up to the mark. But getting a date is nearly impossible."
"Some of the cultural hotspots lack basic infrastructure. The ones that have a lot of space are too expensive," said Rupesh Mirkar, a choreographer and performer from New Panvel.