​Performing artistes join hands, demand reopening of auditoriums

Lockdown has come as a cruel blow to the artiste community. Seeking relief from it and voice their plight, performing artistes like dancers and choreographers today came together at city based Balgandharva Rangmandir. Dressed up in colorful costumes usually they wear for dance, the artistes put their issues and demands on placards on the occasion. Meghraj Rajebhosale, president, Nritya Parishad Maharashtra and Akhil Bhartiya Chitrapat Mahamandal who led the initiative to attract the attention towards artistes' plight said, "Since last six months auditoriums are closed resulting no shows for the artistes. Also dance classes are shut hence loss of income for the longer period. As everything is unlocking then why not auditoriums and dance classes can be reopened for the artistes community? We are appealing the government to open the auditoriums with SOP. We are ready to conduct shows with even as low as 50 percent of auditorium's capacity.” The dancers have already lost income from programmes organized during Ganpati festival. “Artistes with their performances entertained everybody during a boring lockdown period now as the unlocking process has begun they are the most neglected part of the society. We have already lost on income during summer and Ganpati festival. Many of us are solely dependent on the dance programmes. Due to closure of auditoriums it has become difficult to survive,” shares Shraddha Sathe, choreographer and performer. Choreographers who earn their bread and butter by running dance classes are seeking permission to reopen the classes. Jatin Pandey, Choreographer said, “In lockdown many things shifted online, schools, colleges and even some courses. We also started taking dance classes online. However, after starting soon we figured out that it's not feasible. One needs to be present physically to teach what is Taal and Laya. For beginners, it's very difficult to understand what the dance teacher is trying to explain online.” adding his personal experience Nikhil Kamble another choreographer said, "There is lot of distraction for students as well as for a teacher. Also, monitoring whether the step is correct or not on a small screen is quite difficult. Also we need to correct the steps and posture which need physical presence at times. Considering these practical difficulties many parents also backout from the online classes and we hardly had a student. We have rents to pay and some of us have EMIs. If we get permission to restart dance classes we can do it seamlessly by following norms." The representatives have already contacted the government and soon there will be next round of meeting