Margazhi's Dance Drama - Show Slots in Sabhas Are Being Sold-Off Defying Merit - The News Minute

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Margazhis dance drama: Show slots in sabhas are being sold-off

defying merit
Call out the bluff that is this application process. Call out corrupt practices in this
business of dance.
Monday, December 28, 2015 - 16:06
(/)
(whatsapp://send?
text=Margazhis
dance
drama:
Show
By Arian Zwegers
slots via Wikimedia Commons
in
By Dr Swarnamalya
Ganesh
sabhas
The writer is a dancer,

are dance historian and Fulbright Fellow.
being
This years December season is one of the most difficult ones to participate in or follow
soldfor some of us. But even as we begin picking up the pieces after the deluge and
off
devastation, some of the harsh realities in the business of dance that I had temporarily
defying
KWWSZZZWKHQHZVPLQXWHFRPDUWLFOHPDUJD]KL(VGDQFHGUDPDVKRZVORWVVDEKDVDUHEHLQJVROGGHI\LQJPHULW

defying
blocked out of my mind seem to resurface.
merit
I recently
read agood article
http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/margazhi%E2%80%99s(http://www.deccanchronicle.com/151216/nation-currentdanceaffairs/article/unravelling-art-and-industrydramabharatanatyam)written
by a festival organizer, about the
showeconomics of slotsdance during the December season. Even as artistes
sabhashallucinate about
traversing in an imaginary world of arts for arts sake,
are- part of a business and an industry. In the already
they are in reality
beinghigh expenditure
industry, that dance is, there is another alarming new
soldtrend.
defying-
When a fresh meritdebutant who has finished her of hisarangetramaspires

to perform on37130)
stage, the advice given by their teachers, family
members and friends is to apply to the sabhas of the city for a slot in
the December festival. They are asked to submit a bio-data and
photograph with a letter of interest to every sabha as that is the norm.
They may, in some cases, receive an acknowledgement for their
submission from the sabhas.
The general belief is that sabhas are scouting agencies for fresh talents.
Therefore, young dancers hold their breath for over nine months (they
are asked to apply at least nine months in advance) to see if their
talent gets recognized. They hope against hope that they will get an
opportunity because they have put in extra effort to achieve that
beautifularaimandi(basic stance in Bharatanatyam), spent all their
hard earned internship money in stitching a new silk costume or

begged their father to let them attend an expensive workshop

conducted in some exotic city so that they can learn
onevarnamortillanawhich they yearn to perform.
The month of August comes and they hear their peers talk about their
December season concerts already. No letter in sight, they console
themselves saying this must be the first list, and await the second one.
September passes by, in deafening silence from sabha quarters. Comes
October and November and it rains announcements about season
performances, of dancers they know, and they dont, young and old.
Disappointed, the young dancer picks up courage to call the sabha
secretary. Sir, my name is so and so, I had applied in March this year
for a slot. To this comes the customary reply but all the slots are filled
up, my dear. Do apply next year at least a month in advance, in
February itself. But there is a rider, By the way do drop a word to so
and so dancer or dance-guru. She/he is in charge of all our slots. Hope
you are in their good books?
What? How can a particular dancer or dance-guru be in charge for all
the slots in a sabha? How is this selection process democratic or
independent if a particular dancer chooses who all must and mustnt
perform in a sabha? Must one necessarily know this person to perform
at all? Would it help if I call that dancer or guru and butter them up?
How is this fair? Keep asking the questions, and you will find that the
final answer is moolah.
As we often hear, sabhas claim they incur losses while they conduct a
dance festival. No ticket sales, not enough audiences and several other
such excuses are given. To solve their problems have arrived a new

savior class amongst the art fraternity, the ones with the money.
I have discovered recently that some of the citys prominent sabhas
have allowed the underwriting of their entire selection process and
program allocation for a fixed fee. By doing this they are offered a
minimum guarantee amount for running the seasonal festival by a
dancer or dance-guru, who then becomes the kingpin in the selection
of artistes. This basically covers the sabhas costs and perhaps even
gives them a bit of a profit. Meantime, these underwriters, most of
whom are prominent dance teachers or dancers or sometimes even
publicists, start to distribute all the slots they have bought, either to
their own students for a hefty fee or their favourite dancers or dancers
who are in their good favors. They also sell it to other dancers who will
pay the fixed price.
This sort of wholesale selling of slots to such agents (guised as
advisors) is a further abyss in the moral corruption that the field faces.
Must we continue to turn a blind eye to blatant overthrowing of merit
-based selection in art and reconcile to lobbying, favouritism and quid
pro quo? The kind of money given to sabhas for underwriting, runs to
several lakhs. Therefore, these agents engage in corporate lobbying to
bring in high returns for their investments. They flaunt their
connections and become high-stake rollers in the society and in this
business, both as a performer/teacher and as an agent.
The sabha and its officers feel relieved, perhaps that they dont have to
run around for slot allocation, sieving through hundreds and
thousands of applications from aspirants. And more importantly, their
financial commitments are well taken care off with the deposit of

minimum guarantees. So the sabha is a mere principle, lending its

name to the festival while these underwriters or program agents take
over the rest. Of course the secretary or other office bearers may have
an occasional say over the choice of some artistes, particularly their
regulars and seniors, as also the chief patrons and sponsors may have
their say. But that apart, the selection is a sham, placed entirely in the
hands of a single dancers or dance guru in whose mercy scores of
young aspirants are thrown. In this game of thrones, who is looking at
your application, bio-data or DVD sample? Wake up young dancers
dont waste your stationary from next January, over such sabhas. Call
out the bluff that is this application process. Call out corrupt practices
in this business of dance.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this articles are the personal
opinions of the author. The News Minute is not responsible for the
accuracy, completeness, suitability or validity of any information in this
article. The information, facts or opinions appearing in this article do
not reflect the views of The News Minute and The News Minute does
not assume any liability for the same.

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