Sponsorship for dance programmes

Subashini Pathmanathan

To preserve, protect and promote the traditional art forms is the utmost duty of the society. Still each society wants to preserve and protect their own culture and tradition to maintain their own identity in the world cultural map. Today the traditional cultural field all over the world is facing numerous challenges. Naturally the art world all over the world is struggling to meet the demands at both ends.

The past cultural history as well as the present era data provides sufficient information about the hardships of the artistes of the art field. Most of the outstanding scholars, poets, lyric composers, sculptors, actors, artists, and artistes in numerous art fields are not at all belonged to the very affluent section of the society. How much they are talented many of times due to their limited financial resources prevent their overall progress in life.

And sometimes due to their personal difficulties also prevent them to come up in life or to cherish their own individual and exceptional artistic talents. Majority of the artistes are from average middle class families. And among them a handful of them use to come up in life by their own untiring efforts and self determination with their limited financial resources. Today to develop the art world financial resources are very much needed.

Here in Sri Lanka many personal talents of the artistes have never got a chance to come into limelight. Many of times tremendous contributions of these artistes are not at all recognized by the public.

Hence to display the individual talents and skills of the artistes, the artistes all over the world are always looking for financial sponsors for their shows. But the scope of getting financial sponsors for the classical dance shows is very limited or totally remote.

However some of the leading print media as well as some electronic media are always liberally giving media sponsors to the Bharatha Natya programmes. It is really praiseworthy that certain organizations provide media sponsors to all, without any discrimination. Such gesture is loudly appreciable.

At this present era numerous financial sponsors are given for various activities except for classical shows. More sponsors are given to the open-air light music shows and sports, rather than classical dances.

Some local organizations conduct monthly full moon day classical dance programmes to popularize their organization. They mainly and specially bring down alien artistes to the island. By and large such attitude of certain organization won't help Sri Lankan art world.

Many of times majority of the state sponsored Bharatha Natya programmes are often given to certain Colombo based individual teachers again and again for past number of years. So many opportunities were given to certain individual teachers. However in between here and there a few chances were given to some outsiders just for an eyewash, but majority of the state sponsored programmes were given to one and the same Colombo based teacher again and again for a number of years. Colombo based teachers anyhow have considerable chances to have their programmes because they have their dance schools in and around Colombo. Hence no need to provide much chances to these teachers.

Generally these dance programmes are always organized by a certain state department. Chances of the state Bharatha Natyam programmes should be given to all Island wide. Most of the North and East under privileged students have no way of dancing at the Colombo stages. It is a lifelong dream for these youngsters to perform in the capital city stages. At least in future the state sponsored programmes should be given to all equally. Meanwhile Sri Lankan Tamil traditional folk dances (Koothu forms) also must be given considerable place in the state sponsored programmes.

The bureaucrats who are holding responsible state positions should not be allowed to attend as chief guest or guest of honour in the cultural events of the private teachers' programmes, until they are in the state service. Participating in private programmes might lead to misunderstandings and malpractices. Personal friendship should not be promoted at state expenses.

Many talented Bharatha Natya artistes are living Island wide in a neglected condition.