Dhenkanal: Amid the rise of the deadly COVID-19 outbreak throughout Dhenkanal district, the performing artistes here are passing through very tough times. The precarious situation has staggered their respective fiscal standings to a great extent.
Dance pandals no longer attract classical dance admirers, following imposition of shutdown restrictions. With the rapid spurt in COVID cases, denizens are skeptical of venturing out to socio-cultural gatherings of any kind thereby putting a brake on performing arts.
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Dhenkanal district is considered as a treasure-trove of performing arts, which has given it an identity across the country. There are about 14 traditional folk dance forms that exist in the district,
It is known that, over 30,000 performing artistes are directly or indirectly dependent on these folk dance forms. Apart from the above, nearly 500 artistes have been performing on stages. About 200 cultural organisations in the district and 50 organisations in Dhenkanal town have been promoting such artistes.
Interestingly, Dhenkanal district has received state-level recognition for as many as three times in past days for preservation of folk dance forms.
However, everything has come to a standstill after COVID-19 outbreak. Performing artistes are not sure as to when they would go back to stages. Several local performing artistes have demanded the state government support in days ahead.
On being contacted, coordinator of Zilla Sanskrutik Parishad Abani Mishra said, “Art and culture have no alternative. All round attempts should be made for their revival. The future of performing artistes is now in doldrums, amid COVID-19 outbreak”.
Hundreds of national level performing artistes are present in Dhenkanal district. The state government should be proactive to protect them, thereby protecting our art and culture, Mishra added.
PNN