The 22nd Raindrops Festival of Indian classical dance could not have come at a better time, for Mumbai is just warming up to the rains.

The carpet area of the billboards advertising Doordarshan’s archival collection at its New Delhi headquarters, Akashwani Bhawan, exceeds by far, the area occupied by the booth selling these priceless

When an opportunity to create dance forces a dancer to confront her raison d’être, it is indeed a gratifying moment. A day away from showcasing their work publicly, at least two of five residents of the Gati Summer Dance Residency 2012 share this feeling.

Over the centuries, all physical or performative traditions in India have undergone massive shifts in form, context and symbolism. Of them all, the martial arts have been the forms experiencing this metamorphosis of purpose most acutely.

Over the centuries, all physical or performative traditions in India have undergone massive shifts in form, context and symbolism. Of them all, the martial arts have been the forms experiencing this metamorphosis of purpose most acutely.

An oft-narrated story about the dancer Chandralekha talks of the alienating experience she had during her arangetram in the 50s. Its proceeds went to the Rayalaseema drought relief fund.

An oft-narrated story about the dancer Chandralekha talks of the alienating experience she had during her arangetram in the 50s.

Nothwithstanding its many problems, the dance scene is suffused by a general sense of well-being. Dancers are performing in “India and abroad”. All is well. Where do we go from here?

The story begins about two weeks ago, when dance lovers were given a compelling reason to rejoice. A kind soul uploaded the entire film Bala (1976), by Satyajit Ray, on YouTube.

Young artistes are often rewarded with scholarships and fellowships that further their training, but there are few awards that recognise them as practitioners making a valuable contribution to the arts they have pursued. In this direction, the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar instituted by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2006 is an important step towards opening up the arts and making young performing artistes feel more welcome by acknowledging their significance.