Dancers Demand the Resignation of the President of the Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy
“Why are Female Dancers ignored?”
Female dancers in Karnataka have expressed their anger and vexation over the lack of emphasis on female dancers at an event organised by the Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2021.
The issue is regarding the snubbing of female dancers on the occasion of International Women’s Day Celebrations organised by the Karnataka government’s cultural departments, which are supposed to adhere to international standards. It has become a current hot topic of discussion in the art and culture fraternity. There is a strong pitch from the female dancers demanding the immediate resignation of the president of the Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy, along with the members of the Committee.
Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy is organising a day-long music programme on 8 March 2021, from 9 AM to 9 PM. Unfortunately, there is no representation of dance in the International Women’s Day Celebrations organised by a music and dance academy.
Several dancers have been asking, “Why are female dancers ignored?”
“A president from the field of music always snubs dancers, and it is a great insult on International Women’s Day,” states a dancer from Karnataka, adding, “they do not provide female dancers in Karnataka adequate programmes. This is how the government body, Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy, is functioning under Sri Anoor Anantha Krishna Sharma, president of the Academy. He should immediately resign for insulting female dancers. This is the height of negligence shown towards female dancers in the academy which is supposed to uphold artists from both music and dance. We need justice.”
Dancers in Karnataka have been requesting the state government to separate dance from the music and dance academy in order to give the dance its due respect. Earlier, Sai Venkatesh, President of Karnataka Dance Arts Council and other members from Karnataka Nritya Kala Parishat and Federation of Karnataka Classical Dancers, met B. S. Yeddyurappa, Chief Minister of Karnataka and Arvind Limbavali, Minister of Kannada and Culture of Karnataka to submit their representation.
