Nritya Academy chief mum over delay in exams

More than 10,000 students are left in lurch

When thousands of students are left in lurch due to the delay in the exams for music and dance streams, Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy Chairperson Vaijayanti Kashi too has remained tight lipped about the issue.

In an interaction with the music and dance artistes in the city on Sunday, the Chairperson said that the exams will be conducted, however she refused to clarify as to when the exam will be held and who will take the responsibility of co-ordinating it.

“As per an agreement in the government level, the Secondary Education Board has handed over the responsibility of conducting the exam to Gangubai Hanagal Music University.

But the fact is that the University has not yet prepared to conduct the exam for over 10,000 students. There are possibilities of the Secondary Education Board conducting the exam this year. The decision will be taken,” said Vaijayanti Kashi.

When asked about the functioning of the Academy, she said as the government appointed members to the Academy recently, after almost an year of her assuming the power, she could not carry out any work.

A music and dance fest will be organised in Mysore in November. Every team will be given an opportunity to perform for 10 minutes in the festival venue. Plans are also on to organise music and dance workshops in Navodaya schools on the lines of Spic Macay.

The music and dance teachers should send their students for the success of this programme. All the artistes should furnish their details to the Academy in order to build a relationship with the Academy, she insisted.

Artistes’ grievances

Several senior artistes from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasargod districts who participated in the interaction came up with the problems faced by the artistes in this region and appealed the Academy Chairperson to solve the issues.

Senior music teacher Sheela Divakar requested to make special accommodation arrangements for the women judges who attend the dance and music exams. Along with the senior artistes from the State, artistes from North India too should be invited in large number to evaluate the students, she requested.

Senior dance teacher Sumangala Ratnakar requested the Academy chief to conduct the exams in only those schools having necessary facilities. The trend of the junior artistes judging the Vidwath exam should be stopped, she urged.