Project – Superstar

Project – SUPERSTAR

ADOPT A DANCER – MAKE A SUPER STAR

Inspired by my friend Abhijit Pradhan who started his own venture of executive coaching as – recognizing the superstar in you and creating or making superstars I decided to work on the similar concept in the field that I am extremely passionate about – DANCE.

The cause of propagating and perpetuating the dance art has remained in the areas of organising performances, festivals and teaching. The guru-shishya parampara has become irrelevant and the concept of teaching has changed drastically. The percentage of young and talented to take up performing as a profession is close to .0001% . The mindset of the parents who are not agreeable to their children taking dancing as a profession is one of the main reasons. To aid this, the child has to prepare for another profession and still learn the art form as a co-curricular activity.
To support the talent financially is one part of the problem or requirement the main issue is bringing the talent in touch or contact with the right kind of mentor/teacher, where the talent receives all round training. The focus is not on imparting knowledge but on preparing and honing them to become professional dancers. Most of today’s professional dancers learnt on the way and had to stumble upon solutions and methods to make their presentations professional.
Project – SUPERSTAR will address the process of creating professional dancers.
The entire process will last for one year following which the scholar will be on a one year contract with the mentoring organisation where they will be presented in various festivals and programs setting their career in motion.
The process:
1. Identifying gurus
2. Auditions for scholars
3. Bring the teacher and scholar in touch
4. Creating a plan of action
5. The training process
6. Funding

1. IDENTIFYING THE GURUS: Each guru will work with two scholars for the duration of 12 months. The training will begin with two months of practicing and working on the foundations – adavus, jathis etc. The next 6-8 months will include learning of set of 4-5 items from the Margam format. The concluding two months will be spent in understanding performance requirements, music and musicians, aesthetics, stage, lights, make up, costume etc.

2. AUDITIONS: There will be a stringent audition process by a core group of gurus and mentors. The scholars will be taken through a selection process of theory and practical tests. The scholar will have to possess complete dedication and passion to make it on the concert stage as a performer of calibre.

3. GURU – SHISHYA: Identifying individual gurus for relevant shishyas along with additional mentoring in allied subjects and issues will be an important task. Bearing in mind that we will not tamper with their basic style as much as possible, yet using corrective methods to enhance their dance, the shishya will be assigned to the team of gurus.

4. ACTION PLAN: The year- long training will be carefully thought of and will give the shishya the opportunity to prepare thoroughly to enter the professional arena of dance. The entire duration will be two years where in the first year the shishya trains and prepares and the second year we present them across the country at appropriate platforms showcasing their talent and prowess. A consolidated plan including the main dance training, theoretical knowledge, musical knowledge and approach towards dance, make up/costume/jewellery, stage/lights/sound/decor, compering and presentation, PR and publicity, Dance etiquette and social connecting etc. The shishya will be under contract that will entail them to be loyal towards the project and will be signed only after ascertaining the level of talent, passion and dedication they have towards dance ensuring that deserving candidates do not miss the opportunity.

5. TRAINING PROCESS: The team of gurus will include practising Gurus who will take turns in amalgamating and imparting required training to the group of shishyas. They will not only train but work in tandem to evaluate the progress, areas of intense training if required, supporting the shishyas in every way to build confidence and bring in them the required skills and strengths. The shishyas will be exposed to all the aspects – music/musicians – vocal/instrumental/percussion, stage – decor/lights/sound, make-up/costume, others like compering/planning etc.

6. FUNDING: Inevitably every projects success and ability to run depends on the financial aspect. Each shishya will require:
a. Remuneration to Gurus for the training , time and energy
b. Transport allowance
c. Stipend or learning incentive

This endeavor will see the light of day if each of the shishyas has a god-father/mother who adopts them and contributes to make these talented dancers professional performers. They will be making a huge and significant gesture in supporting this venture. We have been talking about creating the next generation of super stars but have never put a concentrated effort towards the making interns of training or supporting the shishyas and gurus. They have a great deal of limitations and in the process some where they fall out. We have failed to take it up with a vengeance. The need of the hour is to create the next Padma Subramanium, Birju Maharaj, Yamini Krishnamurthy, Sonal Mansingh etc. With the support of this project the guru and shishya will be left to do what they do best – train and learn!!!!

PLEASE APPLY FOR AUDITIONS . MAIL YOUR BIODATA ALONG WITH ALL THE DETAILS (GURU/YEARS OF TRAINING/ PERFOMING/ETC) TO makeasuperstar2013@gmail.com
The project auditions will be held on May 18 & 19, 2013 at:
Kalasindhu Academy for Dance and Related Arts
#12, 1st East Main Road
ITI layout, Near Vidyapeetha Circle
Banashankari – 2nd Stage
Bangalore – 560070, Karnataka, India

The candidates will have to perform a varnam for the audition (recorded music is acceptable.)

RULES:
1. PLEASE NOTE THAT SELECTION CRITERIA FOR AUDITIONS AND THE PROJECT IS LEFT TO THE DISCRETION
OF THE CORE GROUP
2. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY WILL BE GIVEN TO MALE AND FEMALE DANCERS
3. THE CANDIDATE MUST BE AN INDIAN NATIONAL AND WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF BANGALORE FOR ANY LEGAL PURPOSE
4. CANDIDATES WILL HAVE A MINIMUM OF 10 YEARS TRAINING IN THE DANCE STYLE
5. THE CANDIDATE WILL BE NOT LESS THAN 21 YEARS OF AGE
6. ON SELECTION IT WILL BE MANDATORY TO FINISH THE PROJECT AND THEY CANNOT DROP OUT WITH OUT A VALID REASON IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CORE GROUP. In case of dropping out the candidate will have to reimburse the project fee to the project as a penalty.
7. THE PROJECT WILL ONLY OFFER TRAINING AND WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR BOARDING AND LODGING ETC
8. THE CANDIDATES WILL MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR NOT INDULGING IN SMOKING/DRINKING ALCOHOL OR ACTIVITIES UNACCEPTABLE TO THE CORE GROUP
9. THE CANDIDATE WILL PROCURE A NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATE FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE GURU
10. THE CANDIDATE WILL NOT ATTEND ANY OTHER WORKSHOPS OR TRAIN UNDER ANY OTHER GURU DURING THE TENURE OF THE PROJECT.
11. THE CANDIDATES WILL FOLLOW ALL THE CRITERIA AND REGULATIONS PRESCRIBED POST THEIR SELECTION AND SIGN A SIMPLE CONTRACT ENSURING THEIR FINISHING THE PROJECT AND PERFORMING FOR THE PROJECT IN THE ENSUING YEAR.

CORE GROUP:
Led by:
USHA RK
GURUS:
POORNIMA ASHOK
POORNIMA GURURAJ
SATHYANARAYANA RAJU