HP: Artists from across country gather at all India drama and dance competition in Shimla

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], June 8 : Five-day long all India drama and dance competition at Shimla is drawing the attention of artists from all parts of India.
Over 1,200 artists from 20 different Indian states have gathered in the North Indian hill town Shimla for the 69th annual dance and drama competition organised by the All India Art Association. The organisers said that with an objective to promote National Integration through Art this annual competition provides a platform and opportunities to amateur artists across India.
"The All India Art Association was formed in 1955 in Shimla here, it was founded by my father-in-law Sudershan Gaur and since then we have been organising the All India Drama and Dance Competition. This is the annual 69th year with a mission for National Integration through Art, we are happy that we shall complete 70 years next year," said Rekha Gaur, an organizer.
She further said that through this initiative the attempt was to provide an opportunity to every artist.
"We have been providing a platform to the artists, we have nearly 1000 to 1200 artists from 20 states. There would be 260 dances and a Drama competition is underway in the Gaiety theatre. This platform provides confidence to amateur artists. It is a dream of every artist to perform in Gaiety theatre. Artists need a platform and their struggle needs to be given wings. Several artists are getting big film names and awards from this. We are trying to give an opportunity to every artist," Rekha added.
The women artists are taking more serious interest than the men here in the hill resort Shimla. These artists take it as a learning platform rather than win a competition.
"After seeing the enthusiasm among so many artists I feel like doing my best and feel like motivating others. Winning or losing is not important, it is important to do your best onstage. This is also a medium of the promotion of our culture, there is a difference between making a reel on a mobile phone and performing on stage," Aastha Bhatt, an artist from Noida.
The young artists believe that this competition helps in learning different Indian art forms and dances.
"I am feeling very good to be here. The organizers are helping to resolve our problems. We are meeting and learning from other artists of India and this is helping to promote the traditional culture of India. I practice Bharatanatyam, I am going to perform the solo performance. These kinds of competitions need to be conducted and it helps to boost up the artists. You can become a big artist from these kinds of stages you only need to have patience," said Anika Salvia, a young dancer.
These theatre artists gathered here in Shimla from various parts of India and believe that these kinds of competitions help them learn from each other and provide an opportunity to grab the chance in the field of theatre and other art forms.
"This is important and is helping to build confidence. We are able to learn from others and get the confidence. We learn discipline and performance by watching others. This is the 69th year, I hope they will continue it further. We are learning from different forms. The message is give your best performance without being bothered about the result," said Vinay Kumar an artist from Rajasthan.
The artists coming from the hot climate zones of the country take this as an opportunity to get maximum benefits from the art competition which is being organised here. They believe that they get an opportunity to experience the cold weather of Shimla city and also get a platform to showcase their talent. They feel happy to contribute to the promotion and preservation of theatre and other art forms and the culture of India.
"My group has been participating in this drama and dance competition for the past 17-18 years, we are always excited to come here in the month of June. This is a very good platform to perform and also to learn from other artists from other parts of India. The organizers have been doing this to preserve and promote the theatre and culture. We feel happy that we are able to give our conversation towards it," said Bela a head of Dharma and dance group from Mumbai.
"We also are happy to experience the beauty of nature and cold conditions in the month of June. We shall come again and again here. With the changing technology, the reel is good for artists but theatre is important and base for the art form and it will last till the end," Bela added further.