it is an open secret that many dancers to pay to perform the stars do get paid says ratnam but who is going to support the others in addition to paying for their slot also to fund their own musical accompaniment travel accommodation and production costs and worry about and other expenses organisations who curate and facilitate dance festivals pay very little either do nt find sponsorship for the event themselves their priorities lie elsewhere remuneration to dancers is simply not given top priority even when shows are ticketed corporates sponsors and arts foundations are also difficult to approach it comes to funding for particularly for classical dance the dance forms are more likely to be funded the glamorous commercial forms that entertain and are consumed quickly finally problem is compounded through our own attitudes and casual attitudes dance there are several dancers fall prey to the exposure so what if there s no money it it is good for you as as there are dancers who will continue to offer dance a tribute or be grateful receive a platform it will be difficult to change the perception that dance is a serious vocation and one is expensive to cultivate and sustain that deserves monetary compensation moreover many of us know someone who considers to be as dr ratnam said a good pleasant hobby a profession ultimately these attitudes have to change to make a difference to s dire need funds by aranyani bhargavbhargav is a city based bharatanatyam dancerfrom ineffective government schemes measly grants gst hassles the indian classical dancer wrestling with funding and no sigh