'Lok Tarang' 2007 to showcase 22 revived dance forms

New Delhi, Jan 19 (UNI) 'Lok Tarang', the Annual National folk Dance Festival, to be inaugurated by President A P J Abdul Kalam on January 24, will this year showcase 22 dance forms that have been revived under the 'Guru Shishya Parampara', along with other group presentations.

Performers from across the country will present their compositions at the six-day annual festival, celebrating the resurgence of the Indian Republic and the cultural heritage.

About 800 dancers will present 41 folk dance forms at the festival which is being organised to preserve and promote the art forms of the country, Union Culture and Tourism Minister Ambika Soni told mediapersons here at the preview of the event.

''The festival has representation from all states and it is an attempt to keep dying art forms alive. It depicts rural India and our grassroots... we have to preserve our culture for the future generations,'' she added.

''In the modern times film music and dance has pushed the folk genre into obscurity but we will try to save it,'' she said.

Announcing that the Culture Ministry will soon take up discussions on forging public private participation (PPP) to form a national culture fund for folk artists, Ms Soni said the dancers under the 'Guru Shishya Parampara' will come under the purview of the scheme.

''The artists must be able to sustain themselves. We will ensure that they get their due and that they are able to pass on the heritage to their future generations,'' she added.

She said all states should join the effort with the Culture and Tourism Ministry.

MORE UNI