First All India Konkani Dance Contest Launched in Bangalore
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Nov 19: The third leg of the First All India Konkani Dance Contest, aptly named 'Yaya Ind-Ya Mayaya,' being organized under the joint auspices of four Mangalore-based organizations -- Jagotik Konkani Songhotton, Konkani Prachar Sanchalan, Nach Sobhann and Mandd Sobhann – got off to a foot-tapping start in Bangalore on Sunday.
At a simple, short and sweet function for the launch of the Bangalore leg of the contest, after Mangalore on November 10 and Udupi on November 11, Mandd Sobhann Gurkar and General Secretary of Jagotik Konkani Songhotton Eric Ozario explained the salient features and the rules of the first-ever contest that will have seven audition centres in four different states of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala and Goa.
Chairman of Naish College of Audiology and Speech Pathology U T Zulfikar Ali, old Alumni of Nach Sobhann, unveiled the emblem of the first All India Konkani Dance Contest.
Daijiworld.com is the web partner of the contest.
Nach Sobhann troupe of male and female dancers mesmerized the small but enthusiastic audience with interesting dance performances to the tunes of Sansanana Pausa (Elyssian Band, Youth Album, Singer Melvyn D'Souza), Dariya Kushim of Late Ben Sequeira and Yego Mary of Yashwant D S (Music Eric Ozario, Vojram Mothiyaam Album).
After completing the launch functions at the seven audition centres – the remaining four after the Bangalore launch being Kasaragod, Kerala (November 25), Goa (December 16), Mumbai (December 23) and Honnavar (December 30) – the real contest will begin at the respective centres with separate auditions from January to February.
The Bangalore audition will be held at Nayana Rangamandir in Ravindra Kalakshethra campus on February 3 from 9.30 am.
The semi-final will be held at Kalangann in Mangalore on May 18 and final will be held at the same venue on May 19.
Cash prizes of over Rs 5 lakh plus attractive gifts and hampers worth over Rs 1.25 lakh will be presented.
The Group Championship will fetch a cash prize of Rs lakh while the first runner-up will get a prize of Rs 50,000 and the second runner-up will get Rs 30,000 plus two consolation prizes of Rs 10,000 each. In addition, the Duet Champions will get a prize of Rs 50,000 with the first runner-up duo getting Rs 15,000 and the second runner-up Rs 10,0o00 plus two consolation prizes of Rs 5,000 each.
Eric Ozario explained that anybody – irrespective of language, caste, religion or region – can participate in the group or duet contests subject to the condition that they will have to dance only to recorded music from a Konkani song from a CD selected and brought by the contestants.
The participants could be all male or female or mixed for group and the duet from male or female or one member from either sex. Only those above 15 years as on December 31, 2012 (born on or before December 31, 1997) can contest with the upper age limit being 35 years as on December 31, 2012 (born on or before December 31, 1977). All contestants are required to bring their age proofs at the audition centres.
The group can be a minimum of six and maximum of ten members and the duration of the dance being a minimum of 31/2 minutes and a maximum of 5 minutes. The song could be an individual one or a combination of songs, subject to the condition that the song/songs including music must be from Konkani Albums.
A contestant, who has competed in any one audition centre, cannot compete from any other centre in any category though the contestants are free to choose their audition centres. A contestant in the duet category is free to compete in the group category but shall not contest twice in a category.
There is a entry fee of Rs 1,000 for group category and Rs 500 for duet category and the last date for submitting entries in the prescribed from is December 31, 2012. Application forms can be downloaded from www.manddsobhann.org or www.facebook.com/manddsobhann or www.facebook.com/nachsobhann or through email: yayaindyamayaya@gmail.com.
Incidentally, participants can even access Konkani songs from www.manddsobhann.org, which already has uploaded 40 songs and will upload another 40 songs shortly, Eric Ozario said.
The costumes and dance style will have to be relevant to the theme of the song and the participants will be required to bring their own costumes. The selection will be done on the basis of costumes, presentation, choreography, grace, expression, skill, coordination and energy.
Dr Anil Joseph Pinto, a Konkani research scholar, was honoured on the occasion on his appointment as the first-ever Mangalorean Konkani Catholic to become the Registrar of Christ University, Bangalore.
Federation of Konkani Catholic Associations Karnataka (KKCA) Chairperson Aida D'Cunha and its past-chairman Charles Gomes were the guests of honour.
Zulfikar Ali promised to prevail upon the State Government to sanction five acres of land for the Nach Sobhann as dance was an important part of Indian culture that transascended all boundaries of language, religion, caste, colour or region.
Charles Gomes complimented Mandd Sobhann Gurkar Eric Ozario for his immense contribution for the development and promotion of Konkani language, its music and culture and lamented at the lukewarm response from Bangalorean Konkani community for the launch function. He hoped that the Konkani speaking people would enthusiastically participate and ensure the success of the First-ever All India Konkani Dance Contest.
Incidentally, responding to the remarks made by Charles Gomes regarding the poor turnout at the Bangalore launch function, Eric Ozario said he was not disheartened though invites and messages had been sent to all the colleges in the city, Konkani Associations and professional dance troupes. Apparently, the Konkani community in Bangalore had other commitments and hoped that they will ensure the success of the Bangalore Audition on February 3. ''We are prepared to wait and finish the audition till late night starting from 9.30 am depending on the number of participants\,” he said.
Maxim Castelino welcomed, compered and proposed a vote of thanks.