Odissi exponent Saswat Joshi holds online festival to help dancers

Odissi dancer Saswat Joshi has started an initiative to bring dancers from different parts of the country and perform online for classical dance lovers during the lockdown. He has started an online dance festival called Happy for Hope. At the same time, he is planning to help these dancers, who are not financially stable, by providing cash incentives.

“The lockdown has put a brake on all activities and the artiste community has been affected badly. Since no events are happening and there is no platform for them to perform and earn, I have decided to start this festival. It began on Mother’s Day and I have planned to continue it every Sunday till the lockdown ends,” said Saswat, who has performed Odissi and Sambalpuri folk dance in front of several iconic monuments across the globe.
He said that this dance festival witnessed performances by senior members of his organisation on the first Sunday. “In the coming Sundays, we are planning to host dancers from various parts of the country and bring them directly to people through this platform. Artistes are happy that they have got a chance to perform during the lockdown,” he added.