Cost factor takes new version of Epicentre out of many artistes’ reach

  • | Sunday | 17th February, 2019

Alter, who featured in the final Epicentre show, spoke of the “good vibes” and “artistic energy” he would feel in the auditorium. That’s not to say the space at Apparel House (earlier known as Epicentre ) is lying unused. Back in June 2018, Danza Performing Arts was finally able to stage its ninth annual summer show. “We had to reach out to universal supportive energies to help arts stay alive in the city,” says Mohan, founder and guiding light of Danza. “I’m already thinking about what we’re going to do for our summer production, where will we perform,” she worries.

GURUGRAM: Last December, guitarist and Indian Ocean co-founder Susmit Sen teamed up with American pianist Melanie Hardage for a beguiling duet that was, at once, a conversation across cultures and an extraordinary marriage of skills. It was a gig people this side of Delhi rarely have the privilege of experiencing.Last month, the same setting, Excelsior American School, played host to the Niazi Nizami Brothers (in a long line of qawwals who would sing at the dargah of Nizamuddin Auliya). The auditorium here was crammed with a grateful audience, much the same spirit that was evoked by the successful Sufis of Nizamuddin series.Meanwhile, on March 15, 16 and 17, Gurugram Utsav returns to the amphitheatre at Aravali Biodiversity Park, the scene of many a memorable spring evening.One can be forgiven for thinking that all’s hunky-dory in the arts and culture scene in Gurugram. However, ever since Old World Hospitality’s nine-year lease to manage the auditorium owned by Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) ran out in early 2017, Gurugrammers have been starved of the daily cultural fare they had become so accustomed to. That’s not to say the space at Apparel House (earlier known as Epicentre ) is lying unused. But it is, now, more a commercial entity and less a promoter of the arts and culture. Which, alas, takes it beyond the reach of the dedicated many who run cultural institutes, of every type, size and orientation, in Gurugram.Like a long-gone relative a family wishes back, Apparel House remains part of the Gurugram conversation. It certainly matters for creative people like Swati Mohan. Back in June 2018, Danza Performing Arts was finally able to stage its ninth annual summer show. But most of those watching can only have imagined the agonies and struggles that threatened to dash the hopes of Mohan and her troupe of tenacious performers, as they sought to put together the dance drama against all the odds.The price of renting the 312-seater, and getting hold of each item of basic equipment, was borne by generous benefactors. “We had to reach out to universal supportive energies to help arts stay alive in the city,” says Mohan, founder and guiding light of Danza. Less than a year later, little has changed. “I’m already thinking about what we’re going to do for our summer production, where will we perform,” she worries. “For small artistes, raising money is a very difficult task. “In my 11 years in Danza, I never thought I would leave Gurugram to perform elsewhere.”Apparel House presently charges Rs 1.25 lakh for use of the auditorium. “Where will artistes afford these charges?” asks Kathak danseuse Rachana Yadav. “Only corporates or government organisations can do so.”Previously, the auditorium was made available free of cost to classical dancers and musicians, which was a blessing for local groups (the venue would pay for their transportation costs). “Rather, they would serve refreshments to the performers and crew,” recalls Odissi dancer Ayesha Dahra. Only theatre productions or dance recitals organised by arts councils, schools and academies (or any setup with a fee-paying structure) would be charged. As, indeed, was Yadav, when she performed with her studio here a couple of years back (they paid around Rs 40,000 plus taxes).In some cases, revenue was split 50-50 with the artistes (a model Danza benefited from). “I’m approaching people for collaboration, and if it is a ticketed event, I can become a revenue partner for them,” says Mukesh Kumar, general manager of F&B concern SRS Group, marketing partners of AEPC. “If there is an NGO or an organisation that is struggling to receive support, we extend a discount of up to 20%-25%,” he adds. Nevertheless, SRS, too, is financially beholden to AEPC, which explains the high rentals.Sadly, for the wealth of programmes on offer once, scant attention was given to renovating the facilities. “Even if they’re charging that much money, you have to give that level of function and utility,” says Yadav. “Half the lights don’t work, and there’s no ladder tall enough to reach them. Also, the sofas in the green room are dirty. It’s a beautiful auditorium, the stage is very nice, but the ‘technicals’ desperately need an upgrade.” Regardless, the space was good enough for artistes as fêted as Naseeruddin Shah, Rajeshwari Sachdev, the late Tom Alter, Manjari Chaturvedi and Aamir Raza Husain to grace. Alter, who featured in the final Epicentre show, spoke of the “good vibes” and “artistic energy” he would feel in the auditorium. “It was always a complete joy to perform here,” he had told TOI.

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