Beginning with pioneering work of stalwards like Uday Shankar, Ramgopal etc. individual artistes have been making effort to evolve a contemporary expression and idiom of Indian dance as a distinct entity different from our traditional styles of classical dances. In the last few decades some dedicated and gifted individuals have made notable contribution in this field and their work has been acknowledged not only in India but also abroad. Similarly attempts have also been made in the field of serious non-commercial music of creative/experimental nature by composers of eminence. Some of these leading composers have been duly honoured in the recent past. Following the lead given by them, it is observed, a larger number of youngsters are taking up work of this nature. Some of them have already made a mark in the field. Such work of an essentially experimental and creative nature demands considerable investment in terms of time, resources and talent of a large number of people who are required to come together to create such works that are primarily group/esemble work. However, we do not have any mode or scheme to provide sustenance and substantial support to this very important area of activity in the field of music and dance. Hence the need to introduce a : scheme exclusively focusing in this area.

It may be recalled that the High Power Committee heeded by Shri P.N. Haskar, appointed by the Govt. of India, to review the performance of National Akademis and the NSD recommended that the Sangeet Natak Akademi should consider either directly supporting, or sponsoring an institute for providing training and performance opportunities to choreographers. It is our view that given the essentially experimental, creative and individualistic nature of such work it is better to provide support to different individuals/groups rather than setting up a centralized institution with public funding. Such a plan would provide the necessary support and, at the same time, encourage different hues of artistic expression by different individuals centres working independently.

The scheme, apart from providing financial support to chorographers/composers would also make possible the much needed interaction among chorographers, light designers, scenic designers, costume designers, music, composers, conductors, lyricist, scriptwriters etc.

i) Objective The scheme, initiated in 1984 with the broad objective to support and sustain the creative process and energies of the young theatre artists towards building a nation-wide theatre movement.

ii) Scope The scheme provides for State and zonal level festivals of young directors, State and zonal level Workshops for training in theatre, sponsoring young artistes for higher training under masters of theatre and interaction programme with eminent directors etc.

iii) Major achievements made during Xth five year plan and anticipated achievements for the current financial year.

In order to provide theatre training to artists, the Akademi during the last five years have conducted workshops in two phases. The first phase of workshop provides initial training in all aspects of theatre. The second phase of the workshop provides advance intensive training to enable the theatre artists to decide their future course of action after the second phase of the workshop.

The residential theatre workshops held in the States of Manipur, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Jammnu & Kashmir, Haryana and Union Territory of Chandigarh, Uttranchal, Jharkhand, Sikkim, Orissa, West Bengal have created great interest amongst young theatre artists. Approximately 400 theatre artists have received training in these workshops and as many as 50 artists who received advance training are doing theatre as professional artists. Two zonal workshops of 75 days in North and East were also held. Festivals of young directors of Manipur, Assam, Mizoram, Tripura, Jharkhand, Sikkim, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Gujarat have been held promoting 75 young directors besides interaction programmes in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamilnadu, Kerala, Tripura, Manipur, Chhatigarh, Jammu & Kashmir etc.

iv) Projection for the XI Plan The scheme is to be continued during next five years with 4 workshops, 5 festivals, 4 interaction programmes and higher training under masters to 25 artists per year.