Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 17, 2020)

You see them in every film song, dancing alongside famous actors, but you don’t know them. A crucial part of Hindi films — they are the background dancers. And with shoots on hold, they’re worried about their finances. A video featuring some of them requesting the fraternity to extend support, recently went viral.

NOT ENOUGH FINANCIAL HELP
As seen in the video, Melvin couldn’t make it to his home in Bihar. He tells us, “We work on per day income basis, and the pay doesn’t come on time. Even though the government has issued an order that tenants don’t need to pay rent during quarantine, nobody listens.”

Another dancer, Sachin Kashyap details how scarce help has been. “Our union, Cine Dancers Association (CDA), helped, but they don’t have enough funds to support 1,600 people. What about the dancers who’ve to support entire families?” asks Kashyap, adding that, “(Actor) Salman Khan deposited ₹3,500 twice in the accounts of 1,000 people.”

CDA’s brand ambassador, choreographer Saroj Khan reveals that she, too, is facing similar problems. “You don’t get lump sum. This is the film industry; it’s not a mill or office that gives permanent work. You can’t blame the industry,” she says.

HIGH MAINTENANCE LIFESTYLE
Remo DSouza is among the choreographers who’ve decided to extend help. “Situation for these dancers is as bad as it is for the people walking to their villages; they’re daily workers. But their lifestyle is different. They’ve to look good to be able to stand next to actors,” says D’Souza.

Choreographer Rahul Shetty shares that dancers, after a point, stop getting work. “A couple of months back, we had saved up for senior dancers, who get fewer shoots and have to survive the entire month on ₹2,000-3,000,” says Shetty, who is “planning a workshop to collect whatever amount possible” to help youth dancers in need.

Future in limbo
As there could be many restrictions on set after the shoots resume, D’Souza says it could eventually lead to less jobs for dancers, too. “They dance in a group, and that’s not going to be possible. Producers and everyone have to come together,” he says.

Saroj Khan accuses fellow choreographer Ganesh Acharya, who denies the charge, claims no affiliation to a new body
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 17, 2020)

On December 26, 2019, the All India Film Television Events Dancers Association (AIFTEDA) was formed, allegedly by disgruntled former members of the Cine Dancers Association (CDA). Now, choreographer Ganesh Acharya, who was recently accused by the latter for paying dancers less than the mandated rates, finds himself in the middle of a tussle between the old and the new associations.

CDA representative and veteran choreographer Saroj Khan claims Acharya formed the new association, “using his position to manipulate dancers and malign the old association (CDA).”

“CDA was established in 1955 and has given dancers like Remo D’souza and Ahmed Khan to the industry. Even Ganesh and his father were a part of it. Starting a new organisation by boycotting your roots is disloyalty,” she says, adding, “Ganesh has been badmouthing CDA all over the industry and poaching its dancers by promising more money. They are dividing the dance community. Ganesh has his own people take the posts in the new association.”

While she claims Acharya has showed no interest in a truce, the latter says that he is not affiliated to the new body and is still a CDA member. “I was just present at the AIFTEDA inauguration as the dancers had invited me. Even they want to return to the CDA but only after a fair election and if they get fair wages,” he informs.

Acharya goes to add that CDA was shut down six months ago following a legal dispute that began in 2018. “But three months ago, Zahid Shaikh, Deric Biswas, Al Fahim Surani and Ravi Kanwar reopened it without showing any court orders to do so and filled up the posts without elections. Now, they are pressuring dancers to join the association again,” he said.