Dipjyoti Das and Dipankar Arandhara

In a country where gender stereotypes still govern familial roles and choice of profession, being a male classical dancer is not easy. While the art form isn't considered secure enough to be pursued by the breadwinner, hurtful jibes await the brave who take it up. Professional dynamics, too, are skewed in favour of female practitioners, offering them far more opportunities than their male counterparts to showcase their talent. The Raindrops Festival of Indian Classical Dance that provides a platform to up-and-coming artistes from across India hopes to level the playing field by including five male dancers in the line-up for its 27th edition.