Not just the Mangalayatan University and the Lalit Kala Sansthan, smaller groups by the dozen are in the fray to backup the cultural revolution in the city. The Mangalayatan University is running a full-time workshop for dancers, theatre-lovers, artists and those wanting to hone up their communication skills at the Soor Sadan auditorium.

 The city is all geared up for a season of "cultural renaissance" with over a score dance academies, music workshops, theatre training sessions scheduled for the next two months. "Looks like the whole city would be putting on the dancing shoes and walking the ramp, the way preparations are going on to catch them young," comments housewife Padmini.

 Aryan's has launched its month-long training programme for the kids at the Goverdhan hotel from May 15, with support from Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society. Jyoti Kathak Kendra in Taj Nagri is already grooming kids in the classical formats, while another group Kalyani Dance Academy, supported by Terrence Lewis, will begin its programme next week. More than a dozen other groups are already active reviving the musical traditions of the Braj area, notably the Rang Leela of Anil Shukla, IPTA, Sanskar Bharti. Tulika Kapoor of Aryashri is busy training differently enabled kids to let the world know they too have the talents.

 Meanwhile, Dr. Lovely Sharma, the only D Lit in Sitar and noted music-academic, has embarked on a unique journey of training youngsters from under-privileged families, through her organization. She told Agratoday News Service, "Kriti Kala Sansthan, which aims to promote Indian music and music therapy, is starting a seven day music workshop targeting specially the downtrodden children of the below poverty line families from neighboring colonies and villages to teach them music and dance such as Vocal Music, Sitar, Guitar, Tabla, Casio and Dance. Music teachers can also participate to enhance their knowledge in the respective field by renowned national and international artistes. During last five years, we have organized several seminars and workshops on music to promote needy children in the field of music."

 However classical dancers in the Taj city have lamented loss of interest in the younger generation towards Kathak and Bharat Natyam.

 Many of them like Jyoti feel, “summer camps were only promoting a spurious culture and luring kids to Salsa, hip-hop promising stardom through reality shows on TV. In the process the pure dance forms were the losers.”

 Aryan, the popular young dancer who made it big on the small screen last year dancing with Karishma told Agratoday News Service, “nothing wrong with learning modern dance forms, but the classical traditions should also be promoted and kept alive, as they were our valued heritage.”

IPTA (Indian People's Theatre Association) national vice president Jitendra Raghvanshi said "it is wrong to blame the young crowd for losing interest in the classical traditions. The real problem is lack of promoters and platforms. Agra as a major tourist destination must have regular presentations so that the visitors from abroad can be exposed to our cultural richness and diversity."

Dr. Chitralekha Singh, dean of music and fine arts department at the Mangalayatan University, eminent singer and musician Debashish Ganguli, Pradeep Mishra, popular tabla player, all feel the official agencies and the voluntary sector in Agra should take concrete steps to revive interest in Kathak which was under threat from the spurious TV culture.

Purushottam Mayura, a popular dancer and choreographer of Agra feels the essential “heritage of Braj Mandal, the various folk dances need to be preserved. It is shocking that the new generation is not aware of the rich dance heritage of India.”

Rajiv Agarwal, another dance teacher and choreographer however says that western dances most rooted in aerobics are easy to learn. He is happy that western dance forms are becoming popular in the Taj city. Local dancers and choreographers like Priyank Dhakar, Tony Faster, Pooja Kohli and now Yatharth Aginihotri have already made it big hitting the small screen through various programmes.