Together we preserve Ummeed is a platform initiated to help preserve and effectively promote the rich tribal and folk dance traditions of India by centering on a folk dance form throughout the year and helping promote a practitioner/ group who has been in the profession for an extensive period of time through social media and other marketing tools. We also hope that through this platform the performers could be linked to receive future performance opportunities. Ummeed 2017-18, with the aid from the Atlas Equifin Private Limited would be supporting the exceptional work of Lakshmi Priya Gotipua Nritya Kendra, group of Gotipua dancers from Balipatna, Orissa, headed by Guru Lingaraj Barik and Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee, researcher and noted Odissi dancer Aloka Kanungo who has been researching on the dance form since 1985. About the art form: Gotipua, a temple dance, is the precursor of classical dance form – Odissi and is usually presented in praise of Lord Jagannath and Lord Krishna. In colloquial Oriya, Goti means single; pua means boy and is performed by boys dressed up as girls. As a part of the project, this group of young, talented dancers performed at the NCPA’s Experimental Theatre on the 17th of March under the able guidance of Aloka Kanungo and extensive support from their Guru Lingaraj Barik, and put up a fantastic performance leaving the audience spellbound. A major aspect of the program is highlighting the work put in by the researcher and using the research material accessible to the general masses.