Debashree Bhattacharya on stage

The Swarna Nritya Pratibha was held last week in collaboration with the state government’s information and cultural affairs department. The event, supported by Padatik, focused on young dancers, mostly from the eastern region of the country, who would carry forward the traditions of their gurus. However, dancers from Bangalore, Vishakapatnam and Delhi were also included to impart a national character to the event.

Madhumita Mohanty opened the festival with Odissi. She presented pieces choreographed by late Guru Pankaj Charan Das and Guru Gangadhar Pradhan, representing a trend of collecting items of different gurus. Sushant Kumar Das and Padmini Raut’s duet Odissi focused on yet another emerging trend of placing choreographic design over individual communication. Mohini Shilalipi’s Mallimala Shyamaku Debi brought out the beauty of solo dancing.

Kathak was represented from Calcutta, Patna and Delhi. Bhavna Mishra’s style was simple and graceful. The tradition of singing while playing the tabla, though it restricts the tabla player, provides a lyrical accompaniment just about sufficient for dance. Vocal and tabla support by Pandit Shivjee Mishra demonstrated this tradition.

Debashree Bhattacharya’s dance has dignity and power. The opening piece Prathama nama leta in raga Bhairav brought together the best in choreography, music and dance. The festival also featured Sandip Mallick, Mitul Sengupta, Alokparna Guha and Abhimanyu Lal. Madhuboni Chatterjee’s individuality, Arkadev Bhattacharya’s emphasis on angika and Anasua Banerjee’s explorations in abhinaya brought out different trends in one of the most popularly practised dance style of the country, Bharatanatyam.

Vocal support for Anusua by Uma Nambudripad enriched the presentation. While all the three Bharatnatyam dancers were from Calcutta, none of the Kuchipudi dancers were from any of the eastern states. G.Vidya Murti’s Shivatandavam was impressive.

Arunima Kumar’s repertoire, comparatively lengthy, included a variety of poetic composition — a bhajan in Hindi, a Telugu padam, a Swati Tirunal composition in Sanskrit and an Uttukadu song.

Mohini attam by Chandryee Basu Thakur and Sanjukta Banerjee featured items choreographed by their guru Thankamani Kutty. In Anouba Laichal, Baishali Basu and Sumon Saraogi presented Manipuri in its skilfully choreographed forms, combining rhy-thm and movement. Group compositions, Dhol Cholam and Pung Cholam by the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, brought out the grandeur of male Manipuri dancing.

In Chhau there were group-choreographies like Chakrabyuh as well as solo dancing. Loknath Das was excellent in Nataraja, balancing vigour and grace most effectively. Artistes of Kamlabari Satra and Shatarupa Chatterjee and Tanmana Choudhury performed Sattriya.