Pabitra Pradhan (middle) performs in a programme

July 4: Odissi is an apologetic dance… well, almost.

Few dance forms in the classical genre have an entire subcategory dedicated to begging for forgiveness — forgiveness from the audience for the dancer’s shortcomings and from Mother Earth for stamping on her.

That’s Odissi for you — or rather managlacharna — a style dedicated to “apology”.

But if danseuse Anjanamoyee Saikia has her way, she will do away with at least one reason for apology — the dancer’s shortcoming.

Trained under legendary exponent Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra in Bhubaneswar, Saikia is all set to provide best the training to aspiring Odissi dancers of the city — with the perfect abhinaya and flawless rasa.

Saikia has invited renowned Bhubaneswar-based Odissi dancer Pabitra Pradhan to hone young dancers at a 12-day Odissi dance workshop at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra.

The workshop will see 25 enthusiasts perfecting their moves from July 20 onwards.

Anjanamoyee Saikia at a show in Hyderabad

“The city has no dearth of talented Odissi dancers. Many of them have made a mark for themselves on the national and international stage. If we provide the best training facilities to the upcoming dancers, I am sure the city will have many a well-trained Odissi feet. With this in mind, I have invited Pradhanji to train the young dancers. I am thankful that he agreed to come down to the city,” said the 33-year old dancer.

Saikia, who has received her formal training from Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Garima Hazarika, has travelled across the world with the dance troupe Nityagram, led by late Pratima Bedi.

“After working with a professional group like Nityagram, I have realised that only dedication and hard work towards the art form can polish one’s skill. After acquiring the finest training from exponents of the dance form, I am planning to come up with my own repertory troupe and travel with them,” she said.

Asked why she herself did not train the young dancers, Saikia said she was currently concentrating on her performance.

Saikia, who is also a Sattriya dancer, is planning to come up with her own school in the city by this year.