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| Dancers of M-Zone take part in a workshop. Telegraph pictures |
Bhubaneswar, May 8: An eight-day workshop on contemporary dance took place here, while another teaching salsa, hip-hop and Bharatnatyam was held in Mumbai.
Both the workshops were organised by dancer Mandakini Jena’s dance institute M-Zone that began on May 1.
The annual workshop held in Bhubaneswar had its valedictory session-cum-celebration party on Tuesday, two days before its conclusion.
Two choreographers from Mumbai — Pintu Jena and Yash Patel —who work for TV reality show Boogie Woogie taught contemporary dance to around 55 students of M-Zone. “This is the third year of our annual workshop. In 2012, choreographer Terence Lewis had come. Last year also three dancers from Mumbai had come to train my students here in Bhubaneswar,” said Jena.
In future, Jena promises to bring choreographers Geeta Kapoor and Remo D’souza for her annual workshops. The five-year-old institute has centres in Cuttack and Rourkela, as well and teaches dance to about 300 students.
At the workshop in Mumbai held for five days, six adept dancers from M-Zone were taught by the likes of Mayuresh Wadkar and Paulson Thomas, all participants of dance reality show Dance India Dance and co-contestants of Jena.
The students were taught salsa, hip-hop and Bharatnatyam. “I want my students not just to learn the art form, but also grow in confidence. Even a short stay in the commercial capital of the country, where most dance reality shows are shot, have done them a world of good,” said 28-year-old Jena. While Jena and her co-contestants have an international tour lined up later this year, her few selected students will get the chance to accompany her on the upcoming national tour.
Gopal Reddy, a 22-year-old youngster who had the opportunity to train in Mumbai is all pumped up. “I never imagined that the guys I adored so much on television would one day be teaching me. I am simply looking forward to joining them again for the tour,” said the Unit-III resident.