(Top) Dancers from Odissi Research Centre and (below) danseuse Rajashri Prahraj perform at the National Festival of Odissi Dance and Music at Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar. Pictures by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 27: The Odissi Research Centre inaugurated its annual National Festival of Odissi Dance and music at Rabindra Mandap here on Sunday.

The inaugural evening began with an Odissi recital on Shakti Chatushtaya by the artistes of Odissi Research Centre.

The dancers, who were disciples of acclaimed Guru Durga Charan Ranbir, illustrated the different forms of Goddess Durga by interesting formations with their choreography.

After this act, it was a troupe from Puri that rendered traditional Jaga Akhada form of Odissi music.

Danseuse Rajashri Prahraj did a solo recital on the dynamic sequence of Ardhanariswara. Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra originally choreographed this sequence and Raghunath Panigrahi had composed the music.

She performed the piece on Ragamalika and Talamalika. Later dancers Gayatri Chand and Nandini Ghoshal presented some more renditions.

The five-day festival that continues till December 30 will showcase about 400 dance and music performances.

“We have invited artistes from all over the world to perform at the event. The highlight of this cultural festival would however be the seminars and workshops that will be attended by prolific artistes and experts on music and dance,” said Ramahari Das, chief co-ordinator of the Odissi Research Centre.

The seminars at the event have been divided into the music group and the dance group. The theme for the Odissi music seminar is ‘Odissi Music— The Road Ahead’ and that for Odissi dance is ‘Cultivation of audience in 21st century through Odissi dance’.

“The open discussion with members of the fraternity could help us arrive at a common thought and concept of the dance style and music style which is today followed in multiple ways when it comes to grammar,” Das added.

The event will have the performances in two sections for Odissi music and dance. A number of kiosks for Odissi costumes, jewellery, books and other publications, CDs and cassettes will be available at the venue during the festival.