Bhubaneswar, Feb. 8: Charishnu, a dance recital collaborating seven classical dance forms, stole the limelight at the three-day cultural extravaganza Dhauli-Kalinga Mahotsav that concluded on the foothills of the Dhauli peace pagoda today.
The recital witnessed celebrated classical dancers from across the country coming together to weave magic on stage. Charishnu, a Sanskrit word, means 'on the move'.
Synonymous to its meaning, the recital progressed as the dancers took to the stage one after the other and mesmerised the audience with their graceful moves.
The act began with Leela Samson performing Bharatnatyam followed by Aditi Mangal Das showing her Kathak skills.
Priti Patel gave a taste of Manipuri dance to the audience and Sadanand Balakrishnan showed a form of Kathakali.
The act concluded with Aruna Mohanty performing an Odissi recital. In the end, all the dancers showcased their respective art forms together. Setting a wonderful example of team spirit, the scene showed the magnificence of the classical culture of our country.
The dancers summed up the spirit of the journey of life from despair to hope. With a musical ensemble by Mahesh Vinayakram and group, the artistes brought out the nuances of the classical dance forms gracefully. For the audience, the experience was a visual treat. "One does not get a chance to witness so many classical dance forms on a single stage. It was great. The expressions of the performers were incredible and so was their body movements," said Somali Mohanty, a 25-year-old schoolteacher.
The 11th edition the three-day festival was organised by the Odisha Dance Academy along with the state tourism department.
During the event, eminent artistes from across the country performed a number of classical and martial dance forms.
Three different varieties of martial dance forms were presented. Karthik Upamanyu performed Kamsale, the martial dance of Karnataka. Besides, Rianto and group presented a piece from the south-Asian martial dance culture.
The audience was also treated to the tribal martial dance Chhau by the artistes of the Mayur Art Centre. Eminent sculptor Raghunath Mohapatra was felicitated at the festival for his contribution to the field of stone carving.
