Aruna Mohanty and Ratikant Mohapatra. Telegraph pictures

Bhubaneswar, Feb. 26: Noted classical dancers will present an ensemble of choreographies at Samrachana — a festival dedicated to choreographers — which will be launched by the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi on March 1. Open to all, this new addition to the city’s cultural itinerary will promote the blend innovation and tradition in the compositions of Indian dance forms, feel dancers.

Odissi choreographers from far and wide have been invited to perform at the first edition of this festival. The event is also being planned to be made an annual affair. Odissi artistes who displayed their compositions at the event include based Madhavi Mudgal from New Delhi, Calcutta’s Sharmila Biswas, well-known names from Bhubaneswar such as Durga Charan Ranbir, Aruna Mohanty, and Ratikant Mohapatra.

There will also be a kaleidoscopic representation of other Indian classical dance forms such as Bharatnatyam that will be presented by Leela Samson from Kalakshetra, Chennai and kuchipudi to be performed by Vyjayanti Kashi from Bangalore. Danseuse Bimbavati Devi from Calcutta will showcase a special Manipuri recital and kathak dancer couple Nirupama and Rajendra will present their choreography. Samrachana also gives space to contemporary dance that will be represented by New Delhi-based Santosh Nair, said the organisers.

“It is a special event for members of dance fraternity as well as our viewers since it is a novel concept to stage select choreographies of all classical dance forms at one festival,” said Odissi dancer Ratikant Mohapatra. “There is a similar festival in Delhi but we are lucky that a festival for choreographers is to be hosted in Odisha. This wonderful initiative will not only benefit young dancers but also let traditions be intact in compositions. For choreographers, it will be challenging since the audience will have high expectations,” he said.

“What we present on the previous day will be discussed in the seminars to be held the following day. That will let us choreographers check ourselves while it will ensure an interaction between young dancers, our viewers and us,” said veteran dancer Durga Charan Ranbir.

Every evening will showcase Odissi and other dance styles while two seminars will be held at the Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya auditorium on March 2 and 5. The department of culture and tourism are the co-organisers of the festival.