Bhubaneswar, Nov. 22: The traditional Gotipua dance that was on the verge of disappearing has been given a new lease of life by the state tourism department and the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre.

The second edition of the three-day Gotipua Dance Festival that concluded last Saturday displayed a new wave of enthusiasm in artistes who performed at the event.

On the inaugural evening on Thursday, two Raghurajpur-based groups followed by a troupe from Konark presented Gotipua recitals. The artistes of the Dasabhuja Gotipua Odissi Nrutya Parishada established by Padmashree Maguni Das of Raghurajpur were the first to take stage.

Dancers of Abhinna Sunder Gotipua Nrutya Parishad, also from Raghurajpur, all under 13, won the hearts of the audience with their recital. Konark Natya Mandap, established by Guru Gangadhar Pradhan, received appreciation as the troupe presented aesthetically designed choreographies with coordination.

Gotipua artistes from four different troupes of Brahmagiri stole the show on the second day.

Bandha Nrutya – the segment of Gotipua that involves different formations of chariots or animals on stage by the artistes, was performed by the young dancers whose acrobatic skills were matchless.

The troupes from Brahmagiri included Nakshyatra Gurukula, Chandrasekhar Gotipua Kala Sansad, Nilakantheswar Gotipua Gurukula Dance Akademi and Aradhana Dance Akademi.

The concluding evening began with a Brahmagiri troupe, Nrutyambara whose abhinaya, Aaji mu dekhili ghanshyamaku, was impressive. The devotional and artistic presentation was followed by Dhauli-based Odisha Dance Akademi’s recitals. While this troupes’ pallavis were amazing and their Bandha Nrutya elegant, their enactment on Bitilata jamini was touching. The final sequences by Laxmipriya Gotipua Nrutya Kendra from Balipatna won applause.

“The festival is really special since we get to see high spirited young dancers who are so sincerely keeping alive this folk tradition of Odisha. It feels proud to see young boys even today are glad to perform as girls. Not only have they kept the art alive but Gotipua even in interiors of the state has definitely acquired an aesthetic finesse. The performances will win appreciation anywhere in the world,” said Pradyumna Mishra, a dance lover.