Bhubaneswar: The Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Awa-rds for 2018 will be conferred on Lingaraj Behera and Satchi Das for contributions to dance and theatre, respectively.
The award was instituted in 1995 by Ratikant Mohapatra, son and disciple of Kelucharan and director of Srjan, in recognition of contribution of cultural personalities to dance, music, cinema and theatre.
Renowned artistes will perform during the five-day cultural extravaganza that will begin on September 5. Actress and politician Hema Malini will grace the festival on the concluding day.
This year will see two new choreographs by Srjan - Kirvani Madhurima, a neo-classical innovation and an amalgam of traditional Odissi with contemporary music based on raga kirwani, and Maati, a presentation of Odissi derived from an inspiring and popular poem by iconic Odia poet Radha Mohan Gadanayak.
"It will have the distinct character of a traditional Odissi choreograph, but there are elements of contemporary dance expression which are used to heighten the appeal of novelty," said Mohapatra.