Dancers from all over the state perform Odissi on the occasion of World Dance Day at Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph pictures

Bhubaneswar, April 30: The capital came up with its own way to celebrate dance alongside celebrations of the World Dance Day across the globe on Sunday evening.

Well-known dancers from all over the state performed an ensemble of Odissi repertoires titled Nritya Kadamba — Togetherness in Dance to rejoice Odissi at Rabindra Mandap. The Odissi Dancers’ Council and the Utkal University of Culture organised the concert.

With their immaculate movements and intense involvement in storytelling through various forms of Odissi, artistes from Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra’s dance institute, Srjan, gave a perfect start to the concert. The Srjan artistes staged Ratikant Mohapatra’s choreography Dasavatara.

Another beautiful composition followed when artistes from dancer Meera Das’s Cuttack-based Gunjan Dance Academy displayed their finesse in the craft of Odissi. They performed nrutta, a pure dance recital, which was intricately choreographed and aesthetically presented despite complex formations.

The loud applause by the audience proved that it was one of the most loved recitals of the concert. “The dancers beautifully depicted the grace of Odissi. The performance was fine and elegant,” said Amrita Parida, a dance enthusiast.

Dancers of the Guru Pankaj Charan Odissi Research Foundation presented Om Namah Shivaya, a recital choreographed by Guru Pankaj Charan Das. The recital, through its sequence, eulogised Lord Shiv, depicting His various moods. Similarly, the viewers appreciated Bageshree Pallavi, an intricately designed pure dance recital, performed by artistes from Gajendra Panda’s Tridhara. Nrutya Prativa’s Durga Stuti was also choreographed and performed well. Dancers of the Art Vision also won the hearts of the viewers with the dance drama, Mahanadi, dealing with the legends associated with the Mahanadi river that acts as a source of life for Odisha. Danseuse Ileana Citaristi led from the front on the stage.

“Celebrating the World Dance Day is an attempt to go beyond the usual annual dance and music festival. The aim is to instil a continuing sense of purpose in the young dancer, a determination to overcome all odds and push oneself to the very peak of perfection, time after time, year after year,” said noted dancer and the vice-president of the Odissi Dancers’ Council Ratikant Mohapatra.