Capital sways to Odissi creations

Dancer Gaurishankar Dash performs at Bhanja Kala Mandap in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, March 23: A national festival on new creations of Odissi is featuring a collection of fresh choreographies by dance gurus from within Odisha and outside. The festival that began on Tuesday at the Bhanja Kala Mandap, displayed the creativity in composition of numerous dance troupes in the first three days.

New Delhi-based senior dancer Kasturi Pattanaik gave a fitting start to the concert dedicated to latest creations of choreographers. She paid a tribute to Lord Rama in the Rama stotra, her first presentation. Arresting expressional dance and attractive rhythmic movements were seen in this sequence as well as in the following impressive and novel composition based on a Gha champu, Ghenai aame jete kahilu.

A solo recital followed by dancer Geetanjali Acharya, a product of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra’s Srjan on the inaugural day. The danseuse presented Charukesi pallavi.

“These dance items were indeed fresh and fascinating. The dancers proved why Odissi is acclaimed throughout the world for its beautiful ensemble of movements and expressions,” said Pradeep Mallik, a dance enthusiast.

Young dancers Rosalin Srichandan and Pallavi Das were also imposing in their execution of a female duet on a Durga stutee that depicted the power and divinity of women. This wonderful piece created by Guru Nirod Dehury, however, could have been performed on an Odissi classical song that would go better with the smooth choreography .

The group item that followed, performed by Nupur under the guidance of guru Niranjan Rout, was disappointing since the stage appeared small for the large number of dancers. The script and music was monotonous. But this dullness was more than compensated by the smooth performance by the artistes of Odisha Dance Academy, who concluded the evening with tributes to Lord Rama.

Their guru, Aruna Mohanty, began the second day’s proceedings with a solo recital on Jagannath ashtakam, followed by a presentation of Bhumisuta which brought the essence of Sita’s life.

Young dancer and choreographer Gaurishankar Dash was exquisite on stage in his abhinaya on Mare baana dhara srabana that t revolved around rains.

Dancers Subash Swain and Monalisa Pradhan captivated the viewers with a duet sequence and group dances by Nirod Dehury’s Sanskruttim and Ratikant Mohaptra’s Srjan showcased episodes from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana respectively.

On Thursday, city-based group Rudrakshya’s artistes stole the show with a recital depicting the mischiefs of a Krishna. Pondicherry-based Sangeeta Das’s Pasyati disi disi was appealing as was Prabhat Swain’s ‘pallavi’. Dona Ganguly and Raghunath Das staged a dance drama dedicated to Jatayu from the Ramayana. Dona’s Calcutta-based group Sankalp showcased a well-synchronised Hansadhwani Pallavi.

The festival will conclude on Saturday evening.