Delightful Odissi recital
SARAT CHANDRA
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Aruna Mohanty excelled in her solo performance.
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DANCE CELESTIAL Aruna Mohanty leaves audience enthralled.
Classical Odissi dancers may have a test in excellence: the test is how an artiste fares during solo performances. The flaws of individual performers go unnoticed, or if at all noticed, appear insignificant at group shows. But solo performances are a different ball game. Sangeet Natak Akademi organised a fete, titled Ekaka Odissi Nrutya Utsava and the Bhubaneswar-based Odissi Research Centre arranged solo performances towards end of May. On May 27, three dancers performed. Of the three, at least one danseuse came out with flying colours. It was Aruna Mohanty; who is also emerging as a sensitive choreographer.
Of the three items this Gangadhar Pradhan disciple presented, two were in the expressional category (abhinaya). One of the expressional items was on the Radha-Krishna love theme based on a song (Bajuchhi sahi bajare... ) by Gopolkrishna Patnaik, an Oriya poet of early 19th century.
The poet, narrates the response of Radha and Krishna in the most elemental terms: the first exchange of glances by the lover and the beloved; a love-lorn Radha even embracing Sri Krishna's reflection in water. Since the loversare not able to hide their all-consuming passion for each other, the whole of Gopapura is abuzz with their love affair. Aruna's presentation was excellent: her facial expressions, her mudras and her fluid movements fully matched the intense lyricism of the song. It was an evocative dance within the classical Odissi framework.
Durga Stuti is the other expressional item Aruna did with excellence, set to the tune of a Sanskrit song. This item describes Durga's attributes: her physical charms and the weapons she wields. In this item also Aruna displayed perfect harmony, balancing her facial expressions with fluid body movements and appropriate mudras. In the pure dance category, Aruna performed an item titled as Konarka Kanti. It is almost impossible to bring an equal grace in dance.
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