Winning laurels
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Amrita has come a long way after her debut in the Odissi maestro’s production. Shyamhari Chakra
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Sixteen years ago, the late legendary Odissi maestro Kelucharan Mohapatra was producing a dance drama Krishna Sudama for Cuttack, Doordarshan. While the guru was enacting Sudama, his most favourite character, he was looking for a c
hild artiste for the kid-Krishna. Entered Amrita, an adolescent girl from far off Burdwan town of West Bengal along with her parents who came all the way to plead with him to accept their daughter as his disciple whofeatured her in the drama. Little did Amrita, who has grown up to be a brilliant and mature dancer today, had realised then that she would be the winner of the prestigious Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Yuva Prativa Puraskar one day.
The national youth award for Odissi dance, which was instituted by the great master’s family last year to spot out and nourish a promising prodigy, was presented to Amrita by legendary filmmaker Mrinal Sen during the recent Deesha dance festival in Kolkata mounted as a tribute to Guru Kelucharan.
Amrita emerged as the topper of the tough dance competition among the top 10 young Odissi dancers who were short-listed from among scores of applicants.
“The competition was so stiff that I never expected the award. I am overwhelmed as the award is in the name of my guru and being given away by his family. It’s a blessing that I would avail the unique opportunity to have free training at Guruji’s Srjan institution for one year as the awardee,” avered Amrita who has resolved to have a career in classical dance.
As a small town girl, Amrita had little exposure to Odissi dance.
“Once my parents watched an Odissi dance recital and they were so moved that they wanted their daughter to be a dancer. So they brought me to Kolkata city as often as they could. I learnt from several teachers but none promoted me as I did not belong to the city and was not attached to any particular dance school there. But I was determined that I would continue dancing despite all hurdles,” recollects the promising dancer who has been pursuing her post graduation on Odissi dance from Rabindra Bharati University in Kolkata while receiving special training from Ratikant Mohapatra and Sujata Mohapatra, the son and daughter-in-law of the illustrious guru.
What goes into the making of a good dancer?
“A great guru, consistent and devoted practice, a fine sense of rhythm and expression,” says Amrita who has undergone workshops in abhinaya, folk and contemporary dance styles to imbibe better understanding of her art. <
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Recipient of the national scholarship for dance and topper of a couple of state level Odissi dance competitions, the young dancer dreams to establish a dance school in her home town of Durgapur.
“I don’t dream things big but beautiful. Cities have opportunities for a classical dancer. But I wish to promote Odissi in and around my town. After all, I belong to the place and I must do something for it. And I am also confident that I can do my sadhana by being based there,” asserts Amrita.
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