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A melange of dance forms
SHYAMHARI CHAKRA
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The three-day Devdasi National Dance Festival had a representation of most dance forms from the country.
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The festival provided the much-needed platform for marginalised young classical dancers.
Photo: Ashoke Chakraborty
Grace ‘n’ poise Jyotsna Jagannathan performs at the festival
It was a festival of Indian classical dances with a difference. Thirteen young and promising soloists from five countries representing all styles sans Kathakali featured in the three-day Devdasi National Dance Festival in Bhubaneswar. The festival al
so launched a major award for dance - Devdasi National Award - for an upcoming and versatile Indian classical dancer who has the devotion of a devdasi towards dance. On the whole, the festival provided the much-needed platform for the marginalised young classical dancers from all over the world.
The inauguration and valedictory ceremonies were quite exciting and unique. While the king of Puri known as the Gajapati Maharaja and regarded as the servant of Lord Jagannath inaugurated the festival; Sashimani Devi, the last living devdasi of Puri temple, was there along with the Orissa Governor to confer the coveted Devdasi award on Kuchipudi dancer Yamini Reddy, daughter and disciple of the celebrated dancer couple Raja and Radha Reddy on the concluding evening.
Adding lustre, the festival also kicked off with the ritualistic Mahari dance of the Puri temple that was performed by the devdasis once upon a time and is being revived now for public performances. While the Devdasi National Award winner Yamini gave a stellar performance in tune with the legacy of the Reddys, Chennai-based Bharatanatyam artiste Jyotsna Jagannathan, a doctor by profession, emerged as the find of the festival. Endowed with the all the attributes that ensure an impressive stage presence apart from having an amazing angasuddhi, she danced gracefully.
Having her debut as a soloist at the national level, Bangalore-based Sreelakshmy Govardhan, a disciple of veteran dancer-choreographer Vyjayanti Kashi also showed signs of her promising future.
Mumbai-based Kathak dancer Indrayanee Mukherjee, disciple of the versatile Uma Dogra, impressed with her grace while Japanese Kathak dancer Megumi Hiromitsu who started learning the style just three years ago charmed the audience with her address in Oriya language besides her articulation of the character of an Indian woman in her performance.
From the North East
It was equally exciting to watch Manipuri dancer Warda Rihab, a Muslim girl from Bangladesh, who has been in Kolkata with a scholarship from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations as a disciple of the renowned Kalavati Devi.
Similarly, Mohiniattam dancer Mom Ganguly, disciple of the versatile Bharati Shivaji of New Delhi, put up a neat and enchanting performance.
Youngest of the Indian classical dances, Sattriya was represented by Assam’s Bharatnatyam turned Sattriya artiste and dance researcher Devika Borthakur.
The Odissi segment has several sterling performers - by US-based Shalini Patnaik, state-level Naveen Kalakar dance competition’s senior group topper Raseswari Mohanty and junior group topper Seema Surajita.
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Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
|
