Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
Brilliant dancers, dull festival
SHYAMHARI CHAKRA
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A festival of Odissi dance without big names was a big let down.
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Photo: Vishnu Tatwa Das from USA
Brilliant and mesmerising Vishnu Tatwa Das
The five-day annual festival of Odissi dance that was launched in Bhubaneswar last week did not have an open invitation. Thus, except a few dancers from Delhi - most of whom were Oriyas - there were none from Kolkata, Mumbai and Bangalore which have
emerged as major centres of Odissi dance activities.
Though it was a flop show in all aspects, we could come across some of the finest solo and group performances by the established and budding artistes. Gifted dancers Sujata Mohapatra, Aruna Mohanty, Meera Das, Leena Mohanty and Madhusmita Mohanty were at their best. However, it was US-based mesmerising male dancer Vishnu Tatwa Das who was the show stealer of the festival with his amazing abhinaya like his guru the legendary Kelucharan Mohapatra.
Among the young brigade who made a mark included a number of male dancers - Rahul Acharya, Amulya Balbantray, Saswat Joshi and Debasis Patnaik. And among others who excelled were Janhabi Behera, Arupa Gayari Panda, Rajashri Praharaj, Gitanjali Acharya, Rashmirekha Das, Arati Kar and Aurosmita Acharya.
Two aspiring dancers from abroad who are being trained at Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra’s Srjan dance institution in the city - Amanda from US and Maria of Peru - impressed the audience and won applause.
Nityananda Das who dances with a single foot and speech and hearing impaired Sakti Swarupa Bir moved the audience to tears with their performances in the festival.
Among the group presentations, Srjan led by Ratikant Mohapatra, Bichitrananda Swain’s Rudrakshya troupe, Gangadhar Pradhan’s Orissa Dance Academy, Durga Charan Ranbir’s Nrutyayan and the Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya reportoire put up neat and impressive performances.
Though the festival had a daily segment for the marginalised Odissi music that is still struggling for a classical status, it had a small audience for its timing set during afternoons. The seminars slated for morning sessions for this poorly publicised event also failed to generate any response from the scholars, dancers and connoisseurs.
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Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
|
