Bhubaneswar: Biswanath Sangeetalaya, a Cuttack-based Odissi dance institution, is all set to organise it’s 5th edition of Lasya Labanya Dance Festival at Utkal Rangamanch, on the campus of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre, Bhubaneswar on November 15 and 16.
This year, the institution is going to confer it’s Lasya Labanya Lifetime Achievement Award upon Padma Shri recipient Guru Aruna Mohanty. She will be felicitated on the inaugural evening.
The inaugural evening will witness two scintillating performances. One, a Kathak presentation by noted Kathak dancer Guru Smt Uma Dogra and her group and the second one, a group Odissi dance presentation by the students of the host institution Biswanath Sangeetalaya.
Similarly, on the second and concluding evening, Guru K Ramarao Patra will be felicitated with Guru Prafulla Ray Samman 2023.
The felicitation ceremony will be followed by a solo Odissi dance recital by noted Odissi dancer Rajashree Praharaj, a duet Odissi dance recital by Sourav Mohanty and Rohini Samal and another duet Odissi dance recital by Guru Pankaj Kumar Pradhan and Anusuya Pradhan. The concluding item of the evening will be a group Odissi dance presentation by Nrutya Naivedya’s Pravat Kumar Swain and group.
Biswanath Sangeetalaya was founded by Prafulla Ray at Bachhada in Bhadrakh in the year 1999. His daughter-in-law, noted Odissi dancer Guru Smt Dipti Routray is currently running it.
The institution is one of the oldest performing and fine arts institutions in Cuttack. It has also it’s branches in Bhubaneswar.
It offers classes to all age groups in Odissi dance, Odissi vocal, Hindustani vocal, Violin, Mardala and fine arts.
The institution holds a number of classical dance and music festivals all throughout a year, Lasya Labanya Dance Festival being the most prestigious one.
In this festival, the institution felicitates one of the renowned dancers with the Lasya Labanya Lifetime Achievement Award for his/her immense contribution to the world of art and culture. The institution has so far awarded many exponents including Padma Shri recipients Guru Ranjana Gauhar and Guru Madhavi Mudgal.
The aim and objective of the Biswanath Sangeetalaya is to enrich, preserve and share the cultural heritage of Odisha in its real and purest form.
