Bhubaneswar: Shree Dance Academy, founded by renowned Odissi dancer Namita ray, hosted its much-anticipated annual dance festival ‘Nrutya Vilasa 2025’ at Bhanja Kala Mandap, Bhubaneswar, on Wednesday.
The event was a vibrant showcase of Odissi classical dance and traditional folk forms of Odisha, performed by students from Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri branches.
The festival kicked off on an auspicious note with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by eminent guests Dr. Chandra Sekhar Hota, Secretary, Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi; Guru Harihara Mohanty, veteran Odissi dancer; Radhashyam Mohapatra, former HR Director of NALCO; Prafulla Kumar Patnaik, President of Shree Dance Academy; and Namita Ray herself.
The evening began with a powerful invocation — ‘Mangalacharan’ followed by ‘Shankarabharana Pallavi’, choreographed by Guru Namita Ray. Senior dancers Jaya Behera, Itisiksha Pradhan, Satya Prakash Mallick, Sambhabi Nayak, Shreya Mohanty, Srujani Nayak and Dimple Patra swept the audience off their feet with their lyrical movements and synchronized grace.
Next came the show-stopper ‘Lilabati Prasanga’, a dramatic dance narrative drawn from Odisha’s folk tales. Under the masterful direction of Guru Ray, dancers including Nirjara Neelima Tripathy, rishita Mohanty, Yukta Dash, Sachi samiskha, Prarthana Mohapatra, Aradhya Lenka, Jahnabi Behera, Adwita Dash, Sanskruti Dash and Glory delivered a riveting performance that held the audience spellbound.
In a seamless transition, the junior troupe took the stage with ‘Chhota Sthayee’, set to Raga Mohana and Tala Ektali, choreographed originally by Guru Deba Prasad Das. Despite their age, the young dancers-Sanvi Satpathy, Sanvi Mohanty, Shruti Panigrahi, Shipra Priyadarshini Nayak, Baidehi Patra, Niraja Bibhuti Ray, Jayashree Jigyansha, Arshita Priyadarshini, Mukta Dash and Ipsita Nayak-impressed with their poise and rhythm.
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Another Mangalacharan, directed by Guru Gayatri Behera, followed with graceful performances by dancers like Sorali Mishra, Sayanjali Sahoo, Jaishnabi Ojha, Suryamayee Sarangi, Ritika Priyadarshini, Pratibha Barik, Shrija Rout, Trupty Tamanna, Soumyanshi Swain and P Danisha, with each step infused with devotion and discipline.
The evening continued with an expressive Abhinaya piece titled ‘Manaudharana’, choreographed by Madhusmita Mohanty, and performed by dancers from the Puri branch including Nibedita Sahoo, Janhabi Sahasmal, Subhashree Laxmi Das, Akanksha Palei, Arranyika Kar, Krishna Khatei and Arpita Acharya.
Next, ‘Sivastaka’, a technically demanding piece set in Raga Bhairabi and Tala Ektali, featured a stellar ensemble of senior dancers including Dimple Rajnandini, Trisha Routray, Nirjara Tripathy, Gungun mohanty, Janhabi Behera, Sanskruti Dash, Sachi Samiksha, Aaradhya Lenka, Glory, Prarthana Mohapatra, Aditya Dash and Yukta Dash, who handled the complex choreography with remarkable ease.
To round off the evening, the audience was treated to a colourful medley of Sambalpuri, Jhumar, and Nabarangpur folk dances that brought the spirit of rural Odisha alive on stage.
Over 70 dancers, from the youngest learners to seasoned performers, participated in this grand celebration. Dance direction was collaboratively led by Madhusmita Mohanty, Gayatri Behera, and Sambhavi Nayak.
The event was smoothly anchored by Biswajit Baliarsingh, and concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks by Rajendra Narayan Ray, treasurer of Shree Dance Academy.
With its spectacular mix of tradition, technique, and talent, ‘Nrutya Vilasa 2025’ was more than just a festival — it was a living canvas of Odisha’s rich dance heritage.
