New Delhi: Two senior disciples of Guru Smt Alpana Nayak, Miss Shreysha Singh and Miss Lavisha Gulati made a dazzling Manch Pravesh at Bhoomi Pranam 2025, organized by Association for Learning Performing Arts and Normative Action (A.L.P.A.N.A.), a Delhi based NGO established by Guru Smt Nayak, at CD Deshmukh Auditorium, India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi, on August 9, marking their debut as solo performers.
The event was graced by Dr. Mallika Nadda, President, Special Olympics Bharat, Chairperson SOAP Advisory Council as the Chief Guest, Sushil K Lohani, IAS, Additional Secretary, Government of India and Anuj Gogia, IRS, Pr Chief Commissioner of Customs, Government of India were the distinguished guests, who inaugurated the event by lighting the auspicious lamp.
From the very beginning, Shreysha and Lavisha had the art lovers in their thrall.
Blessed with a chiseled body and a pair of expressive eyes, they struck a chord with the art lovers in the auditorium. Their performances were characterized by grace, fluidity, clarity and remarkable facial expressions.
Before going to their presentations, let’s have a look on their journey so far. Shreysha Singh, who began her Odissi journey at the tender of age of six under the tutelage of Guru Nayak, has performed at several prestigious festivals and events International Buddhist Confederation at The Ashok Hotel, Special Olympics Bharat, Noida Sanskriti Mahotsav, the prestigious Odissi International Dance Festival in Bhubaneswar, International Kullu Dussehra Festival, Ramotsav in Ayodhya, the International Dance Festival in Vietnam, to name a few.
A recipient of National Scholarship by the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) in 2018, Shreysha recently completed her Visharad Poorna degree in Odissi with first division from Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidyalay Mandal, Maharashtra, a milestone that reflects both her academic rigour and artistic commitment.
Similarly, Lavisha, who began her Odissi journey in 2012, when she was just eight years old, under the devoted guidance of Guru Smt. Alpana Nayak, mirrored the same dedication. She earned her Visharad Poorna degree with First Division from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalay Mandal, Maharashtra in 2024. Lavisha, who first performed at the age of twelve, won awards and accolades in her school and college. She has also performed at several prestigious platforms, such as the International Odissi Festival in Bhubaneswar, International Kullu Dussehra Festival in Himachal Pradesh, Ram Mahotsav in Ayodhya, and Utkal Samaj Divas in Ludhiana. She has also performed at events like the International Trade Fair at Bharat Mandapam, the International Buddhist Confederation at The Ashok Hotel, Special Olympics Bharat, and the annual day of Uttkalini.
A highlight of her journey includes sharing the screen with her Guru in an Odissi presentation aired on Doordarshan, and participating in a dance workshop with the legendary Guru Padmashree Kumkum Mohanty.
Staying true to tradition, the duo began the evening with a Mangalacharana. After paying obeisance to mother Earth, Gods and Goddesses, Guru and the audience, they presented ‘Manikya Veena Mupala Layanti’ written by Mahakavi Kalidasa in which Goddess Saraswati was depicted as ‘Jagat Janani’, ‘Vak Vilasini’, ‘Sangeet Rasike’ and ‘Kalyani’. The presentation received a thunderous applause.
Next, Lavisha presented ‘Batu Nrutya’ which is a pure dance. Her posturers reminded the audience of the sculptures seen on the walls of ancient temples while Shreysha’s ‘Shankarabharana Pallavi’ was a lyrical delight. Lavisha’s Abhinaya ‘Dhira Samire Yamuna Tire’, from Geeta Govinda written by the legendary Odia poet Jayadeva portrayed a Sakhi telling Radha that Krishna is waiting for her in a bower on banks of Yamuna and pleads with her to go to him. Her portrayal of Radha and Sakhi’s characters was a visual treat.
The audience was treated with another Abhinaya based on an Oriya Song ‘Bhangi Chahan’, which is ‘Bha’ Champu written by Kabi Surya Baladeva Ratha by Shreysha. The presentation, choreographed by Guru Smt Alpana Nayak, left the art lovers glued to their seats.
The evening reached its crescendo with a duet recital of fiery ‘Shiva Tandava’ based on the ‘Shiva Tandava Stotram’ written by Ravana, King of Lanka, in which the ‘Udhata or Raudra’ manifestation of Lord Shiva is depicted, seamlessly melting into Moksha which means salvation or spiritual liberation. These pieces were also choreographed by Guru Smt Alpana Nayak.
The accompanying musicians Guru Prashant Behera (Vocalist), Guru Prafulla Mangaraj (Mardala), Ustad Raees Ahmed Khan (Sitar) and Nikhil Behera (Flute) lent a good support.
Dr. Mallika Nadda praised the duo’s stamina, elegant postures, beautiful Abhinaya and wished them luck for their bright future as accomplished Odissi dancers, while commending Guru Smt. Alpana Nayak for grooming the next generation of Odissi dancers.
She also hailed the role of the brilliant musicians.
Both Lavisha and Shreysha are sure to reach great height in their chosen field of classical dance-Odissi.
