Bhubaneswar: The Bhanjakala Mandap auditorium here came alive with rhythm and grace as Darpan Nrutyanusthan hosted ‘Advaita Dance Festival’ on November 4.
The evening began with an auspicious note with the auspicious lighting the lamp ceremony by eminent dignitaries like chartered accountant CA Rajib Sekhar Sahoo, founder and managing director of TATWA Technologies Ltd. Ayaskanta Mohanty, Odisha State Bar Council’s chairman Sitanshu Mohan Dwibedy, social activist and Maa Ghara Foundation’s managing trustee Rutuparna Mohanty. Darpan Nrutyanusthan’s founder and a graded artiste of Doordarshan, Guru Sushree Mohanty and business adviser Swaroop Mohanty also joined them on the dais.
The guests heaped praise on guru Sushree Mohanty for her tireless efforts in nurturing Odissi dancers and wished longevity and success to her institution and festival.
Then the spotlight was shifted to the felicitation ceremony. CSNA awardee and eminent Odissi dance guru Guru Niranjan Rout, CSNA awardee and eminent Mardala player Guru Dhaneswar Swain, senior journalist and columnist Pradosh Patnaik, noted human and social rights activist Smt Kasturi Mohapatra were conferred with Advaita Lifetime Achievement Award.
Similarly, Odissi dancer Guru Dr Dipti Routray and Akanksha Dash and Bibhu Prasad Behera were felicitated with Advaita Yuva Nrutya Acharya Samman and Advaita Yuva Pratibha Samman respectively.
The cultural evening opened with a solo Odissi dance recital by Guru Sushree Mohanty, who is an advocate by profession and an Odissi dancer by passion. A senior most disciple of guru Smt Sangeeta Dash and a practitioner of Guru Dabaprasad Das style, Sushree established Darpan Nrutyanusthan with an objective to promote and preserve the state’s rich dance heritage and give wings to young talents.
She is organizing the festival to provide a platform to young and aspirant dancers to showcase their creativity.
Guru Sushree commenced her recital with a soulful invocation to Lord Jagannath. Followed by an expressive abhinaya ‘Ki Sunili Aja Nua Kari Re’, choreographed by her mentor Guru Sangeeta Dash. With her nuanced expressions, fluid movements and emotive storytelling, she instantly struck a chord with the art connoisseurs from the very first note.
Next in line was a solo Odissi dance recital by Kousiki Lalatika Patnaik, a promising disciple of Guru Sushree Mohanty. She presented ‘Ashta Sambhu’, a wonderful choreography of Guru Debaprasad Das, depicting the eight aspects of Lord Shiva. Her precise movements and devotional fervor drew thunderous applause.
The next performers were Akankhya Dash and Bibhu Prasad Behera, disciples of Guru Niranjan Rout and members of his dance institution ‘Nupur’. They presented ‘Mana Bhanjana’, based on poet Mangala Prasad’s poetic work ‘Dhara Sriradha’, choreographed by Guru Niranjan Rout, music composed by Guru Nimakanta Routray and rhythm by Guru Dhaneswar Swain. Their expressive abhinaya painted vivid emotional hues on the stage, making it a visual delight.
The concluding item of the evening was a group Odissi dance recital by the artistes of Biswanath Sangeetalaya, Cuttack. The dancers presented a dance drama ‘Namami Rama’, choreographed by Guru Dr Dipti Routray. Music by Guru Pradeep Ray and rhythm by Guru Dhaneswar Swain. They kept the art lovers as well as the common audience enthralled for 17 minutes as they narrated the Ramayana starting from the divine union of Lord Rama and Sita to demon king Ravana’s downfall.
Earlier in the afternoon session, junior and senior artistes of Darpan Nrutyanusthan presented scintillating solo, duet and group performances, leaving the audience enchanted.
As the curtains fell, the evening left an indelible imprint on every art lover’s heart.
The show was skillfully anchored by Ananya Mishra, whose insightful introductions before each presentation added depth and context to the performances.
