Kolkata: As the dusk settled on the horizon of this City of Joy in hues of gold and amber, Rabindra Sadan came alive with dignitaries, art aficionados and audiences starting arriving in droves.
The occasion was the annual festival of Nrityashram, one of the premier cultural institutions in the state on April 20. The institution is Odissi dance Guru Smt Ayoshi Ghosh’s brain child.
After the lighting the lamp ceremony by esteemed guests such as Guru Maa Tamala Nayak, wife of Guru Giridhari Nayak, Dr Pushpita Mukherjee, former dean, Fine Arts Faculty and HOD, Department of Dance, Rabindra Bharati University, Artistic Director of Narteswar Cultural Centre and Laily Basu, renowned Manipuri dancer, the evening unfolded as a finely woven tapestry.
The festival was spread over two equally captivating segments. The first half was dedicated to the grace and depth of Odissi dance, beginning with ‘Vishnu Vandana’ and flowing seamlessly through pieces like ‘Basant Pallavi’, ‘Mukunda Mukunda’, ‘Lalita Lavanga’, ‘Saveri Pallavi’ and ‘Apsara Ali’.
Each performance bore the hallmark of rigorous training and artistic finesse.
The second half ushered in the spirit of ‘Boishakh’, the Bengali New Year, drawing inspiration from the timeless works of Rabindranath Tagore.
Starting with the evocative ‘Esho He Boishakh’, the segment captured themes of renewal and rebirth, followed by soulful renditions such as ‘Aji E Probhat Purnima’, ‘Anondoloke Mongolaloke’, ‘Gram Chhara Oi Ranga Matir Poth’, ‘Aji Bangladesher Hridoy Hote’, and ‘Bipulo Tarongo Re’.
The well-trained dancers of Nrityashram left the art lovers hooked to their seats with their mesmerising performances.
The evening also witnessed scintillating Bharatanatyam performances by a guest artiste Pipasa Barik, adding brilliance to evening.
While seamless anchoring of Shyamali Biswas added charm to the evening, it was Smt Ayoshi Ghosh, who took great pains to ensure the event runs like clockwork.
In essence, the festival was more than just a series of performances—it was a celebration of nature, joy, patriotism, and renewal, all rolled into one harmonious cultural offering.
Established in 2010, Nrityashram has carved out a niche for itself as one of the premier institutions in the state. Under the guidance of its founder Smt Ayoshi Ghosh, who holds a Master Degree in Odissi dance from Rabindra Bharati University, the institution has been flourishing. Smt Ghosh in not new to awards and accolades. While she was awarded a silver medal in Odissi dance by Pramanik Sangeet Samiti in 2006, she secured 3rd prize at the Dover Lane Music Conference in 2009, alongside performances at prestigious festivals across India.
At Nrityashram, nurturing talent is second nature. Young students are taught dance with great care from a very young age. Equal attention is given to every student. The children learn dance here with joy and enthusiasm. Odissi dance is taught here, along with Rabindra Nritya and creative dance.
Here, the students are also prepared for examinations under Prachin Kalakendra and provides ample stage exposure through festivals and its annual showcase.
