Bhubaneswar: After hosting two editions of ‘Naatki’, a national festival of Mayurbhanj Chhau dance successfully, ‘Project Chhauni’ is all set to present its third edition at Rabindra Mandap on July 11 from 6.30 pm onwards.
The festival promises to be a breath of fresh air for art connoisseurs who are accustomed to an array of Odissi dance festivals. With a rich blend of tradition, athleticism and storytelling, the evening is expected to leave audiences enthralled.
The evening features an impressive line-up of some mesmerising performances by artistes from different parts of Mayurbhanj as well as performers from other parts of India and abroad. They include ‘Chakravyuha’ by the artistes of ‘Project Chhauni’, Mayurbhanj; ‘Durga’ by celebrated artiste Carolina Prada from Columbia; ‘Mallika Arjun’ by the artistes of Baba Kala Mahadev Chhau Nrutya Pratisthan, Tikhia Bamanghati, Mayurbhanj; ‘Triyambakam-From Illusion to Union’ by Ajjay Singh Rathore and Group and ‘Konark’ by the artistes of ‘Project Chhauni’, Mayurbhanj.
For the uninitiated, Chhau is a dynamic Indian martial dance form characterized by energetic acrobatic movements, expressive choreography and dramatic storytelling. Recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, Chhau has evolved into three distinct regional styles—Seraikela Chhau of Jharkhand, Purulia Chhau of West Bengal and Mayurbhanj Chhau of Odisha—each named after the region where it developed.
What makes Mayurbhanj Chhau different is its distinct absence of masks. Unlike the Seraikela and Purulia traditions, artistes of Mayurbhanj Chhau perform without masks, allowing them to convey a wide spectrum of emotions through subtle facial expressions. The artistes’ graceful yet high energy movements instantly strike a chord with both seasoned art lovers and first-time viewers.
‘Project Chhauni’ was launched in 2016 by the then collector Rajesh Pravakar Patil with the vision of riving, preserving, promoting and taking the Mayurbhanj Chhau dance to the global stage.
Under the stewardship its executive director Subhashree Mukherjee, it has since been working tirelessly towards keeping this vibrant cultural legacy alive and helping it spread its wings far beyond Odisha.
