Bhubaneswar: Art lovers in the capital city were in for a cultural treat on Tuesday evening as a medley of classical, folk, and tribal dances lit up the Rabindra Mandap stage on the occasion of World Dance Day.
The event, organised by the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi with support from the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department, Government of Odisha, offered a feast for the senses.
The evening kicked off on a traditional note with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by eminent Gotipua exponent Guru Govinda Chandra Pal and Dr Chandrasekhar Hota, secretary of the Akademi.
Setting the tone for the evening, senior dancers of Utkal Dance and Research Academy (UDRA) presented ‘Niyati’ – an Odissi group performance that explored the philosophical concept of destiny.
The piece was a poignant portrayal of how fate charts the course of life, often in unexpected ways, drawing parallels with mythological figures like King Dasaratha, Ravana, and Duryodhana. Gracefully performed by Subhalaxmi Padhi, Aryarupa Das, Sefali Pattnaik, Rajashree Panda, Snehalata Nahaka, Laxmipriya Pradhan, Priyanshi Panda, Alibha Sahoo, Chinmayee Bhoi, and Shruti Pradhan, the piece was choreographed by Arati Kar and Yudhishthir Nayak, with music by Guru Umesh Chandra Das and rhythm by Guru Dhaneswar Swain.
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The spotlight then shifted to the raw energy of Purulia Chhou, performed by the Binapani Rupchand Chhou Dance Group from West Bengal under the direction of Guru Dilip Chandra Mahato.
Their rendition of ‘Mahisha Mardini’ — depicting Goddess Durga’s slaying of the buffalo demon Mahishasura — was a spectacle of acrobatics and drama. With flips, jumps, and spins, the performers had the audience on the edge of their seats as the rhythm of Dhol, Nagara, Shehnai, and Manjira thundered through the auditorium.
Next up was the vibrant Ho-Munda dance, performed by eight artistes (four males, four females) from the group ‘Aadim Sanskruti’ from Keonjhar, led by Bijay Kumar Munda. Performed traditionally at the start of the sowing season, the dance is a rhythmic invocation for a bountiful harvest, and showcased the community’s close connection with nature.
Rounding off the evening was a power-packed Sambalpuri dance performance titled ‘Matira Mahak’, brought to life by 18 artistes of the Tribal and Folk Art Centre, Sambalpur, under the guidance of Guru Alok Kumar Panda.
Through lively movements and pulsating beats, the dancers celebrated the vibrant culture of Western Odisha, portraying festivals like ‘Karma’, ‘Nuakhai’, ‘Chher Chhera’, ‘Pushpani’, and ‘Dalkhai’.
The anchor of the evening was Biswajit Baliarsingh.
