Bhubaneswar: The two-day dance and music festival ‘Stabaka’, hosted by Chinmayee Classics at Bhanjakala Mandap here wrapped up on a high note on Thursday, leaving the audience spellbound.
As the name of the festival ‘Stabaka’ (Bouquet) suggests, it offered a vibrant mix of performances that enthralled the art lovers. Among others, Chinta O Chetana general Surendra Das, Mardala exponent Guru Bijay Kumar Barik, Odissi vocalist Guru Raj Kishore Pradhan, Odissi dancer Guru Prashanta Kumar Behera and Chinmayee Classics’ advisor advocate Sovebita Ray graced the evening as esteemed guests who inaugurated the evening by lighting the auspicious lamp. Founder Prabhati Kar also shared the dais.
The guests in their addresses heaped praise on Kar for her unwavering dedication and tireless efforts in propagating the state’s cultural heritage.
Next in the felicitation ceremony, Rama Chandra Sahoo, who is the founder of Sriram Chitralaya in Cuttack was honoured with Raghunath Panda Memorial Award.
The cultural evening commenced with a lively group guitar recital by the students of Chinmayee Classics under the guidance of Guru Kishore Kumar Swain.
The young performers-Sanjana Ray, V Manyata, V Sourya, Soumya Radhika, Adhira Sahoo, Saideep Sahoo, Prem Arayan Puhan, Aditya Narayan, Samara Mohanty and Sanvi Tanishtha- struck the right chord with popular numbers like ‘Tum Hi Aana’ from film ‘Marjaavaan’ and ‘Main Agar Kahun’ from film ‘Om Shanti OM’. They were ably supported by Litu Kumar Digal on the Keyboard and Karpura Kumar Nayak on the Octopad.
The next performer was a graceful Odissi dancer Ashwashan Biswal. Biswal received her initial Odissi training from Guru Dhruba Charan Biswal and later honed her skills under the watchful eyes of gurus like Guru Pabitra Kumar Pradhan, Guru Bijay Kumar Das and Guru Smt Madhulita Mohapatra. She has completed her Nrutya Visharad from Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh.
She presented ‘Madhurastakam’, written by great saint of 16th century Shri Vallabhacharya, choreographed by Guru Pankaj Charan Das and music composed by Guru Harihara Panda. Her poise and graceful portrayal of divine beauty of Lord Krishna left the art lovers captivated.
Adding a dash of contrast, young freestyle hip hop dancer Saina Dhal next came onto the stage and brought the house down with Bollywood peppy numbers like ‘Adat Se Majboor…’, ‘Chaar Bajgaye…’, and ‘Dubja Mere Pyar Main…’, getting the crowd on its feet.
The evening also witnessed a spirited set of performances by mothers, who proved age is just a number. While Dolly Pati, Bebina Tripathy, Babita Mohapatra, Ranu Mohapatra, Sumita Tripathy, Anuradha Maharana and Honey Tripathy danced their hearts out to hits like ‘Hawa Hawai..’, ‘Jaiphula’ and ‘Alata Makhi’, Mamita Patra stole the show with her ‘To Lagi Gopa Danda…’ and ‘Madhuri special’ songs like ‘Tu Sayari…’.
The grand finale witnessed a series of performances by the students of institution, including ‘Deva Sriganesha’, ‘Namami Namami’, ‘Rakta Charitra’, ‘Theme Mahabatein’, ‘Narshimha’, ‘Bihu’, leaving the art lovers glued to their seats till the very end.
The anchors of the evening are Biswajit Baliarsingh and Er (Dr) Srinivas Ghatuary.
Founded by noted Odissi dancer Guru Prabhati Kar, a disciple of legendary guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, in 1991, Chinmayee Classics has carved a niche for itself as a complete institution where training imparted for not just Odissi dance, but also for instruments like guitar, tabla, harmonium, vocal, modern dance and painting.
