New Delhi: Art lovers gathered at India International Centre here on January 31 were treated to a delightful cultural evening as 13-year-old Odissi dancer Sushree Vamika Tripathy stunned the audience with a performance far beyond her years, marked by remarkable clarity, precision and emotive depth.
As the sun set in the horizon of the national capital, the auditorium came to life, welcoming an eclectic gathering of distinguished guests, including Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram, MP Sukanta Panigrahi, Chairman of Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister Narendra Modi Professor S Mahendra and veteran Odia actor, director and former Rajya Sabha MP Prashant Nanda, alongside art connoisseurs and the common audience.
The spotlight soon fell on a petite yet powerful presence as Sushree Vamika Tripathy, a disciple of Guru Madhumita Raut, daughter of legendary Guru Mayadhar Raut, the stage.
A Class VIII student of Apeejay School International, New Delhi, Vamika is no stranger to stage performances, having already performed at several festivals as a repertory member of Jayantika.
She presented ‘Moksha’, a piece performed at the end of an Odissi repertoire where a dancer reaches spiritual heights through the movements.
Originally choreographed by Guru Mayadhar Raut, the composition demands both technical mastery and spiritual intensity. Rising to the challenge with effortless grace, Vamika did full justice to the choreography, earning resounding applause. Her energetic movements, lyrical body language and expressive abhinaya kept the audience spellbound throughout.
The evening also witnessed a captivating Bharatanatyam presentation by Aakriti Sahoo, who presented ‘Bho Shambho’. Her intricate footwork and strong command over rhythm made the presentation a visual delight, indeed.
Adding another layer of artistic richness, Annapurna Chatterjee, trained in both Odissi and Bharatanatyam, performed her own creative compositions. While the distinct mudras and stances of both classical forms were noticeable in her compositions, it was her impeccable facial expressions and fluid body movements that truly left the audience enchanted.
The programme concluded on a devotional note with Dr Ishita Ganguli Tripathy, who rendered Lord Jagannath Janana and other soulful compositions, leaving the gathering deeply moved and bringing the culturally rich evening to a memorable close.
