Sydney: If Odissi dance is popular, practiced and performed far beyond its traditional home in Odisha and found admirers across the globe, much of the credit goes to the gurus who have nurtured the classical dance form and the disciples who are carrying their legacy to distant shores.
One of such torchbearers is Guru Smt Debashree Das, a product of Odissi Dance Academy, Bhubaneswar.
For the past five years, she has been running her Odissi dance institution ‘Nrityashree Odissi Dance Academy’ in Bankstown, Sydney, Australia, with a mission to take Odissi to a wider audience, particularly among non-Indians.
As part of that endeavour, she has also launched ‘Basant Raag’, a festival celebrating Indian classical dance and culture.
The festival’s second edition recently held at Bryan Brown Theatre, Bankstown, Sydney, on September 5.
As the sun dipped in the city’s horizon, the auditorium filled with an eager anticipation with drawing seasoned art lovers, members of the Indian-Australian community and enthusiastic newcomers for an evening steeped in rhythm, devotion and grace.
The evening began on an auspicious note with the ceremonial candle lighting at the idols of Lord Jagannath and His siblings placed on a raised platform on the right side of the dais by Harmohan Walia, Deepak Chauhan, Gurnam Singh, Nadeem Ahmed, Pallavi Bhagwath, Amy Hoffman, Todd, Yogesh Khattar, Balu MV, Tapas Senapati and Durga Routray. Guru Smt Debashree Das was also present on the dais.
Following the candle lighting ceremony, the guests were felicitated with plaques and mementoes by Tapas Senapati, president of the Association of Odias in Australia (ORIOZ).
The cultural segment got off to a fine start with Guru Smt Debashree Das herself taking the stage.
After seeking blessings from the sibling deities, she presented an abhinaya ‘Sakhi He Keshī Mathana Mudāram’ from Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda. In this shrungara rasa-laden piece, Guru Debashree Das with her impeccable abhinaya skills, expressive eyes and graceful movements conjured up an enchanting world of love and longing.
Her elegant stage presence and infectious energy left the art connoisseurs remained in trance for some time even after the performance. The thunderous applause that followed was ample testimony to her artistic finesse and her command over the choreography.
Keeping the momentum going, five tiny tots aged between five and six years of ‘Nrityashree Odissi Dance Academy’-Tammana, Anika, Riya, Kashika and Isanvi-presented ‘Kahin Gale Murali Phunka’, dance direction by Guru Smt Debashree Das.
Their confidence and stage presence were particularly noteworthy, considering their tender age.
The third item of the evening was another group dance presentation ‘Mo Jaga Kalia Re’ by Shradha, Anwesha, Ishanvi and Ajna. These four talented dancers could radiate the energy to the audience leaving them spellbound.
The following item was an abhinaya ‘Mu Je Laja Re’ presented by Navami, Adya, Kaya, Anwika and Aritrika, all aged between five to six years. The four young dancers brought considerable energy and enthusiasm to the stage and won a warm appreciation from the art lovers.
Adding another hue to the evening, a group Kuchipudi recital was then presented by eight dancers of Mayura Dance Academy. They presented Muthuswamy Dikshitar’s celebrated composition ‘Mahaganapathim’, set to Naata Raagam and Aadi Thalam, as an invocation to Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles.
The dancers—Anirudh Karanam, Anusha Kannekanti, Ayushvi Bhavaraju, Harshitha Kanuru, Hruthika Dasari, Meghna Karanam, Pratyusha Kannekanti and Sriharshitha Puthi—brought out the iconography of the elephant-headed deity with striking clarity. Their performance was a visual treat that kept the audience glued to their seats.
In the following item ‘Vakratunda Mahakaya’, Lord Ganesh was once again invoked in a group Odissi recital by Puspa, Sai, Padmaja, Indrani and Bhavani.With Ganesh Chaturthi approaching, the two Ganesha-themed presentations proved to be a timely and fitting choice, filling the auditorium with an atmosphere of devotion.
The seventh item ‘Hari Om’, featured dancers namely Mumtaz, Mahamaya, Barenya and Namita. Through graceful body movements and expressions, the dancers invoked Lord Vishnu and explored the eternal bond between the devotee and the Divine. Their serene performance created a peaceful and contemplative mood.
The spotlight then shifted to a group presentation ‘Celebration’ by six talented artistes of Kalakan Dance Academy. Choreographed by Amrita Pal Chaudhuri, set to the music of Ananda Shankar, the item drew inspiration from the distinctive Uday Shankar style. Sharmistha, Madhurima, Priyasha, Priyanka, Jui and Rumi- brought the choreography alive with energy and precision, making the presentation a visual delight and doing their guru proud.
The connoisseurs were then treated to ‘Matangi Dhyanam’, a group Odissi dance recital by Trisha, Saanvi, Riddhi, Brinda, Tirthya and Eshana.
With their polished, poised and meditative presentation, the dancers brought alive the majesty and spiritual beauty of Goddess Matangi and their graceful interpretation earned generous applause from the audience.
The next group Odissi presentation ‘Chaturbhuja Jagannath’ featured Saisha, Bhumi, Saachi, Mimansa, Anaira and Benisha, all between six to eight years old. Through their youthful yet earnest performance, the dancers portrayed different facets of Lord Jagannath and brought the spirit of devotion to the stage.
Next, Mayura Dance Academy returned with another scintillating Kuchipudi presentation, ‘Neela Megha Shareera’. Set to Mohana Raagam and Aadi Thalam, in this Tharangam, Lord Krishna is praised while seeking eternal joy and divine protection.
The audience couldn’t get their eyes off the stage as the dancers’ performance on the rims of brass plates accompanied by the beats of the mridangam. Their remarkable balance, precision and rhythmic control spoke volumes about the rigour and discipline behind their training. The performers were Anirudh Karanam, Anusha Kannekanti, Ayushvi Bhavaraju, Harshitha Kanuru, Hruthika Dasari, Meghna Karanam, Pratyusha Kannekanti and Sriharshitha Puthi.
The penultimate item of the evening was the pure Odissi dance recital ‘Desh Pallavi’, presented by Rashmi and Simantini.
‘Pallavi’, which literally means ‘blossoming’, is a pure dance in Odissi repertoire where a raga is elaborated with intricate and rhythmic footwork, lyrical body movements and graceful choreography. Like a flower slowly opening its petals, a ‘Pallavi’ begins at a measured pace and gradually unfolds into increasingly complex rhythmic and melodic patterns, creating a captivating visual and musical experience.
The artistes’ sculptural poses and fluid movements evoked memories of the exquisite carvings adorning the walls of Odisha’s Konark Sun Temple.
The festival drew to a mesmerising close with Guru Debashree Das presenting the abhinaya ‘Laaja Re Sarigali’.
Blessed with expressive eyes and a beautifully chiselled torso, she once again held the audience in thrall with her nuanced expressions and refined presentation, transporting them into an evocative world of emotion and grace.
When the curtains finally came down, the mood among the rasikas was one of satisfaction appreciation and eager anticipation.
Conversations outside the auditorium revolved around the growing stature of Nrityashree Dance Academy, the festival’s meticulous organisation and hopes for an even more vibrant third edition.
The annual event was the culmination of months of hard work by the students and their families. From rehearsals and choreography to costumes, music and stage preparations, every aspect reflected the dedication and teamwork that went into bringing the festival to life.
Speaking about the occasion, Guru Smt Debashree Das said that watching her students perform on stage after months of preparation was deeply rewarding. She expressed her gratitude to the students, parents, volunteers, sponsors, performers, guests and everyone whose support helped make the event a success.
Adding charm and continuity to the proceedings, emcees of the evening Ashok Mohapatra, Suresh Adhikari, Satyadeep Acharya and Anisha’s Odia narration kept the programme flowing seamlessly from one performance to the next.
The presence of dignitaries and members of the Indian-Australian community further underscored the cultural significance of the evening. The festival provided a platform not only for established artists but also for emerging young dancers to experience the joy, discipline and responsibility that come with performing Indian classical art.
As the Founder and Creative Director of ‘Nrityashree Odissi Dance Academy’, Guru Smt Debashree Das has been working tirelessly to promote Odissi in Australia and to create opportunities for the next generation to connect with India’s rich cultural heritage.
Her own artistic journey has been shaped by extensive training in Odissi. She trained at the Padma Vibhushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Dance Academy in Bhubaneswar, completed Visharad training under Guru Gangadhar Pradhan, and continues to receive guidance from renowned Guru Smt. Sarita Mishra.
Through initiatives such as ‘Basant Raag’, Guru Smt Debashree Das is ensuring that the timeless language of Odissi continues to speak to audiences far from its birthplace—and that its graceful rhythm finds a home in Sydney as well.
