Bengaluru: The art connoisseurs attended the dance programme titled ‘Laasya’ with a tagline THE FEMININE ESSENCE OF GRACE, at Soonya Centre for Art and Somatic Practices in Bengaluru on November 24 were left enamoured by noted Odissi dancer Karishma Ahuja.
Karishma, a graded artiste of Doordarshan and trained in Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra style of dance, presented five choreographies of legendary Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra that are characterised by the grace, delicacy and fluidity of a female dancer.
She commenced her presentation with Mangalacharan where a dancer slowly enters the stage with flowers in her hands and makes an offering to mother earth. This is followed by an invocation of a deity.
She invoked Goddess Matangi, daughter of Sage Mathanga who plays gem studded divine string instrument/Veena, who has dazzling features and nectar like mesmerizing speeches and offered salutation to Mother Universe.
The item was set to Raga Malika, Tala Ekatali and Jati, chroreographed by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and music composed by Pt Bhubaneswar Mishra.
With this, she set the mood of the cultural evening, leaving the audience glued to their seats.
She followed it up with Pallavi, a pure dance piece. Set to Raga Shankaravaranam and Tala Ekatali, the item was choreographed by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, music composed by Pt Bhubaneswar Mishra.
The third item of the evening was Durga Stuti where the dancer described Goddess Durga through her lyrical body movements. The item was choreographed by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra.
The penultimate item was an Ashtapadi ‘Lalitha Lavang Latha’, set to Raga Vasant, Tala Jati and choreographed by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra.
Watching her managing the stage space while describing how the Spring influences lovers and those suffering from separation from their divine lover Sri Krishna.
She concluded her presentation with Moksha, the last item of an Odissi repertoire. This dance represents spiritual culmination for the dancer who soars into the realm of pure aesthetic delight. The item was based on Raga Bhairavi and Tala Ekatali and was choreographed by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra.
In all the five items, the dancer’s rigorous training and practice were visible to even the untrained eyes.
The event was jointly organised by Karishma Ahuja of Kadambari School of Odissi Dance and Ekta Singh of Ekta’s Gathering.
