Bhubaneswar:‘Udayraga’, the online dance festival hosted by Indo American Association, Houston and Orissa Dance Academy, Bhubaneswar, saw Odissi and Kathakali presentations by talented Ananya Parida and Prabal Gupta respectively on December 18 (USA) and December 19 (India).
With a brief introduction by Supradipta Dutta, artistic director, Kalaangan School of Odissi, Houston, the evening started with Odissi dance recitals by Ananya Parida.
The svelte dancer presented ‘Barsha Barnali: The different shades of water’. She was excellent in narrating how the cycle of rain is connected to the very cycle of life. Much as the first faltering steps taken by a child almost hesitant arrival of few rain drops actually heralds the unset of pouring rains.
The rushing brook, the little stream which knows not where it goes creates its own impulsive passage of flowing water and water speaks eloquently of it own energy.
The river like a maiden full of grace, beauty, romance and hope goes from mood to resplendent mood from experience to further experience. Sprung from richness of the life divine the river flows on and on until it loses itself in the embrace of the ocean.
The cycle again starts with the hesitant arrival of a few rain drops.
Set to raga Raga Malika and tala Tala Malika, the item was choreographed by Guru Aruna Mohanty, music composed by Sumanta Mohanty, rhythm composed by Guru Dhaneswar Swain who was assisted by Guru Bijay Kumar Barik.
Her next presentation was ‘Ram Stotram’, which is a dance piece in praise of Lord Shri Rama. The Ram Stotram is made by melding two shlokas “Rama Lakshmana Purvaja”, a modern writing, and “Shri Rama Chandra Kripalu Bhajamana”, written by Shri Goswami Tulasidasa in the sixteenth century. The item intrinsically glorifies Shri Rama,his characteristics and his noble yet valiant deeds.
Graceful and elegant Ananya ticked all boxes, doing justice to her guru Guru Aruna Mohanty. Music composed by Agnimitra Behera and Rupak Parida, rhythm composed by Guru Dhaneswar Swain and Guru Bijay Kumar Barik
Initiated into Odissi at a very tender age of three, Ananya, is a diligent and committed student of Orissa dance Academy, where she got the privilege to refine her skills under the direct guidance of Padma Shri Guru Aruna Mohanty, Guru Yudhisthir Nayak and Guru Rojalin Mohapatra. Ananya, has received rave reviews for her performances pan India and she is also a graded artist of Doordarshan.
She has graduated in economics from the XIMB-XUB and has also interned in the London School of Economics, UK.
Next came Prabal Gupta, a most sought after Performer, Choreographer and a Research Scholar whose is a prominent name in the world of Kathakali.
Initially trained in Kathakali under Guru Fact Padmanabhan and a disciple of the Central SangeetNatak Academy Awardee and the legendary Kathakali Exponent and Research Scholar Guru Sadanam Balakrishnanji, Prabal presented a padam from Nalacharitam written by Unnayi Warrior.
Thumbs up to Prabal for playing the character of Damayanti.
Nala and Damayanti are in their honeymoon. They are enjoying each other’s company. The padam opens in the garden of Nala. Damayanthi is portrayed as a Mughdha Nayika here in this padam, enjoying the beauty of nature, looking at fully blossomed flowers, beautiful creepers and ‘Ketaka’ flowers as beautiful as moon.
Feasting her eyes on swans and goose playing in the pond, she feels no place can be as beautiful as this garden.
The padam “SAMMYAM AKKONORU UDDYANAM” is steeped in Sringara rasa and but for the dancer’s complete immersion in bhav, it couldn’t have been that much enjoyable. The item was choreographed by Guru Sadanam Balakrishnan ji and is set to raag Poorvikalyani in Chempada talam.
Prabal is a graded artist of Doordarshan and is empanelled as an ‘Established Artist’by the ICCR Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. Of India. He is also recognized as an “outstanding artist’ by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India for Festivals of India held Abroad. He has represented India in Washington D.C in collaboration with Ministry of Culture, Government of India to commemorate 70 years of India’s IIndependence He was bestowed civilian award “OUTSTANDING CITIZEN OF NEW YORK” by the Council of New York, The United States of America.
He has performed in almost all major dance festivals in India and abroad. As a choreographer, scholar & performer he has been well appreciated worldwide.
He has authored a book “Streevesham in Kathakali”.
By kalasanskruti
