The students aspiring to learn traditional dances are being trained at their best skills at Shadow Box Theatre several Indian traditional dances, a workshop on Chhau dance is being organised for theatre aspirants.
Under various forms, the Shiva Tandava, Dhwaja Tamal Folk and War dance are the prominent ones being taught in the workshop. The aspirants are being trained under a ‘three-month workshop’ organized by Shadow Theatre group, Bhopal. As many as 20 theatre aspirants have participated in the workshop. Expert Chandra Madhav Barik is teaching the aspirants Mayurbhanj Chhau dance. The Mayurbhanj Chhau dance is performed in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.
While informing about the dance, he said, “I have been trained in chhau dance under Guru Shishya convention a lot many times and keeping the essence of the tradition I am teaching the participants in Bhopal, with the same elegancy.”
Informing about the Chhau dance, he said that the Mayurbhanj Chhau dance is practised without masks. Besides, the themes for chhau dance include local legends, folklore and other abstract themes.
The Mayurbhanj chhau has highly evolved techniques of its own for which it differentiates itself from other forms of dance. The martial arts technique in Mayurbhanj Chhau makes it even more impactful.
Currently, the participants are learning rhythm, body movements and lyrics of Mayurbhanj Chhau music. Besides, steps of martial arts, war dance and Shiva Tandava are also taught.