The Srjan, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Nrityabasa organised “Upasaranam: Moving towards Excellence”, an evening of Odishi dance by budding talents, at the Rabindra Mandap here on Saturday.
Pranati Mohanty, Dr Ileana Citaristi and Dr Bijay Kumar Jena inaugurated the event. Many exquisite dance presentations, originally choreographed by legendary Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and Srjan Director Ratikant Mohapatra, were made.
‘Upasaranam’ began with the traditional invocatory item, “Mangalacharan” and Vishnu Vandanap performed by young artists.The group composition was by Pragna Parimita Das and the dancers, Amrita, Anisha, Anshita, Bhabna, Gul, Himakshi, Ipsita, Monali, Ritika, Shree, Shubhashree, Shubhra, Shreya and Swikruti beautifully portrayed lord Vishnu’s grandeur.
The second performance of the evening was Guru Vandana, a salutation to the Guru, performed by youngest dancers, Abhisikta, Akankshya, Anwesha, Ashmita, Cariline, Chinmayee, Dishita, Sagun, Saishree, Sai Shreya, Sushree and Swati. The group composition was by Riyanka Chakrabarty.
Thereafter, the highly technical pure dance, Batu, was presented by Akankhya, Amrita, Anushka, Anwesha, Bhabyaa, Bibhinnita, Dipranwita, Maitri, Manyata, Nandini, Pratikshya, Riya and Somalin, to a group composition by Sujata Pradhan.
The only solo presentation of the evening was Bhagavati Stotram, portraying the power and grandeur of Goddess Durga, choreographed by Ratikant Mohapatra and set to the music composition of Satyabrata Katha. Sushree Shivangi Panigrahi presented this dance.
The next performance was a pure dance, a Pallavi, set to Raag Mohana and Triputa Taal, was presented by Angelina, Ansita, Mehek, Mihika, Priti Pragyan, Sarmistha, Shilpa, Sruti Joshna, Sushree Sangita, Swostideepa to Ritu Sengupta’s composition.
The finale ‘Bho Shambho’ was an energetic and brilliant delight of music and choreography. Trained by Rajshri Praharaj, dancers Dibyashree, Prajakta, Prerna, Reebdhita, Subhashree, Tanushree and Tuhin presented ‘Bho Shambho’ with élan, giving a befitting end to the evening.