The graceful Odishi dancer Sonali Mohapatra, who is hearing-impaired, is indeed an example for other physically-challenged persons. Her presentation and facial expressions spellbound the audience in the Odishi dance festival staged at the Rabindra Mandap here on Saturday. Sonali and her disciples showcased their talents at the event organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in association with the State Culture Department.
The stage opened with Mangalacharan, a piece offering praise to lord Ganesh by disciples of the Nrutya Upasana Pitha (NUP), a city-based dance institution owned by Sonali. The second dance piece and the main attraction of the festival was solo performance by Guru Sonali Mohapatra. She performed on ‘Asta Sambhu.’ The 13-minute performance captivated the audience. This was followed by the item Saranga Pallavi, a stupefying performance by disciples of the NUP.
Then, an expressional dance performance by Sonali on Odia abhinaya Mohane Deli Chanhi written by Banamali Das also enthralled the viewers. In this dance, Radha describes her feelings to her friends after seeing Krishna, the feeling that got entrenched in her heart. Radha expressed her love towards Krishna very vividly. Her eye expression also showcased her madness for Krishna.
The closing performance of the evening was ‘Surya Ashtakam’ by the NUP disciples which is a devotional prayer to lord Surya. Despite being deaf, Sonali’s wonderful performance to the rhythm of music was a marvel for the audience. Freedom fighter and former MP Sivaji Patnaik inaugurated the festival.