The students aspiring to learn traditional dances are being trained at their best skills at Utkal Bhavan. Other than several Indian traditional dances, a workshop on Chhau dance is being organized for theatre aspirants.
The month long workshop is being conducted by a renowned theatre choreographer of city Chandra Madhav Barik. The workshop is being organised by Kirti Ballet and Performing Arts.
As many as 20 theatre aspirants have participated in the workshop. 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, Chandra Madhav Barik 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 children of Bhopal, with the same elegancy.” Explaining further, he said that before beginning the actual dance steps it is needed to learn about the origin of the dance. So an information session explaining about the dance and its importance was held on the first day of the workshop.
Informing about the Chhau dance, Barik said, “Usually people recognize Chhau dance with heavy masks and the folklore told in extravagant way. But, the Mayurbhanj Chhau dance is practiced 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 differenciates itself from other forms of dance. The martial arts technique in Mayurbhanj Chhau makes it even more impactful, added Barik.
Currently, the students are learning mediation, rhythm, body movements and lyrics of Mayurbhanj Chhau music. He further informed that a production will be prepared during the workshop. The workshop will continue till April 30.