The eighth Devdasi National Dance Festival will be held at the Rabindra Mandap here from September 24 to 26. The festival will showcase eight Indian classical dance styles by the eminent dancers.
This year’s Devdasi National Award will be conferred on the eight dancers of Indian classical dance styles. The awardees are Sujata Mahapatra for Odissi, Rama Vaidyanathan for Bharat Natyam, Jayaprabha Menon for Mohini Attam, Anita Sharma for Sattriya, Vidha lal for Kathak, Kottakal Devadas for Kathakali, Shallu Jindal for Kuchipudi and Dr Sohini Ray for Manipuri. Besides, Rupashree Mohapatra will be conferred with this award for Mahari dance.
“Ours is different from other festivals as solo performances of eight classical dancers will be rendered in one stage within three days,” said secretary of the festival organising body Jagabandhu Jena at a Press conference here on Friday.
Chief adviser of the festival organising body, Devdasi Nrutya Mandir, Dr SK Tamotia gave the outlines of the festival. The festival would be organised in association with the State’s Department of Tourism and Culture, he said.