Organised by GKCM Odishi Research Centre under the aegis of Department of Tourism and Culture, the International Odishi Dance Festival got off to a colourful start, showcasing varied aspects of Odissi repertoire through legendary, established and senior dancers of repute who enthralled the audience by their splendid performances.
The inaugural evening’s first programme was started by Bagmishree Das from Rourkela. She performed Mahakali Tandav set to Rag Pahadi and Tala Ektali and her second item was Kahi Gala Murali Funka set to Rag-Mishra Kafi and Tal-Jhula. This was followed by Krushna Tandav by Alyssa Sahu from the USA. The next item was Dhara Sri Radha music by Jasobanta Padhi which was choreographed by Guru Pitambara Biswal set to Rag-Kirwani and Tal-Jati performed by popular duo Puspanjali and Sangeeta Mohanty from New Delhi.
Desh Pallavi by Satabdi Samantrai, dance choreography, was performed by Kum Kum Mohanty in which music was given by Deepak Kumar Basu. It was followed by Dasabtar by Jyoti Ranjan Das set to Rag-Kalyani and Tal-Ektali. His dance had been choreographed by late Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra and music given by late Pt Bhubaneswar Mishra.
Then came the rendition of Srinagar music in the flute accompanied by mardal by Ritika Mandal and Shibani Parija. The other programmes that came in tandem include Mohana Pallavi set to Rag-Mohara and Tal-Triputa by Arundhati Chakraborty, group dance ‘Namami Krushna Sundaram’ by Rawa Academy, Ardhanariswar set to Rag-Malika, Tal-Malika by Biswajit Das, Anutap by renowned duo Baijayanti Sing and Arpita Pani, Bajuchhi Sahi Bajare music by G Bijay Kumar and Anjali V Kumar from New Delhi, Siva Panchaka by Baijayanti Singh and Arpita Pani, Krishna Madhuri, a dance by Rojalin Mohapatra (choreographed by Guru Aruna Mohanty and music by Guru Ramhari Das and rhythm by Guru Dhneswar Swain), Kalabi Palavi and Asta Sambhu by renowned duo Rahul Varshynay and Isha Das from New Delhi, Barsha Paranaya by Bijayini Madhusmita and a group dance by GKCM Odissi Research Centre and Nrutya Sangeet Kala Mandira.