Renowned Odishi dance exponent and SANKAlP’s programme director (culture) and Creative head Kasturi Pattanaik staged at the recently concluded Khajuraho Dance Festival. Pattanaik, along with her disciples, Anita Raut, Purnima Das, Mahasweta Das, Sushree Sangita Nayak, Manikarnika and Ayesha Priyadarshini, performed four items.
The item on Thei Ghara Nata was Pattanaik’s one of the most unique and original contributions to Odishi dance. It provided rotational and multi-dimensional portrayal of the creative growth process of Odishi dance. Thei Ghara Nata epitomises the collective artistic vibrancy of Thei Ghara (practicing room) of Gotipua, one of the earliest evolutionary formats of Odishi dance. The item was based on raga Majkhamaj and taal Triputta, intercepted by Khemta. The music, originally provided by Pandit Bhubaneswar Mishra, has been suitably modified and arranged by Pattanaik.
The Abhinaya-”Sundari..! Heli ki sandihana re...” showcased the intensity of ceaseless spiritual love between Krishna, the love legend of all times and his supreme devotee Radha. Pattanaik enthralled the audience with the charms and diversity of her moving and sublime expressions. Hansadhwoni Pallavi epitomised the elegance, embellishment and enchantment of inner hidden beauty and depth of Odishi dance. It was based on Raag Hansadhwoni and Taal Ektali. The movements in this item were extremely graceful and lyrical.
The Group Abhinaya-”Mare Bana Dhara Shravana Ki....” provided a beautiful creative description of torrential rains of the month Shravan with all its surroundings and impact. The adorable performances manifested Pattanaik’s artistic originality and imagination and her own distinct style in providing enlargement, enrichment and enlivenment of the rich and varied classical traditions and artistic spectrum of Odishi dance.