It is often said that one is never too young to take the stage by storm and that age is a mere number in performing arts. This was demonstrated by eight talented young Odishi dancers in the third edition of the “Under Sixteen” programme, organised by the Odissi Dancers Council (ODC), Bhubaneswar held here on Tuesday.
The evening commenced with the ‘Pushpanjali’, a floral offering, where all the dancers of the evening came together to seek the blessings of the almighty. The first performer of the evening was Subhashree
Mohapatra, disciple of Ileana Citaristi. She performed Belahari Pallavi, a pure dance item on Raag Belahari and tala Ekatali, set to the dance choreography of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and the music composition of Pt. Bhubaneswar Mishra.
This was followed by an Abhinaya presentation by SnehaVerma, disciple of Namita Ray. Sneha danced to ‘Radha Rani Sange Nache Murali Pani’,an Odia Abhinaya choreographed by Guru Durga Charan Ranbir and set to the music composition of Guru Ramahari Das in Raag Bhakula Bharanam and Taala Ekatali.
Next, was the presentation of an Ashtapadi from Jayadev’s Geeta Govind, ‘lalita lavanga lata’ in Raag Basant and tala Ekatali composed by the legendary duo of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and Pt. Bhubaneswar Mishra.
The Abhinaya was performed by Aasmita Kar, a disciple of Nandini Ghosal. After this, Prajakta Panda, a disciple of Ratikant Mohapatra, performed ‘Dekha Go Radha Madhaba Chaali’, an Odia Abhinaya choreographed by her Guru set to Raag Ananda Kamodi and Khemta Taal.
Tanvee Rout, disciple of Meera Das, then presented a pure dance, ‘Nrutta Pallavi’ choreographed by her Guru set to the musical arrangement of Neelachal Patra in Raag Mohana and Ekatali.
The next performer of the evening was Aashi Kumar, a disciple of Sharon lowen, who danced to Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja’s‘Malli Mala Shyamoku Debi’ set to Raag Nata Narayana and Jati Taal. The dance choreography for this piece is by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and music composition is by Pt Bhubaneswar Mishra.
The penultimate presentation of the evening was by Meerabala Samantaray, disciple of Pitambar Biswal, who danced to ‘Na ja Jamuna lo sahi na ja Jamuna’, composed by her Guru to the music composition of Satyabrata Katha in Raag Mohana Kedar and Rupak Taal.
The evening concluded with a performance by Soumyashree Panda,
disciple of Anshuman Misra, who danced to a composition by Kumkum Mohanty and music by Pt. Bhubaneswar Mishra. Soumyashree performed the Odia Abhinaya ‘Ki sobha go kunje’ set to Raag Ananda Bhairabi and Taala Malika.
The programme was inaugurated by guests Suramani Ramesh Chandra Das, Mrinalini Padhi, Pranati Mohanty and Itishree Devi.