By Kedar Mishra
Let me start this writing with a very blunt statement- most of our contemporary choreographic works are violent. They are loud, offensive and atrocious. Some are dominatingly in love to hit your head and bleed you internally. When violent has become a virtue, how one is going to choreograph Mahatma Gandhi’s idea of Ahimsa. You can’t describe Bapu in louder words. Mahatma Gandhi is soft but solid. He is imperfect but pure. He is innocent but extremely courageous. How to deal with such paradoxical personality and define him in dance? You talk about Gandhi without narrating his words or deeds. In a daring attempt Bapu is being metamorphosed into an idea. It was dance of an idea. Such a challenging act to make an idea to dance can only be executed by none other than Astad Daboo, the unparalleled genius of contemporary dance in India.
Astad Deboo’s tribute to Gandhi
The first evening of 16thhDhauli-Kalinga Mahotsav jointly organised by Department of Tourism, Government of Odisha, Orissa Dance Academy and Art Vision began with an extraordinary choreography of contemporary dance. Astad’s tribute to Gandhi is an epic written though movements. In contemporary choreography Astad’s brilliant exploration of space is quite well known, but in this choreography he goes beyond space. It’s a journey in to the world of truth and nonviolence. Its an internal journey where the soul fights his hindrances with love. A superb work of silence.
Ensemble of Srjan and Orissa Dance Academy
Rajashree Shirke is known to be the leading Kathak exponent who excels in traditional “Katha bachak” style of Kathak. Her strength is her story telling ability. Unfortunately today was not her day and she was disappointing with her flat storytelling and a group of dancers who are not up to mark. Her presentation of “kahnupatra” a courtesan devotee of Panduranga Vithala’s story makes no impact. Supported by an equally “besura” music side, her was a poor show.
The festival began with a magical confluence of two highly professional Odissi groups; Srjan and Orissa Dance Academy coming together to present a trio of Pallavi. It was a blend of three major Pallavis- Shankaravarana, Kirwani and Hamsadhwani. Two competing groups can really be so harmonious and they can be complementing to each other so perfectly, that is the take away of me for the first evening.
The festival was inaugurated by Dr. Priyambada Mohanty-Hejmadi Former Vice Chancellor, Sambalpur University; Devi Prasanna Patnaik, Renowned Linguist; R. Balakrishnan, IAS, Chief Advisor to Chief Minister, Odisha; Guru Aruna Mohanty, Secretary, Orissa Dance Academy and Guru Ileana Citaristi, Secretary, Art Vision. The programme was compered by Dr. Mrutunjaya Rath and Itishree Devi.
