Arts
Await the dramatic union of Kandyan and Odissi
View(s):As the Lankan fans await this spectacular joint performance by the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble based in Bangalore and Sri Lanka’s very own Chitrasena Dance Company, the graceful fluidity of the dances can only be imagined until visualized in June.
Pix by Nan Melville
What better tribute can be showered on ‘Samhära’ than “poetry in motion” as declared by critic Karthik Hebbar in the ‘Hindu’ newspaper of India?
“The subtle and sublime sensuousness of the graceful Odissi form embraces the vibrant and energetic Kandyan form with open arms, in a union they energize every space of the canvas with unmatched beauty and vigour,” is how the critic waxes eloquent.
‘Samhära’ has many a meaning in Sanskrit including ‘gathering’ and these two dance companies come together to perform the best mix and blend of two classical dance styles, Odissi and Kandyan.
Choreographed by dance legend Surupa Sen, Artistic Director of the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble and recipient of the prestigious Nritya Choodamani Award, ‘Samhära’ is a culmination of a significant five-year journey which explores the elemental connections between the sensuousness of Nrityagram’s Odissi and the masculine dynamism of Chitrasena’s Kandyan dance.
L- R Bijayini Satpathy, Surupa Sen, Pavithra Reddy - Pic by Virginia Rodrigues
A dialogue between these two classical dance traditions, the performers will enact the cultural conversation to a grand live orchestra. Each dancer has to haveproficient understanding of the counterpart’s style, allowing the true appreciation and understanding of each other’s dance form. Sans competition or superficial gimmicks that may usually be associated with other dance fusions, ‘Samhära’ aims at providing soulful dancing in its rawest form.
The powerful words of Surupa Sen say it all: “My only advice to the dancers is that once on stage, they have to ‘own’ their performance.”
The original production of ‘Samhära’ premiered in 2012-13 and its rebirth five years later has already seen a performance in Bangalore’s Chowdiah Memorial Hall on May 19 and at London’s Royal Festival Hall on May 26.
This production which toured internationally over two years in 2012-13 was nominated for two Bessie Awards (dance’s equivalent of the Academy Awards in the United States of America) for ‘Outstanding Production’ and ‘Outstanding Sound Design or Composition’ in 2012, while receiving rave reviews and standing ovations from appreciative audiences for six nights at the prestigious Joyce Theatre in New York. In May 2012, ‘Samhära’ was performed in Sri Lanka at the Lionel Wendt Theatre for three sold-out shows.
The dialogue between the two esteemed dance companies will introduce their cultures to audiences, while dramatizing their agony and struggles and celebrating the joy and hopes of a sensational performance.
While within their own dance companies the dancers have strong bonds, these ties have now spread between the neighbours of India and Sri Lanka, symbolized by the friendship between Surupa Sen and our very own acclaimed Upeka Chitrasena.
The production, meanwhile, is not just a show, but a labour of love and learning.
Performed to a live score,the music of ‘Samhära’ has been composed by Pandit Raghunath Panigrahi. The production also features the renowned choreographer Surupa Sen herself along with Bijayini Satpathy, Pavithra Reddy, Akshiti Roychowdhury and Urmila Mallick from the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble. Sri Lanka’s very own famous dancers from the Chitrasena Dance Company in the production are Thaji Dias and Sandani Sulochani.
Photo Credit - Nan Melville
The production takes a magical quality from the music accompaniment provided by Jateen Sahu, main vocalist; RohanDahale,mardala (percussion), Sanjib Kunda, violin and Parshuram Das, flute and from the Chitrasena Dance Company’s Waruna ShriHemachandra on Kandyan drums. The production’s Kandyan Dance sections are assisted byHeshma Wignaraja and the Kandyan drum compositions have been set by Prasanna Rupathilake from the Chitrasena Dance Company.
‘Samhära’ will go on the boards at the Lionel Wendt Theatre at 7 p.m., on June 5 and 6. Tickets priced at Rs. 4,000, 3,000, 2,500, 2,000, 1,000 and balcony Rs. 500 are on sale at the Chitrasena Dance School (590, Elvitigala Mw., Col. 5) and tickets.lk and from May 29 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre.
For more information, please contact 011-3150570.
(Our cover features Thaji Dias and Bijayini Satpathy.)