To blow away the smoke and the dust, the tears and the fear, in blew a refreshing whirlwind, and in the vortex was this haven of beauty, joy, love, dedication and peace in the presentation of the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble at the Bishop’s College hall.
For two hours I sat entranced, in a sublime world, fashioned by the most lyrical bodies that spoke a new, sensuous language.
The performance encapsulated the vision of the founder of Nrityagram, Protima Gauri, who has dedicated her life to bring the 2000-year-old Odissi dance form to a 21st Century audience. She uses modern technology, to enhance, develop and breathe new life into this ancient art, bringing it to a new dimension, while never losing its essence and purity.
Of all the Indian dance forms, Odissi is the most lyrical and sensuous. The human body becomes an instrument, to be fine- tuned by the choreographer to express all the sensuous yearnings of the eternal lover. Nrityagram compositions explode to the lyrics and music of poets and composers, from Jayadeva of the 12th Century to modern Orissi poets and composers like Pandit Ragunath Panigrahi who is the music composer for Nrityagram.
Dynamic choreography, enchanting lyrics, haunting music and sensitive lighting were all an integral part of each carefully crafted item, each with its own character. The choreography was so creative, it kept me guessing right through the evening. The patterns and arrangements were intricate and elusive, but always in harmony.
The five dancers entrusted with the task of executing these compositions were exceptionally talented, and were like exquisite sculptures come to life. The fluidity of their movements, perfect synchronization and innate grace enriched each item with a special quality. They danced with their hearts, they danced with their souls, they danced with their bodies. This was perfection!
In the group compositions, it was hard to find one dancer who stood out from the rest. This was a testament to their skill and training, where individual personalities were deliberately submerged, in order to become an indistinguishable component, of a perfect whole - extremely difficult for an accomplished dancer to do, but very successfully achieved. (The dancers will understand what I am trying to say).
At all times, the performers were in perfect sync, merging and flowing like ripples on a stream, answering the call of the wind.
In a programme as well balanced as the one I watched, it was very difficult to pick outstanding items, but I especially liked “Murali Paani” for its deeply expressive rendering of an Oriya poem describing the beauty of Lord Krishna.
The final item, “Vibbhakta”, an interpretation of the Ardhanareshwara Stotra was danced by Surupa Sen and Bijayini Satpathy. This stotra is a hymn on the union and separation of male and female, living in harmony while being distinctly separate.
To say it left me spellbound and speechless is an understatement. It surpassed for me any performance I have ever seen, and I doubt I will ever see anything better. Such technical skill and precision, while never losing grace and fluidity of movement, all the while giving the illusion of great ease, was a remarkable achievement. The movements were so varied and changes of tempo, pose and mood, mercurial. Perfect mirror images, quickly fused into one synchronized body, then moved apart to become different identities of man and woman. It was hard to hold on to the moment much as I would have liked to, changing poses, changing rhythms, changing moods made the composition a kaleidoscope of movement. That degree of consummate ease can come only with many hours/years of hard work and complete dedication to the art.
The Chitrasena Vajira Dance Foundation, has given all those of us interested in serious art a great gift in bringing the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble to Sri Lanka. Nrityagram has for me, set the gold standard for Odissi dance
I know Upekha herself has been greatly influenced by Nrityagram, and the Odissi style, while the dancers of Nrityagram look up to Vajira as a great guru, and the members of her family as their own. This interchange and appreciation of each others’ cultures is as it should be. |
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