Bhubaneswar: Rabindra Mandap resonated with rhythm and energy on Tuesday, as the International Odissi Dance Festival concluded with a packed programme of performances in Bhubaneswar. The five-day festival was organised by the Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra (GKCM) Odissi Research Centre under the aegis of the Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture.
The concluding day witnessed enthusiastic participation from audiences and featured Odissi exponents from India and abroad, presenting solo, duet, and group performances, turning the festival into a vibrant celebration of the classical dance form, according to a release from GKCM Centre.
The morning session opened with a series of performances by Lingaraj Kala Niketan (group), Ankita Behera, Suhana Mishra, Joyita Pal and Agnisha Basak (duet), Diptis Kumar Satpathy, Radhika Rajesh Kubde, Subhasini Mallick and Suvashree Suchismita Mallick (duet), Indrajit Sarkar, Swarnanki Das, and Debarchana Dance Academy (group). Their presentations were warmly received by Odissi enthusiasts.
In the afternoon session, the stage was taken over by Natasutra Research Public Charitable Trust (group), Ramakanta Sahoo, Preetipragyan Das and Ranjita Priyadarshini Pani (duet), Subhrakanta Pradhan, Swagatika Sahoo, and Dibya Priyadarshini Das (duet), Itishree Mohanty, and Nrutyarchana (group), who showcased a diverse range of choreographies rooted in the Odissi tradition.
The evening segment began with a performance by renowned Odissi dancer Guru Aloka Kanungo. This was followed by solo and duet presentations by Preeti Mohapatra, Vidisha Basumallik, and Rohini Samal (duet), Preetisha Mohapatra, Paulami Chakraborty, Moushmi Madh,u and Pranavi Annadurai (duet), Sagnya Sucharita Nayak, Simantini Mitra-Beura, and Darpani (group). The performances sustained the festive spirit and drew loud appreciation from the audience.
The concluding evening formally commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by eminent cultural personalities, including noted singers Dr. Shyamamani Devi and Guru Gopal Chandra Panda; former Principal Secretary of the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department, Manoranjan Panigrahy; eminent Odissi dancer Guru Bichitrananda Swain; Odissi exponent Dr. Jyotsnarani Sahoo; Secretary of the Odisha Sangita Natak Akademi, Dr. Chandrasekhar Hota; and Suchisimita Mantry, Administrative Officer of the Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre.
