The Orissa Dance Academy celebrates its 50th anniversary with ‘Subarnimā’, a three-day festival in Bhubaneswar honoring the legacy and future of Odissi dance
OdishaPlus Bureau
Odisha’s vibrant cultural heritage and the timeless legacy of its iconic classical dance form, Odissi, came alive at ‘Subarnimā’, a three-day cultural extravaganza at Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar. Orissa Dance Academy (ODA) on Monday commenced the event marking five decades of its journey in preserving and promoting the timeless traditions of Odisha’s music, research, and artistic heritage.
The inaugural evening brought together eminent Odissi artistes, gurus, and cultural personalities to celebrate the artistic contributions of generations that have shaped the classical dance tradition of Odisha.
The programme was inaugurated with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by Babu Singh, MLA, Ekamra-Bhubaneswar, along with eminent Odissi dancers Dr. Priyambada Mohanty Hejmadi, Kum Kum Mohanty, Madhavi Mudgal, Dr. Snehaprava Samantaray, Guru Durga Charan Ranvir, Dr. Chandrasekhar Hota, Secretary, Odisha Sahitya Akademi and Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi and Guru Dr. Aruna Mohanty, Secretary, Orissa Dance Academy.
The programme opened with tribute to legendary gurus of Odissi, including Guru Deba Prasad Das, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and others who played a pioneering role in shaping the classical dance form.
The ceremony witnessed an invocation performed by dancers of Orissa Dance Academy, followed by a series of classical presentations. The first presentation, Mangalacharana (Hari Hara), choreographed by the late Guru Deba Prasad Das, depicted the harmonious union of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu through expressive movements and traditional Odissi aesthetics.
This was followed by Sthāyī, a pure dance composition choreographed by Guru Durgacharan Ranbir, with music by Guru Ramahari Das and rhythm composition by Guru Dhaneswar Swain. The performance showcased the intricate footwork, Chauka and Tribhangi postures, and rhythmic beauty that define Odissi.
The third presentation, Yugmadwanda Pallavi by Srjan, originally choreographed by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and renewed by Guru Ratikant Mohapatra, explored the relationship between dance and music through an engaging combination of rhythm, melody, and movement.
The evening concluded with Konark Lasya Leela, a classical ballet conceived by Padma Shri Guru Gangadhar Pradhan and directed by Guru Dr. Aruna Mohanty. Based on the poem Konark by late Dr. Mayadhar Mansingh, the production portrayed the artistic imagination and sculptural grandeur of the Sun Temple of Konark through dance, music, and theatrical expression.
The three-day celebration will continue with a seminar on Odissi, performances by artistes, and a musical tribute honouring the maestros of Odissi music and dance.