Rahul Acharya

 

At the tender age of four years, Rahul Acharya started learning Odissi dance from illustrious guru Shri Durga Charan Ranbir. This child prodigy was born on 7th December in the year 1982. Rahul Acharya believed to have a strong feeling for the Odissi dance in its highly religious structure that can only be seen in the Jaganatha's culture. He has also bagged the rare quality of studying the most difficult yoga namely, Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga at the Satyananda Yoga Vidyalaya, Bihar School of Yoga. These two types of yogas are said to perform by the sages. Other than his dance, Rahul is an avid devotee of Lord Jagannatha and well versed in Sanskrit. He enjoys reading and researching on Shastras (Scriptures) and bringing them to the forefront through his dance.

Internationally renowned as a virtuosic artist, he has performed all over the globe – in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Central America, and throughout the United States. Rahul has danced extensively in India, participating in many of the most celebrated festivals. In 2010 he received the honor of being a soloist in the Khajuraho Dance Festival. Amongst his 2009 performances were Natya Tarangini’s Parampara Series, several Sangeet Natak Akademi sponsored engagements in Tamil Nadu, and the Kumbhalgarh Dance Festival. He has danced at the Mukteswar, Konark, Puri Beach, and Udayshankar Dance Festivals, as well as many more. Other appearances include ones at Kalakshetra and the National Centre for Performing Arts.

Rahul Acharya has also given several lecture demonstration on Jagannatha culture and on the traditional dance form, Odissi.

Some his noted lecture demonstrations are:

1. Lecture Demonstrations organized by SPIC MACAY at IIT, Kharagpur.

2.Lecture demonstrations at premier national institutes like the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc), Bangalore.

3. Lecture demonstrations at Shantiniketan, Vishwabharati University, West Bengal.

4. Lecture demonstrations at Universities in Reunion Islands.

5.Lecture demonstrations at Universidad Catolica Andres Bello, Caracas, Venezuela. Lecture demonstrations at Colegio Timoteo Aguire, Merida, Venezuela.

 6. Lecture demonstrations at Universidad de Los Andes, Bogota, Colombia.

7. Lecture demonstrations at Incolballet, Cali, Colombia.

Vyjayanthi Kashi

 Vyjayanthi Kashi is an Indian Kuchipudi dancer popular not only among the Indian audience, but also among the overseas audience. Her style of dance is praiseworthy to the critics and she was proficient in theatre also. Vyjayanthi Kashi is a reputed Kuchipudi dancer, a celebrated performer and choreographer and artistic director of a dance school Shambhavi School of Dance, where they teach this traditional dance form Kuchipudi.

Vyjayanthi Kashi is the daughter of the late J.M. Vishwanth and late G.V. Girijamma. Vyjayanthi Kashi started learning Bharatanatya from Ramanna of Tumkur at the age of six. Eventually, she topped the State with a first rank and also won a golden chain. Initially she was not so interested in dance, so eventually she took theatre where she worked with T. S. Nagabharana who is an Indian film director, in the Kannada film industry. She married Vijaya Kashi, a television and theatre artist whom she met while acting in theatre.[10] She took up a job in a bank which later she left as she fully dedicated to dance. She has a daughter Prateeksha Kashi, who is also a kuchipudi dancer.

She holds a fellowship from the Government of India in Kuchipudi and continues with her research on "Influence of Yakshagana on the Solo Kuchipudi Repertoire". She contributes articles on her chosen subject. Vyjayanthi has conducted thought- provoking workshops, lecture demonstrations in India, U.A.E., Malaysia, Ethiopia, and other countries. She has to her credit more than a 1000 performances in India and abroad. One of Vyjayanthi's specialty is the Mayurakautam or picturisation of peacock, a ritualistic dance form practiced several years ago by the temple dancers (performed by only a few dancers today). In her most dramatic roles, she has portayed the woman as a victim of her time, her society, her family and her man. She has to her credit more than a 1000 performances in India and abroad. One of Vyjayanthi's specialty is the Mayurakautam or picturisation of peacock, a ritualistic dance form practiced several years ago by the temple dancers (performed by only a few dancers today). In her most dramatic roles, she has portayed the woman as a victim of her time, her society, her family and her man.

Personal Life of Vyjayanthi Kashi

Vyjayanthi Kashi married Vijaya Kashi, who is a television and theatre artist whom she met while acting in theatre. Vyjayanthi Kashi took up a job in a bank which later she left as she fully dedicated to dance. The couple is blessed with a daughter Prateeksha Kashi, who is also a Kuchipudi dancer.

Indian Dance Festivals

 India is a culturally rich country with varied dance forms. Since ancient days dance had been a well accepted performing art and had been reflecting diverse cultural traditions. India presents an amazing variety of dances; certain dances are religious in nature, while others are performed primarily for the purpose of entertainment or marking a festive occasion. The recognition of this performing art has initiated the exponents and admirers to organise a wide range of dance festivals across the length and breadth of the country.

India Dance Festivals are organised with an intention to promote the classical and regional dances of the state. These dance festivals can be regarded as a cultural fest and a platform to encourage the upcoming performers to keep the cultural legacy of the land intact. As the popularity of the classical dance forms in India increased, dance festivals came to be organized in a few temples, with the aim of bringing the religious dances and temples close to each other. Amongst the most notable examples in this context is the Khajuraho Dance Festival, which was first held some 20 years ago, amidst the backdrop of erotic sculptures. It proved to be one of the exclusive festivals of the modern times and enjoys immense popularity till date. With time, several other dance festivals also came to be organized across India.

The famous dance festivals of modern India include the Chennai dance and music festival, Pragjyoti International Dance festival, Pattadakal Dance Festival, Khajuraho Dance Festival, Mamallapuram Dance Festival, Chidambaram Dance Festival, Konark Dance Festival and many more.

Khajuraho Dance Festival:- Khajuraho Dance Festival is a weeklong dance festival and is held during the months of February and March in Khajuraho. This cultural extravaganza is organized by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department and is promoted as one of the major cultural event in Khajuraho. This cultural event takes place at an open-air auditorium in front of the Chitragupta Temple.

Nishagandhi dance festival:- Nishagandhi Dance Festival popularly known as Nishagandhi Nritya Utsav is celebrated twice a year, once in the month of October-November and then in the month of March-April in the Nishagandhi Theatre, in Kanakunnu palace compound, in the city of Trivandrum or Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. This festival is about a week long and witnesses participation from artisans all over the country.

Rajgir dance festival:- This dance festival has attracted the attention of the tourists as well as the locals of Rajgir. Rajgir dance festival comprises performance of various singers and dancers from all over the country.

Konark Dance Festival:- India is a country of rich cultural heritage. The religion, arts and crafts in the Indian culture are so well intermingled with each other that it is almost impossible to segregate them. There are also so many varied forms of music and dances that each region has a special music and dance form of its own which has originated from the deep rooted cultural and religious practices of that specified region.

Visit the page to learn more about Indian Dances Festivals

 

 

Sujata Mohapatra

 Sujata Mohapatra has been regarded as the appropriated prototype of 'beauty and poise'. She was inducted to this art form in her childhood. Since her childhood she has shown an intrinsic love for dance. Sujata Mohapatra was born and raised into a wealthy family that was enriched with an artistic environment. This kind of environment nurtured her creativity and brought out her inborn artistic style.

Born into a rich cultural background, she grew up in an artistic environment that delicately nourished her creativity and brought out her innate interest in dance. An artistic environment at home and encouraging parents gave Sujata the impetus to learn Odissi.She has completed more than eighteen years of training under the guidance of her Guru and simultaneously been trained by her husband Guru Ratikant Mohapatra at Srjan. She has also done a valuable stint at the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre.

Sujata Mohapatra apart from performing dance also in an active manner involved in teaching Odissi. She holds the position of principle of the premier institution of dance, Srijan (Odissi Nrityabhasa), founded by his father -in-law. 'Lithesome movements, awesome stamina and large radiant eyes' are the attributes of this outstanding performer. Experiencing her spellbound execution of Odissi dance, her audiences got awestruck. Her dance reflects the unagitated grace, vividness of expression and technical flawlessness that are considered to be the 'unbending adherence to Guruji's style' from her part. Sujata Mohapatra is actively involved in teaching Odissi. She is the Principal of 'Srjan' (Odissi Nrityabasa), a prime Odissi Dance Institution founded by MGuru Kelucharan Mohapatra She holds a master's degree in Oriya Literature from Utkal University, and has done research work at the Odissi Research Centre, Bhubaneshwar.In July 2011, she opened an Odissi Institute - Guru Keerti Srjan, in her hometown, Balasore.

Ms. Mohapatra has a compelling and arresting stage presence, with an exhilarating combination of intensity and spontaneity, and her dance is noteworthy for its grace, depth of expression and technical perfection. Widely travelled over the world as a soloist and a leading member of the Srjan Dance Troupe, she also runs this dance school along with her husband Ratikant Mohapatra, who is also a leading Odissi dancer, choreographer, and musician. Ms. Mohapatra often conducts workshops in the major centres of Odissi teaching across India and the world. Her significant performances have been at the Konark Dance Festival, Mukteshwar Dance Festival, Khajauraho Dance Festival, etc.

 

History of Bharatnatyam

 Bharatanatyam, rooted in ancient Indian traditions, finds its origins in the Natya Shastra and the temple traditions of devadasis. Despite facing suppression during the colonial era, Bharatanatyam experienced a remarkable resurgence and revival due to the efforts of visionaries like E. Krishna Iyer and Rukmini Devi Arundale.

Bharatnatyam, one of the oldest dance forms of India, has a rich and fascinating history that dates back thousands of years. It originated in the temples and courts of southern India and was nurtured under the Devadasi system, where women dedicated themselves to serving deities as dancers and musicians. The art form was passed down from generation to generation, with the devadasis and male gurus (nattuvanars) being the custodians of this ancient tradition.

Bharatnatyam in Colonial Era

During British colonial rule, classical Indian dance forms, including Bharatnatyam, faced ridicule and discouragement. The colonial authorities associated these dance forms with debased erotic culture and sought to suppress them. In 1910, the Madras Presidency of the British Empire banned temple dancing, which effectively ended the tradition of Bharatnatyam performances in Hindu temples.

Natya Shastra is attributed to the ancient scholar Bharata Muni, and its first complete compilation is dated to between 200 BCE and 200 CE, but estimates vary between 500 BCE and 500 CE. The most studied version of the Natya Shastra text consists of about 6000 verses structured into 36 chapters. The text, states Natalia Lidova, describes the theory of Tāṇḍava dance (Shiva), the theory of rasa, of bhāva, expression, gestures, acting techniques, basic steps, standing postures—all of which are part of Indian classical dances. Dance and performance arts, states this text, are a form of expression of spiritual ideas, virtues and the essence of scriptures.

 Historical references to dance are found in the Tamil epics Silappatikaram and Manimegalai (c. 6th century). The ancient text Silappatikaram, includes a story of a dancing girl named Madhavi; it describes the dance training regimen called Arangatrau Kathai of Madhavi in verses 113 through 159. The carvings in Kanchipuram's Shiva temple that have been dated to 6th to 9th century CE suggest dance was a well-developed performance art by about the mid 1st millennium CE. Bharatanatyam is traditionally a team performance art that consists of a solo dancer, accompanied by musicians and one or more singers. It is described as classical art because the theory of musical notes, vocal performance, and the dance movement reflect ideas of the Sanskrit treatise Natya Shastra and other Sanskrit and Tamil texts, such as the Abhinaya Darpana. In modern adaptations, Bharatanatyam dance troupes may involve many dancers who play specific characters in a story, creatively choreographed to ease the interpretation and expand the experience by the audience.

 

Folk Dances of Himachal Pradesh

 Dance and Music form an inseparable aspect from the lives of people in Himachal Pradesh. Himachal Pradesh is an Indian state which is known for its vibrant colors of both the people and their culture. Variant folk dances are performed on every auspicious occasion and festival. The performances draw a high influence from the mythological epics of the Mahabharata and Ramayana. The folk music also displays identity and tribal culture of the people. It is based mainly on affection, separation, seasons and gallantry. Men and women get decked up in their traditional attires and dance to glory.

Some of the popular folk dances are listed below

Dangi:- Dangi folk dance is based on one of the oldest folklore of Himachal Pradesh. The dance is performed during the harvest season. It has two themes one is love and another is business. The love-based theme folklore is about a very brave and handsome kind who fell in love with a common girl. It was not common for kings to fall in love with commoners so it was a big deal.

Mala Dance:- Kayang Mala is a dance form in which dancers form a garland-like pattern by weaving each other's arms and becoming beads of the garland. Every performer is well dressed and heavily decorated with jewellery. Before commencing the dance, they are supposed to drink Chhang, which is a local drink. Kayang Mala is one of the most popular traditional dances in Himachal Pradesh

Dalshone and Cholamba Dances:- These dance forms originated from the Ropa valley. In this dance form, there are patterns formed by the performers which look like coiled serpents. The Cholamba is performed generally whenever a tiger is killed. The skin of dead animal is stuffed and a gold ornament is put in its nose. The remains of dead is rotated after that and the people dance around it.

FOR MORE VISIT THE PAGE LINK:- https://www.indianetzone.com/1/folk_dances_himachal_pradesh.htm

Methil Devika

 Methil Devika is an Indian dance personality of classical style. She is a dance research scholar, educator, performer and choreographer. She is hailing from Palakkad town in Kerala. Methil Devika hosts a number of national and international based dance programs not only in India but also in abroad. She is a veteran dancer, research scholar, educationalist, trainer and choreographer, who is experimenting in Asian and Pan Asian culture.

In 2018, Devika created the short film documentary Sarpatatwam or The Serpent Wisdom. She set the lyrics to music, choreographed and performed the dance, also serving as co-director and co-producer. The film was voted into the contention list of the Academy Awards in 2018. It premiered at the Prestige Theatres, LA and was also screened at various international theatres. It was also the opening film at the National Film Archive of India, Pune.Her work Ahalya which was commissioned by Sampradaya Dance Company also opened to world premiere in May 2021. It was based on reflections in solitude done during Covid lockdown and the music and dance being composed by herself.

Methil Devika’s performances across the country and abroad have been praised for expressing human emotions through her skillful Mohiniyattam. She has performed in various major festivals like Kerala Fine Arts Society and the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar youth festival. Methil Devika has also judged many festivals, among which Chilanka Dance Festival  in Thiruvananthapuram of 2017 is one of the most prominent ones. She has also been a part of the theatre adaption of the play ‘Naaga’ in 2015. In 2017, Methil Devika made her debut in the film ‘Humans of Someone’. She has appeared in and provided the narration of the short documentary film ‘Sarpatatwam’. Methil Devika is an ‘A’ grade artiste in Doordarshan and she was also a part of SPIC MACAY (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth). She was also empaneled with the Indian Council of Cultural Relations Delhi.