Two international Odissi festivals have been taking place here in Bhubaneswar since our arrival. One was rather small, but much appreciated. The other is very large and spectacular. Urvasi’s first performance, and Sarvani and Arunima’s duet, took place at the former. The company’s final performance tonight takes place at the latter. It seems that there may be some politics behind the separation between the festivals, but not knowing the language and not being privy to this kind of information, I don’t know any details. It’s just as well.
The current festival runs a full week and includes solo, duet, and group performances – along with seminars – that take place from about 10:00 in the morning until 10:00 or later at night. It features Odissi dancers – students and Gurus alike – from the local area as well as throughout India along with Odissi dancers from countries such as Russia, Europe, Malaysia, and the U.S.
Festival Lobby Entrance
Puja to Lord Jagannath
Tonight, Urvasi again performs “Nava Rasa,” after a classic, well-known, and very graceful dance called “Vasanta Pallavi,” which means “the flowering of spring.”
TWO PHOTOGRAPHS FROM VASANTA PALLAVI:
PHOTOGRAPHS FROM TONIGHT’S PERFORMANCE OF NAVA RASA;
Sarvani
Arunima (Tinni) and Sarvani
Douglas, Marissa, and Jamie
Douglas
Marissa, Moria, Sibani, and Douglas
Sarvani
"Shanti" with Ratna Roy and Urvasi Dance Company
Everyone After Another Successful Performance
For any of you who would like more information about Urvasi Dance Company, please see the website of Guru Dr. Ratna Roy (who also teaches at Evergreen) and her husband, David J. Capers, (who is an exceptional photographer and filmmaker) at: http://urvasidance.com/
Here is a small sampling of the kind of interesting information you will find on the site:
“Orissi, is an exquisite and lyrical Classical Indian dance tradition, regardless of how one chooses to spell it. The Mahari style of Orissi, in particular, has suffered numerous threats to its continued existence over time. Although the threats are different now, threats still exist. Ratna Roy and David Capers have been working together to preserve the rich artistic heritage of the Mahari style in the Orissi tradition of Indian Classical Dance for two decades.
Our web site is intended to aid in the preservation of this dance art. There is also information here about us, about other projects we have worked on, are working on, or intend to work on, dance classes, dance workshops, Urvasi Dance company, and how we may be contacted.
There is a photo gallery of David’s works which is being continually added to. We hope you will enjoy it, but be aware there are photographs all over this site!”
Additionally, you can “like” Urvasi’s page on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/UrvasiDance
Lights Outside the Festival
Good Night!
sarvanidance 