The Trinayan Odissi Dance Collective, a nonprofit that seeks to create evocative interpretations of Odissi dance, portrayed the stories of five iconic heroines from the Indian epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata, during an enchanting recital in New York August 7.l
The stories of these five powerful female characters, immortalized by myth and legend and idolized as ideal women, came to life through the creative genius of Guru Durga Charan Ranbir through his Odissi choreography known for its richly-ornamented and nuanced use of traditional form.
Rajika Puri, eminent sutradhari, or narrator who ‘carries-the- thread’, seamlessly connected the audience to dancer with lively dance story-telling and gestures.
The evening began with a shlokam. The first half of the performance featured solo and duet recitals accompanied by live musicians, exhibiting the range of the Odissi repertoire, from the spiritual to the technical to the emotive.
Neha Biswal and Yamini Jena performed the Ram Manglacharan, a traditional Odissi item, invoking Lord Ram. Their ease and connected energy leaped off the stage. Shefali Ray followed with an enchanting rendition of Kirmani Pallavi. A difficult but dynamic and sculpturesque piece, Kirwani Pallavi was met with a spirited ovation.
Bani Ray followed with her heartbreaking performance of Astapadi: Yahi Madhava, a piece from the Geet Govind. The first half concluded with an enthusiastic applause for the renowned musicians of India, Sukanta Kundu, in vocal), Abhiram Nanda in flute, and Dhaneshwar Swain in mardala-percussion.
The second half of the production featured ten seasoned dancers in the hour-long dance drama of Panch Kanya. The five Kanyas portrayed from the Ramanyana and Maharbharata: Ahilya, Draupadi, Tara, Kunti, and Mandodari.
Predominantly abhinaya with a mix of pure dance, Panch Kanya took the audience on a journey of love, betrayal, loss, and eternal devotion.
Panch Kanya portrayed the courage, love, loyalty, and perseverance one sees in women every day, but rarely featured in full-fledged productions. Panch Kanya demonstrates the steadfast importance and relevance of female characters, which may not always have spotlight, but are almost always the drivers of the most poignant stories.
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