The only Southern California
appearance of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra
October 9, 2000
Irvine, October 9: The
Irvine, CA based Arpana Foundation will present the only Southern
California appearance of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, the living legend
of Odissi dance. The event will be at the Japan America Theater, Los
Angeles on Sunday, October 22 at 4 pm. This program will feature
his son, Ratikant Mohapatra, and his senior disciples from Bombay, who
have formed a group called Sanyuktam accompanied by a live musical ensemble.
Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra’s
name stands as synonymous with the style of Odissi itself.
He has been instrumental in reviving and reconstructing the style in this
century, and in bringing this beautiful style to stages across India and
around the world. One of the living legends of the Indian performing
arts world, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra is to Odissi what Pandit Ravi
Shankar is to the sitar.
In the first half, the audience
can enjoy pieces from the traditional Odissi repertoire, accompanied by
haunting Odissi music by a live orchestra. Mangalacharan,
a devotional piece, marks the entrance of the dancers in the Odissi style
for an auspicious beginning. Pallavi, a sure favourite of
western audiences, displays an interwoven pattern of dance sequences developed
through the interaction of dance, melody, and rhythm, which crescendos
to climax in an ecstasy of graceful and fluid movements, elaborate footwork,
and arresting sculptural poses. The highlight of the first half is
Ashtapadi, which features the guru himself in a solo expressional
piece. The first half concludes with another expressional piece by
Sanyuktam. Either Prem Bhakti or Ekakaar, two recently choreographed
dance ballets that have received rave reviews, will be presented in the
second half
An undisputed master and architect
of the contemporary Odissi repertoire, Guru Mohapatra has been awarded
the highest national honors from the Government of India, including the
Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 1966, the Padmashree in 1972, the Padmabhusan
in 1989, and the Padmavibhusan in 2000. Leading Odissi dancers like Late
Sanjukta Panigrahi, Kumkum Mohanty, Sonal Mansingh, Late Protima Bedi,
Madhavi Mudgal to name a few and a host of others have worked under his
tutelage while he still continues to groom a new generation of young dancers.
Presented by the Arpana Foundation,
a non-profit arts organization fostering the performing Arts of India,
the program promises to be a visual delight, a spiritual experience, and
an opportunity to watch one of the best mime experts in the world. A must
see for Theater, Drama and Dance enthusiasts.
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