Event Details

5th, 18th & 26th March

Kathak
by Nikita Banawalikar &

Odissi Trio Presentation
by Sharmila Biswas’s senior disciples
(Approx.  90 mins)

Nikita Dilip Banawalikar has successfully completed her Masters in Performing Arts with distinction from Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune. A promising Kathak exponent, she was introduced to Indian classical dance at the age of four. She initially trained in Bharatanatyam but developed interest in Kathak at the age of nine. She was under the tutelage of Dr. Manjiri Deo for about 10 years, and completed Visharad from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal under her guidance. She then trained at the Kadamb Centre for Dance, Ahmedabad. She is currently training under Shama Bhate in Pune. A CCRT young artist scholarship holder, Banawalikar has been conferred with numerous prestigious awards and presented solo classical recitals in many festivals in India and abroad.

Offerings – Odissi Trio Presentation by senior disciples of Sharmila Biswas
This performance will be presented by Monami Nandy, Rohini Banerjee and Krishnendu Saha. They are pursuing a career in dance with utmost sincerity and dedication under the guidance of Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee Sharmila Biswas.

Devi Bharani – the Invocation.
Traditionally, during the festival of Dussehra, a group of drummers invoke the spirit of the Devi through the body of a medium in the Samaleswari Temple and other temples in western Odisha. This mystic and the spectacular ritual of the spirit of the Devi rising is called Devi Bharani. In the invocatory dance, we imbibe and express this essence.

Gativilas – Nritta
Gativilas is based on a Sanskrit verse commonly chanted by rural mridangam players of Odisha. It illuminates the attributes of a performer – the different kinds of energies, the gait, stances, moods – each inspired by an appropriate animal or bird.

Bal Gopal – Abhinaya
Bal Gopal describes the episodes from Krishna’s childhood, which set him apart, as an avatar.

Evocation – The Moksha
One of the important contributions of Sharmila Biswas is to incorporate the art of traditional mridangam into the classical dances of Odisha. The research work had been supported by the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi. The variety and richness of the mridangam inspired Biswas to study this art form and incorporate the flavor, the energy and the intricacies into her dance. Through Evocation, we present the exuberance of the rustic community clubs where people gather to find in the arts their spiritual evolution.

Admission on a first-come-first-served basis. NCPA Members will get preferential seating till 6.20 pm.