An online dance outreach program for children aimed at building exposure towards the different dance forms through specially curated sessions covering various topics related to Indian folk and classical dance.
Odissi & Bharatanatyam Online Lecture Demonstration by Geetanjali Acharya & Shreyasi Gopinath
School: Bengali Education Society, Mumbai
Telecast live on NCPA YouTube Page
Session is supported by Godrej Agrovet
Geetanjali Acharya – A proud product of legendary Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra’s famed Srjan dance institution – has carved a niche for herself as one of the top-ten promising Odissi dancers of the world today. Gifted with an amazing angasuddhi and incredible grace at a relatively young age. Her greatest asset has been her dance of devotion and delight that is so essential to excel in this oriental dance form that originated as a temple ritual. She was blessed to be groomed by the legendary Kelucharan himself and later by his daughter-in-law Sujata Mohapatra and son Ratikanta Mohapatra. Geetanjali has performed extensively in India as a soloist and as a member of the Srjan repertoire besides some performances abroad too. As one of the youngest Indian classical dancers to claim the coveted Singarmani title from Mumbai’s 60-year- old Sur Singar Samsad for her performance in its annual Kal-ke-Kalakar festival and Natyashree by Natraj Kala Academy, Vishakapatnam. She is also a recipient of The National Scholarship in Odissi dance from the Dept. of Culture, Govt. of India. Geetanjali completed her Nrutya Shastri Purna recognized by Odisha Sangeet Natak Academy. Besides, being a dedicated and promising Odissi dancer she is a political science graduate too. Today, after decades of taining under Guruji, his son Ratikant Mohapatra and daughter in law Sujata Mohapatra Geetanali has taken on the crucial role of continuing Guruji’s work in Gurgaon and Delhi NCR with a concept of not just an Odissi dance school, but rather an Odissi establishment unit that would serve as Guruji’s own institute in Gurgaon. Above all the primary goal has been to continue Guruji’s legacy through her new institution “Kalaa”.
Shreyasi Gopinath is a young Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher based out of Delhi, Bharatanatyam enthralled her as a child and by the age of seven and started formal training under the guidance of Padma Shri Guru Saroja Vaidyanathan. By the time she was fifteen, she was selected to undergo formal training at the renowned Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai. Six years of learning under renowned gurus and a post diploma under my belt, she moved back to New Delhi. Guru Jamuna Krishnan has been her guide and mentor in Delhi ever since. Currently Shreyasi is establishing herself as a professional Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher and have performed across geographies, India and abroad. And to teach is the path she has chosen to keep alive the rich and diverse tradition & cultural heritage of India. She is a scholarship holder under The Ministry of Culture Scholarship scheme, Government of India and is A graded artist with the Doordarshan.
Please note: The video will be available for a week post the live lecture/demonstration.