Preview - Mayadhar Raut School of Odissi dance presents 6th Guru Shishya Parampara Festival

Mayadhar Raut School of Odissi dance presents
6th Guru Shishya Parampara Festival
September 10 - 12, 2011 New Delhi

August 19, 2011

The 6th Guru Shishya Parampara Festival is presented by Mayadhar Raut School of Odissi dance in collaboration with Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

Dates: 10th, 11th & 12th September 2011
Venue: Azad Bhawan, near ITO, Indraprastha Estate, New Delhi
Time: 6.30pm

Jayantika Association was founded by Guru Mayadhar Raut in 1959 in Orissa to preserve and propagate Odissi dance. The Jayantika Association runs Mayadhar Raut School of Odissi Dance to impart Odissi training to the younger generation in the tradition of Guru-Shishya parampara. The school organizes Guru-Shishya Parampara Festival every year to focus on the traditional method of imparting knowledge as embodied in the Guru-Shishya parampara.

In the institution of Guru-shishya Parampara, the knowledge is passed on directly from the Guru to the disciple. Through generations of following this practice, a Gharana or Paddhati or a style of school is formed. Mayadhar Raut School of Odissi Dance, a premier institution in Delhi, is one of those rare institutions that follow the tradition. The focus is on training the student as a solo dancer. The school teaches dance under the strict guidance of Guru Mayadhar Raut. The school regularly presents Guru-Shishya Parampara Festival to bring together renowned artists who share its faith in Guru-Shishya Parmpara. Promising dancers who follow this tradition are given a platform to dance. It also provides an occasion for interaction with some well known artists and scholars of the country.

The program:

Sept 10
The Festival is being inaugurated by Lalit Mansingh- Former Foreign Secretary of India and Ambassador to the United States, along with the Director General of ICCR, Suresh K Goyal. The evening will feature Odissi dance by Aadya Kaktikar and Chhau by Shashadhar Acharya.

Sept 11
Chief Guest is Tibor Kovács, Director and Cultural Counsellor, Embassy of the Republic of Hungary. Guest of Honour: Shatrughun Jiwnani, Director, Office of PR, Bahai House of worship. The evening will feature Odissi dance by Sumina Das, Bharatanatyam by Sudha Sasikumar and Kathakali by International Centre for Kathakali.

Sept 12
Chief Guest: Neelima Risbud, Dean, School of Planning & Architecture. Guest of Honour: Bharat Kapur, publisher, The First City. The evening will feature Mohiniattam by Vijayalakshmi, Odissi by Madhumita Raut and Bharatanatyam by the legendry Dhananjayans.

Artiste bios
Shanta and VP Dhananjayan (Bharatanatyam)
The legendary Dhananjayans are a phenomenon in the field of Bharatanatyam. Deservedly, they have both been bestowed the prestigious Padma Bhushan for their outstanding contribution in this sphere. The unique couple, who complement each other perfectly, combine the highest standards as performing artistes with total dedication to teaching. Steeped in classicism and yet willing to explore the new without compromising on tradition, they have illumined the national and international scene of Bharatanatyam for the past four decades. Bharata Kalaanjali, the institution they founded in 1968, has moulded countless artistes. Many of them today are teachers who run naatya schools in different parts of the world.

Shashadhar Acharya (Chhau)
Representing the fifth generation in a family of traditional Chhau performers who have significantly contributed in the evolution and development of this art form, Shashadhar Acharya is steeped in the tradition of Seraikella Chhau. He has inherited the knowledge of this art in legacy from his father, Guru Lingaraj Acharya. Performing extensively, the traditional repertoire of Seraikella Chhau on prestigious platforms across the country and abroad, he has often stretched his knowledge to use the technique in innovative ways both in dance and theatre.

International Centre for Kathakali
International Centre for Kathakali was founded in 1960 with the aim of promoting and propagating Kathakali, one of the leading classical art forms of Kerala. Along with the Kathakali Centre, a Kathakali School was established. Both were shaped by distinguished teachers like late MM Panikkar, Guru K Nair, Guru Sadanam Balakrishnan. The repertory group of the Centre has established its reputation throughout the world. The Kathakali Centre has trained a large number of Indian as well as foreign students from different countries.

Madhumita Raut (Odissi)
Madhumita Raut is the inheritor and proponent of her illustrious father Guru Mayadhar Raut’s dance legacy. An intense and dynamic dancer, Madhumita Raut has emerged as a dedicated scholar, Guru and choreographer. She has showcased Odissi dance in more than 29 countries. Her book ‘Odissi- Evolution, Revival and Technique’ has been highly appreciated for its in-depth research. She is the power behind the next generation of extensively trained Odissi dancers of Mayadhar Raut Gharana. Madhumita teaches widely all over Europe, Japan & USA.

Vijayalakshmi (Mohiniattam)
Vijayalakshmi, daughter and premier disciple of Guru Bharati Shivaji, is acknowledged as one of the most eminent exponents of this dance form today. A unique combination of a researcher and a performer, Vijayalakshmi has endeavored to take Mohiniattam to higher levels by constantly exploring uncharted territories and expanding traditional boundaries through innovative choreographies inspired from a pan-Indian and global perspective. Vijayalakshmi has carved a distinct niche for herself and has played a significant role in the rejuvenation of this beautiful Indian classical dance form.

Aadya Kaktikar (Odissi)
Aadya Kaktikar, an accomplished Odissi dancer, has been trained in the Guru-Shishya Parmapara under Guru Mayadhar Raut & Madhumita Raut. Empowered with two decades of Odissi Sadhana (practice), Aadya is presenting Odissi all over the country. An active member of Jayantika, Mayadhar Raut School of Odissi Dance, Aadya is carrying forward the legacy of her Gurus. She also has the credit of writing Guruji’s biography ‘Odissi Yaatra.’

Sudha Sasikumar (Bharatanatyam)
Sudha Sasikumar is an admirable dancer, Guru, choreographer and nattuvanar. She studied under Guru Meera Venugopal (of Baratha Kalanjali, Malaysia), a disciple of the Dhananjayans. Besides performing in Malaysia, Sudha has also performed widely in India & Australia. She is the artistic director of Nritya Kalanjali (Malayasia), an academy of Indian Classical & Folk Dance. Sudha is also studying Odissi dance under Madhumita Raut.

Sumina Das (Odissi)
A management professional, Sumina Das came under the wings of Guru Mayadhar Raut at an early age to study Odissi in the tradition of Guru-Shishya Parampara. Sumina Das is very active on stage, having given numerous solo performances all over India. Sumina is now training under Madhumita Raut. She also assists her in holding workshops on Odissi dance. With a training of 20 years behind her, Sumina is specializing in abhinaya, specially Gita Govinda, dance compositions of Guru Mayadhar Raut.

For invitations, contact:
Ph: 98182 66281 / (011)- 26493558
e-mail: jayantikafoundation@yahoo.com
Website: www.jayantika.com