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 Pt. Sunil Kumar Dubey - Sharon Lowen e-mail: lowensharon@gmail.com September 25, 2024 In the recent passing of Pt. Sunil Kumar Dubey on September 17, 2024 at Seraikella at the age of 64, the performing arts of India has tragically lost a vital link in the continuity of the recently recognized as classical Seraikella Chhau dance of Jharkhand.  Sunil Kumar Dubey Sunil led the internationally acclaimed team of Chhau dancers and musicians of his 'Trinetra' Chhau Dance Centre, Seraikella, founded by his elder brother, Late Guru Pt. Gopal Dubey, (Padmashri & SNA Awardee). He was a master of flute and percussion instruments. After dance training from the age of seven under Guru 'Natasekhar' Banbihari Pattanayak and Guru Kedarnath Sahoo, sequential Directors of the Govt. Chhau Dance Centre, Seraikella, Sunil went on to musical training, flute under legendary Guru Kalachand Bhole and vocal training in Bhajan, Geet and Ghazal from renowned Bhajan Samrat Guru Anup Jalota in Mumbai. Sunil, an A grade artist of AIR, had received junior and senior fellowships for Chhau music, performed around India for stage, film and television as well as Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos and China as part of the Trinetra Chhau Centre tours. He composed music for Trinetra productions, including two Doordarshan National Programs of Dance, Ashoka and Jivan Rekha, choreographed by his guruma Sharon Lowen and elder brother Pt. Gopal Dubey, Shyam Benegal's TV Serial Bharat Ek Khoj, Punjab University's Andha Yug, Amol Palekar's TV serial Mrignayani among many others. Just this past May, he led his troupe to perform at the Manasa-Art Without Frontiers' Omkara Festival at the India International Centre, New Delhi and offer a highly appreciated presentation at the seminar on continuity and change.  At Omkara Festival Heartfelt condolences on his sudden passing which was a terrible loss to his family, friends, everyone in Seraikella and those who love endangered, intangible arts of India who may not have known him personally. May his memory be a blessing for all and may the grace of Lord Jagannath support his remaining brothers, who are prominent musicians, educators, lawyers and scholars, to continue the Seraikella Chhau family legacy as they supported it during Sunil and Gopal's lives.  Odissi, Mayurbhanj and Seraikella Chhau dancer Sharon Lowen is the founder and artistic director of Manasa: Art Without Frontiers, based in Delhi. Post your comments Please provide your name and email id along with your comment. All appropriate comments posted with name and email id in the blog will also be featured in the site. |
