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The ‘Thali Nritya’ of Guru Pankaj Charan Das
was much appreciated. In this dance, the dancer balances himself on a
thali (brass plate) clutching the rim with his toes only, manipulating
at the same time, 2 smaller thalis with his hands, turning, twisting,
rotating them. (‘The lone torch bearer Adiguru Pankaj Charan Das’ by Ritha Devi, Odissi Annual 2010) |
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Between 1965 and 1971, Ritha Devi learnt the solo dance dramas of the Panchakanyas (Ahalya, Draupadi, Tara, Kunti and Mandodari) from her guru Pankaj Charan Das and presented them all together in 1971 in a marathon 4 hour long presentation under the banner of Sur Singar Samsad. |
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In the Natya Sastra, the word ‘lasya’ appears in the tenth chapter in
the context of the lasyanga-s. Lasyanga has been interpreted as in two
ways by scholars – “lasya anga yasyaha” in which lasya becomes a part on
in which all abhinaya becomes a part of lasya, and “lasyasya angam iti
lasyangam” which means ‘those that are parts of lasya.’ Whichever
interpretation we take, it will be clear that Natya Sastra has
recognized the existence of ‘lasya’ and this is not different from
‘sukumara nritta prayoga’ – the performance of graceful nritta. (‘The story of lasya’ by Dr. Vibha Dadheech, Nartanam, Apr-July 2006) |
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