Odissi Milan
By Ranjita Chakravarty
Odissi Milan organized by Jyoti Kala Mandir (JKM) was held on March 17, 2024, at the Shirdi Temple in Milpitas, CA. The word “milan” means meeting or union. JKM founder director Guru Jyoti Rout arranged a milan, of some Bay Area Odissi gurus and dancers much to the delight of rasikas like me who love Odissi. The milan included gurus – Gayatri Joshi, a student of Jyoti Rout, and founder teacher at iGurukul, Niharika Mohanty, a disciple of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, and founder of Guru Shradha, and Dipti Malik a disciple of Guru Raghunath Dutta and Guru Ramani Ranjan Jena, and founder of Nritya Tara School of Odissi Dance. Also included were solo artists Deepa Biswokarma and Nilanjana Roy (both former students and now senior teachers in JKM).
When I moved to the Bay area from Boston in 1994, I stumbled upon an Odissi Dance recital by Jyoti Rout in Santa Cruz. I was ecstatic. Jyoti apa as I called her became my guru and later my daughter’s guru. What is amazing and reassuring is that 30 years later in 2024 the Odissi dance form is alive and well, right here in the Silicon Valley despite many distractions. This is thanks to the wonderful Odissi gurus who have dedicated their time and energy to train and nurture students of this beautiful dance form. The Milan program highlighted the full Odissi repertoire from the invocation (Mangalacharan) to liberation (Moksha) and a delightful mixture of expression (Abhinaya) and pure dance (Nritta) in between. The evening was emceed by Keshini Samerawickreme, a long-time supporter, dancer, and teacher at JKM.
After the traditional invocation or Mangalacharan with a Ganesh Stuti, we transitioned to Lord Ganesha’s father – Lord Shiva. Gayatri Joshi danced to the beautiful Nataraja Stotram written by Sage Patanjali. Watching Gayatri’s original choreography and energetic portrayal of Lord Shiva was a treat. Next, we had Deepa Biswokarma dancing the Meenakshi Stuti. Deepa is a promising soloist with her fluid expressions and footwork. Following that we had Jyoti Apa’s captivating composition and interpretation of the nine emotions (NavaRasa). Whether it was love, disgust, laughter, sadness or fear Jyoti Apa took us along, and we could feel every emotion along with her.
An important item in any Odissi performance is the pure dance or Pallavi. The JKM students (Ananya, Arshia D, Shriya, Adyanshi, Arshia G, Sakshi, Kavya, and Protichi) performed the group rendition of the beautiful Shringar Pallavi composed by Jyoti Rout. Dipti Malik presented the well-known Saveri Pallavi originally choreographed by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and restaged by Guru Ramani Ranjan Jena. The Pallavis starting slowly and rising to a crescendo with the lightning speed footwork always leaves me breathless.
A Odissi program is incomplete without something from poet Jayadeva’s Geet Govinda. Much to my delight, two of my favorite Ashtapadis were featured. “Chandana Charchita” composed by Jyoti Apa, performed by Nilanjana Roy and “Dheera Samire” a classic composition of Guru Kelucharan was performed by Niharika Mohanty. What exquisite descriptions of love and longing and beautifully danced by Nilanjana and Niharika. In both Ashtapadis Gopis give a message to Radha. In Chandana Charchita the Gopi reports to the forlorn Radha what Krishna is doing with all the Vrindavan maidens. And in Dheera Samire the Gopi tells Radha not to delay her meeting with Krishna who is waiting for her on the breezy banks of the Yamuna.
Just like Krishna I want to send a message to the gurus - Please do not delay bringing us the next Odissi Milan. The rasikas are waiting by the breezy San Francisco Bay in eager anticipation. Thank you to all the dancers for presenting such a delightful program.
