State braces up for classical extravaganza

BHUBANESWAR: The Konark Festival, the foremost classical dance extravaganza of the State, will get underway on December 1. Showcasing six Indian classical dance styles and featuring some of the celebrated  artistes, the five-day Festival will be mounted at the world heritage site of Konark by the State Government.  Briefing the media here, Tourism Director Hari Shankar Upadhyay said the Festival was launched in 1989 to make Konark an international tourist draw while providing patronage to Indian classical dances. ‘’Like the famed Khajuraho Festival of Indian classical dances, Konark Festival has drawn global attention and carved a niche for itself in the annual cultural calendar of the country,’’ he said.  While Odissi would be the staple dance featuring each evening, Kathak, Chhau, Kuchipudi, Bharatnatyam and Mohiniattam would be the other styles to be showcased. While Sharmila Biswas and her group would open the festival with their Odissi recital, Kathak dancer Aditi Mangal Das and group, New Delhi, would stage group presentations during the inaugural evening. The second evening would have Chhau by New Delhi-based dancer Sasdhar Acharya and her troupe followed by group Odissi dance by Guru Pitambar Biswal and his group from Bhubaneswar. Similarly, Malaysia-based Odissi dancer Ramli Ibrahim and Chennai’s Kuchipudi exponent Kishore Musolkanti would wow the audience with their troupes during the third evening. The  fourth evening would feature Mohiniattam recital by Kerala-based Nina Prasad and her troupe and Odissi by Guru Ratikanta Mohapatra and his group. “The concluding evening would showcase group Odissi recital by the Guru Kelucharan  Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre while curtains will come down on the festival with Bharat Natayam by Chennai-based Kalakshetra artistes,” Upadhyay said.  This year, the International Sand Art Festival would be organised coinciding with the Konark Festival at the Chandrabhaga beach. As many as 10 international sand artistes  and 20 national artistes would take part.  Apart from these festivals, the Tourism Department for the first time is organising the Gotipua  Dance Festival in collaboration with the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre. It will be held at Rabindra Mandap here from November 15 to 17.