Bhubaneswar: The popular Indian classical dance event Aekalavya’s 11th season was successful held at Victoria theatre on the evening of 13th April 2019. Aekalavya is the annual dance event of LASYAKALA, founded by Saswat Joshi, the 11th edition of which was hosted in Singapore and jointly conducted by Guru Deba Prasad Nrutyadhara (GDPN), Singapore, a dance school founded by Sasmita Pal.
The event, which had enthralling Odissi performances by Padmashree Dr Ileana Citaristi, Sasmita Pal and Saswat Joshi, was witnessed by over 500. A Sambalpuri folk dance duet by Sasmita Pal and Saswat Joshi and a Mohiniaattam solo by Singaporean artist Maalika Panicker added glamour to the evening. Students groups of GDPN performed Ganesh Vandana, Shankaravaranam Pallavi and the Mahari dance specially choreographed by Saswat Joshi and team Lasyakala, The AEKALAVYA 11th edition started with the theam the Ekadasa Rudra, a jugalbandi of music and dance,by Famous singer Antara Chakrabarty and Saswat Joshi ,team Lasyakala performed Nachanti Range Shri Hari, tge ollywood diva Anubha Sourya was seen in tge piece as Radha and the concluding with Moksha, a medley performed together with GDPN artists.
Padma Bibhushan Dr Raghunath Mohapatra graced the occasion as the Chief Guest along with Guests of Honour Mr. Ninad S. Deshpande (Deputy High Commissioner of Embassy of India in Singapore) and Ms Vitalba Gammicchia (Commercial Attaché to the Embassy of Italy in Singapore). The first edition of “Cultural Chroma”, a magazine aimed at promoting Indian Art Dance and culture, edited by Dr Sandeep N Kundu of National University of Singapore was launched.
Mallika Panicker, Sasmita Pal and Shallu Jindal were felicitated with Aekalavya Award 2019 to recognize their contribution to Indian classical dance and culture. The event included an exhibition of Odisha’s own traditionally woven silk and cotton Sambalpuri garments by designer Suchitra Dash.
Renowned dance critic Tapati Chowdhurie flew from India to witness the event and shall publish critical reviews of the performances in leading national dailies of India. Singaporean Television Channel Vasantham covered the event and the event shall be aired in the Indian Beat episode very soon. Thespian Dr Uma Rajan, who was one of the first chartered members of National Art Council of Singapore, addressed the audience acknowledging that Aekalavya season 11 expanded the horizon of Indian Classical dance in Singapore through strong Odissi dance performances in front of the Singaporean Indian diaspora who were earlier mostly familiar with Bharatanatyam and Kathak.
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