Ardhanarishwara Odissi by Vinod Kevin Bachan, Vrinda Chadha

Manasa-Art Without Frontiers presented its Omkara Dance Festival & Seminar 2024 curated by Guru Sharon Lowen at the India International Centre, New Delhi May 31-June 1, 2024. The festival highlighted Odissi from Odisha and Delhi and Seraikella Chhau from Jharkhand including disciples of Sharon lowen and those of Padmashri & Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee gurus, Kumkum Mohanty, Ranjana Gauhar and late Gopal Dubey’s Trinetra Chhau Centre.
Odissi by Guru Ranjana Gauhar (Padmashree & SNA Awardee) and disciples
Ardhanarishwara
Based on Adi Shankaracharya 8th century prayer and Kalidas’s Raghuvansham, Ardhanarishwara depicts the half male/ half female Shiv-Shakti divinity contrasting attributes: Parvati’s beautiful complexion like that of the Champa flower. And Shiva’s, coloured like burnt incense. The curly black hair of Paravti is adorned with pearls while Shiva’s dark tresses are in an ascetic’s matted locks.
Raag: Mallika Taal: Mallika Music composition: Acharya Bankim Sethi
Music Arrangement: Shri Saroj Mohanty Choreography: Guru Ranjana Gauhar
Performed by Vinod Kevin Bachan (YSNA Awardee), Vrinda Chadha and Urjaswi Dutta.

[@truere4lity]

I feel like I'm watching Shiva Sakti🤲🏼 Forgive my ignorance, but I feel like this particular choreography is very modern and the music also. I may be wrong about that, but I feel like it is done in a very successful way. I don't feel like it takes away from the beauty of "traditional" Odissi. Again, I am no expert, I merely relish in the beauty of Odissi from time to time.❤

[@SharonLowen1]

glad you enjoyed