Berhampur born NRI Odissi exponent enthralls audience in Silk city

Shalini Patnaik, a non-resident Indian (NRI) Odissi dancer from California, America, enthralled the audience through her solo Odissi recital in the city on Monday night.

It may be noted that she along with her two other sisters Labani Patnaik and Shibani Patnaik has played a major role in popularizing Odissi in America and other western countries. The dance recital of Ms Shalini was organised at Kavisurya auditorium by Ganjam Kala Parishad and Chatrapur Kala Vikash Kendra. Her dance recital proved that although she lives thousands of kilometres away Odissi has kept her rooted to the culture.

She preferred to stick to chaste form of Odissi during her performance. During Mangalacharan she danced to pay her obeisance to the mother goddess through Durga Stuti. Her next phase of Odissi dance recital ‘Pallavi' was choreographed to the tunes of Raag Kirabani and during ‘Abhinaya' she preferred to dance to the timeless Sanskrit lyrics of Jayadev. Classical vocal artist Rupak Kumar Parida sang in the background during the performance. Bijay Kumar Narik played mardal, Agnimitra Behera violin and Soumyaranjan Joshi played flute.

Ganjam Kala Parishad honoured Shalini. Chatrapur Kala Vikash Kendra honoured the other artists who were part of the performance. Veteran stage craft master Kedar Apta was also honoured.

Source: The Hindu