Rural Sports Winners Perform Ballet In Odisha’s Berhampur

Berhampur: The girls, who had won in different events of rural sports held a fortnight ago, performed a dance ballet on the folk song ‘Thia Puchi Naranga’ at the ITI Auditorium in Berhampur of Odisha’s Ganjam district on Saturday.

They performed the dance ballet along with many acclaimed artists during the “Kumara Punei Janha Lo” festival organised by Madhumaya Panigrahi Foundation. The programme was streamed live in 126 countries by ‘Amesabu’ on Kumar Purnima.

The girls who excelled in rural sports, on the stage for the first time in their life. They were surprised by their own ability to dance.

“Recreation is more than playing sports. It means art, theatre, music and dance. They are taught by artistic professionals who strive to make the most of their innate creativity. These children would also perform the dance across the country to popularise the rich tradition and culture of Odisha in national and international arena,” said Hrushikesh Panigrahi, director of Madhumaya Panigrahi Foundation.

The folk song ‘Thia Puchi Naranga’ was derived from South Odisha Cultural Study Centre under the Department of Odia in Berhampur University from the beginning. It was choreographed by renowned Odissi dancer Rinarani Sahu, a disciple of Guru Kanduri Charan Behera.

Total 15 winners of rural sports were trained to dance to the tune of the folk song for two hours everyday for seven days. “It is a difficult task to train the girls who are not able to link between music and movement. But the dance elements with free expressive movement, exploring patterns, shapes, directions and tempos make a child excited and the result is positive,” said choreographer Rinarani.

The prominent guests at the function included Dilip Routrai, Director Odia Language, Literature and Culture; Purna Chandra Mahapatra, renowned Historian; Pritam Ghosh, founder member Global Odia Volunteers, Canada, Sukanta Panigrahi, art director of Bollywood films; Madhusmita Patra, international mountaineer and Prateek Pattnaik, researcher on Odissi and Odia culture.

Other programmes of the funtion included Sankirtan by G Haribandhu and team, ‘Shakti Abahani dance by Sushree Samhita, Odissi dance by Madhulita Mohapatra and Sahana Maya of Nrityantar Dance Ensemble Bengaluru, Sikkim folk dance by Pravina Sinchury and troupe, folk dance by Sruti and team from Venkateswara Music and Dance Academy, Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh and Scrap Fashion Theme dance by ITI Berhampur students.