“Nrutyasri” Monalisa Ghosh’s Odisi Dance performance mesmerised audience at ICCR Kolkata

Partha Roy, Kolkata: “Nrutyasri” Monalisa Ghosh’s and her Kalajyoti Ensemble mesmerised audience by their Odisi Dance performance at ICCR Kolkata on 22nd September 2023.

Guru Monalisa Ghosh and Kalajyoti Ensemble began their performance with Mangalacharan, the prayer to Lord Jagannath. It was followed by dance composition “Shiva Panchakshara Stotra” where Lord Shiva has been described in all His glories. “Shiva Panchakshara Stotra” was choreographed by Guru Monalisa Ghosh. This composition ended with Sabha pranam or greetings to the audience.

The young Dance artists of Kalajyoti Ensemble presented Pallabi in raag Saveri, Taal – chaturasra Ektaali, choreographed by Padmabibhusan Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra and music composition by Pandit Bhubaneswar Mishra. Pallabi is the most charming example of Pure dance or Nritta in Bharatiya Shastyriya Nritya.

Guru Monalisa Ghosh then presented with a touching Abhinay – Brojo ku Choro – a loving picture of unconditional love and bondage between mother Yasoda and son Krishna. The Dance Recital ended with an Ashtapadi from Geet Govindam written by Poet Jaydev in the12th Century.

Lalita Labanga lata – presents a charming description of spring and the romantic Holi played amongst Radha, Sri Krishna and the sakhis. When Sri Radha was suffering due to her separation from Sri Krishna, the Sakhis describe how Sri Krishna (Hari) was preparing for playing Holi with her.

As internationally renowned Dance Guru Monalisa Ghosh presented Lecture Demonstration on various Odisi Dance mudras, spoke on Odisi dance’s deep connection with philosophy and spiritualism. She also spoke on origin and history Odisi Dance form in temples of Odisha as form of offering to Lord Jagannath by Devadasis.

The young Dance artists of Kalajyoti Ensemble who performed alongwith Guru Monalisa Ghosh were Tanusree Mullick, Meghamala Ghoshal, Atasi Biswas and National Scholarship awardee Jit Ghosh.

Guru Monalisa Ghosh started learning Odisi Dance from early childhood. She trained under Guru Ramani Ranjan Jena continued under Guru Raghunath Dutta and gained maturity under the legendary Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra and Guru Sanjukta Panigrahi. Her dance has been widely acclaimed for classicism, lyricism and spiritual expression. She is a Visiting Odissi Dance lecturer in – Afro-Asiatic Institute in Vienna and Nritya Vikash School of Odissi dance in The Hague, Rasa Manjuri in Abu Dhabi, Sarjah and Dubai.

Guru Monalisa Ghosh has performed in Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, France, U.S.A., U.K., Tajikistan, Sweden,Denmark,Spain, U.A.E.,Qatar and Bangladesh. Guru Monalisa Ghosh presents Lecture – Demonstration to widely educated western audience on the Meditational, philosophical, spiritual, aesthetical and therapeutic value of Indian classical dance in every day life.

Earlier, Muktodhara Shilpi Gosthi presented chorus musicals titled “GEETOSUDHAROSHE ESHO” involving Agamoni songs, popuLar songs of yesteryears and a few evergreen popular Bengali and a Hindi song as a part of ICCR Horizon series program.