Classical dancers perform at International Odissi dance festival in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Classical dancers from across the world participated in the International Odissi Dance Festival organised here with the aim to provide a common platform to eminent Odissi dancers.

The department of Tourism and Culture Odisha in collaboration with Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre has organised the festival from December 23 to 29. Ramrahari Das, the organiser, told reporters that Odissi dance has achieved new heights and has become popular around the world. “International Odissi Dance festival is organized every year in Bhubaneswar. Our purpose to gather dancers from across the world and to showcase the development taken place in the Odissi dance form to the people," said Das. Veteran Odissi dancers, including Sonal Mansingh, Illeana Citaristi, Kumkum Mohanty, Kumkum Lal, Madhavi Mudgal, Minati Mishra, Alok Kanungo, Durga Charan Ranbir, Ramani Ranjan Jena, Minali Mishra, Kiran Sehgal and Ranjana Gauhar will perform at the festival. One of the participants, Maria Lura expressed happiness and was glad to perform at the event. "I feel very happy to perform in Orissa because this is the place where Odissi comes from and for me it was a blessing to be able to be here," said Lura. The main objective of this festival was to bring together the legendary, established, senior and talented Odissi dancers. The festival would witness 70 solo performances, 14 duet performances and 20 group performances. Around 398 dancers and 300 musicians from across the globe would showcase their talent at the festival. ANI Image courtesy: orissaonline.co.in