GUWAHATI, Nov 27 - To mark the inauguration of the tenth edition of the Pragjyoti International Dance Festival presented by Kalpa, an international dance called �Shataranga� from the Bengali word for seven colours, was presented at the Sri Sri Madhavadeva Auditorium on Monday, said a press release today.
Ananya Dance Theatre from the twin cities of Minneapolis and St Paul in the USA performs contemporary Indian dance using a mixed language of yoga, Odissi and Chhau, which they have patented as �Yorccha�.
Founded by Ananya Chatterjea, a dance scholar and practitioner, who also choreographs for the group, the Ananya Dance Theatre consists of women of colour - all American citizens, but from different ethnic backgrounds. They specialise in creating work for social justice and for righting historical wrongs.
�Shataranga� was specifically inspired by ancient Indian Ocean trade routes that connected parts of Asia, Africa, and South America. It is also inspired by shared practices and different methodologies of indigo-dyeing that existed in these communities. The history of indigo is particularly poignant for Indian audiences because of the role indigo played in firing anti-colonial feelings in India.
Delhi-based NGO Kri Foundation, set up by Dr Arshiya Sethi, a scholar of Sattriya dance, who had known the Ananya Dance Theatre during a Fulbright fellowship in Minneapolis, partnered with Kalpa to bring the eleven-member group from America.
�Bhupen Hazarika had sung about the rivers. Through this performance we bring the magnificent Mississippi close to the mighty Brahmaputra,� said Sethi in her introduction.
Distinguished educationist and former Vice Chancellor of Gauhati University Prof Nirmal Kumar Chaudhury inaugurated the event with Bayanacharya Ghanakanta Bora, thespian Pranjal Saikia, theatre director Dulal Roy, IPS officer and lover of art Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta and secretary of Kalpa Prof Pradip Jyoti Mahanta.
Noted Sattriya dancer Anwesa Mahanta explained the Guwahati, Jorhat and Majuli editions of the festival planned for this year, the release added.