Braille project in offing for visually impaired to learn Odissi

Spreading harmony through Odissi dance form in two states Chhattisgarh and Odisha, Purnashree Raut is among the few artists, who made efforts to Odissi alive in the state. She works on an ambitious project on Braille to help the visually impaired to learn Odissi and also to set up a ‘‘Nrityagram’in the state.
Who inspired you to become an Odissi dancer?
When I was six years old, I started learning Odissi dance form from Cuttack, the culture city of Odisha under the guidance of my Gurus Ramani Ranjan Jena, Raghu Dutta, Kelu Charan Mohapatra and Shankar Behra.But later I had to take a break due to family responsibilities but started again 13 years ago and its continuing till date.
How much effort you had to make to nurture a neighbouring state’s dance form in Chhattisgarh?
It was really difficult promote and popularise any art form among a people of different culture still Chhattisgarh has given me enough opportunities to demonstrate my talent all over the state. If we go in depth, we find that classic treatise of India Dance, Natya Shastra, refers to it as Odra-Magadhi which includes the Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and some parts of the Maharashtra. This is the most ancient dance of temples which performs by ‘Devdasi’.
Can you tells us about any specific work that brought recognition to you?
Yes, with help of state government am providing honorary services to teach dance to differently abled children of a government school of Mathpuraina in the state capital. Besides, I also make a visit once in a month to any district for the same purpose. Since 2010, I have been teaching more than 45000 primary class students across the state through the medium of EDUSET along with distributing free CD’s of Odissi. On August 15 this year, a revised version of the CD’s for advance classes VI, VII,VIII would be launched. Next year CDs would be made available for High School students. I am also in process of making some projects for visually impaired students of the state in Braille so that they can also learn Odissi. These are the best medium to spread the Odissi culture in students from grass route level.
What about the performances and choreography?
I got the privilege to perform within India and abroad at many famous dance festivals including at Khajuraho, Chidambaram, Tanjavor, India habited Centre, India International centre, Islamic culture centre, New Delhi, Lumbani Festival, Konark Fest, Puri Beach fest and almost all festivals of Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Besides, I have also performed at OSA conventional Texas, Dallas, Plano, Washington DC, and New York, New Jersey.
About future plans?
I have already started International Odissi Dance festival at Raipur in which we have already done two seasons. Besides Odissi Ullass and Vasant Utsav are being organised by state’s culture department under my guidance at state capital. Apart from that, I am about to complete a book of dance named ‘Nrityashastra’ which is influenced by the Chidambaram Temple. In the book, I have tried to describe how dance evolved in this world.
What’s your dream project?
I have a dream to set up an ‘Nrityagram’ in the state. Our villagers are born with skills of tribal dance forms so I just want to polish them in different dance forms. In Nrityagram all classical dance forms would taught by professionals.
What is most rewarding to you?
For me, one of the most rewarding things is to study this art form in-depth. When I perform, I am able to convey my emotions and feelings to the audience which is the best thing that can happen. I am really fortunate that I have received Stree Shakti Samman, Steshtha Odiyani Award,Sigarmani,Nrityamani, Jaggannath Organisation Award and felicitation from USA’s Hindu temple and many state and national awards.