Mayurbhanj Chhau to enthrall global audience

BARIPADA: The Mayurbhanj style of Chhau dance will be part of an international extravaganza of Holi or Phagwa' and the St Patrick's Day celebrations from March 14 to 24. The festivals will be celebrated in the twin Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago as well as neighbouring Montserrat.
"A nine-member troupe of chhau artistes, comprising six men and three women, will enthral the audiences," said troupe leader Kartikeswar Rana here on Monday.Rana is the secretary of Dakshinsahi Chhau Nrutya Mandir. The programme is being sponsored by New Delhi-based Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). The troupe will leave for Trinidad and Totbago on March 10, Rana added.
Mayurbhanj Chhau is one such dance form that has incorporated at least 200 themes from the ancient mythology to give this dance a unique quality, Rana said, adding that with passage of time many of them are forgotten, while many are being revived or many more created as they go along.
The themes of these dances are derived from the inexhaustible sources of Indian mythologies, including great epics like Ramayana and Mahabharat, sources added.
The sources further said the Mayurbhanj Chhau skillfully embodies the three ingredients of dance: "tala", "bhava" and "raga". All its movements and gestures are stylized. The intricacies of footwork, moodes of elegant and graceful walk, poise, gait, whirls and jumps have their own distinctiveness. Many exponents of Mayurbhanj style of Chhau dance claim that the dance far surpasses any other school of Indian dancing in the sheer physical vibrancy.
With all these unique forms and distinctive vibrant quality, the Mayurbhanj style of Chhau will earn great laurels in its forthcoming programme to be held at Trinidad, Tobago and other neighbouring countries.
The dancers of Dakshinsahi Chhau Nrutya Mandir will present as many as 10 dance themes, including the one called "Holi" to match the Tobago celebrations.
The other dances have been named "Krushna-Balaram, Dandi, Dhwajatal, Megha-Mayuri, Mahadev, Tamudia-Krishna, Nisith milan", among others.