Grace & Grandeur

SURAT: Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee, noted Odissi danseuse Geeta Mahalik performed at SVNIT staff club last evening. Mahalik, who is known to bring alive this dance form with her subtle grace and charm, has mastered the art of expressing various "rasa" via both religious and secular styles performed for the first time in the city, at Delhi Public School and Jeevan Bharti school as well."It was wonderful to perform for the little children," said Mahalik, her eyes dancing with joy, "they were so interested and curious about how I move my eyes, mould mudras and give postures."
Trained under the expertise of Guru Deba Prasad Dash and Guru Mayadhar Raut, she has managed to break the monotonous mould with her innovative style and added dimensions to classical dance, carving a niche within India and in countries such as USA, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Canada, and China." There has always been a very welcoming ambience to Indian classical dance and music globally; the foreigners are very curious about my bindi that represents the Sun, outfit and hairstyle too which is very much an integral part of the Odissi style of dance."
Mahalik, who is fond of venturing into abstract themes which are very difficult to perform on stage, smoothly sails into various forms of abhinay and performs impromptu masterpieces on the spot. "I have Orissa in my blood and when critics question me about why I prefer to perform to Hindi compositions like 'Surdas', I point out that it is our national language. Even in Surat, I performed to this composition since the crowd relates to the expression of its various moods."
"We are most fortunate to have been able to procure dates for her to visit the Surat," says Anirudhh Singh from SVNIT. "We had been trying to get her to visit town for the past two years without success and are now thrilled that the students have been able to avail this opportunity of a live performance ."
Organised by SPICMACAY, this recital was part of the ongoing SPICFEST, which has been made possible with the support of the above mentioned local schools and the university.