Nritya Pratibha, a festival of young dancers, was organized in collaboration with the Ustad Allaudin Khan Sangeet Evam Kala Akademi, Bhopal, and Lok Sanskriti Manch, Indore, from 27 to 31 August 2006 at Rabindra Natyagriha, Indore. The festival was
inaugurated by senior artists and eminent gurus of Indore — the Pawar brothers, musicians, Puru Dadhich and Sabita Godbole, Kathak gurus, and Shankar Lalwani, Chairperson of Lok Sanskriti Manch. The programme follows:

Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi

Ustad Allauddin Khan Sangeet Evam Kala Akademi, Bhopal
and
Lok Sanskriti Manch, Indore

27 August, Sunday
Inauguration

Astha Godbole, Indore Kathak

Itishree Jena & Rashmi Ranjan Jena, Delhi Odissi

Rakshit Yadav, Ratlam Bharatanatyam

Vinita Verma Zala, Ujjain Kathak

Artist of Jawahar Lal Nehru Manipur Dance
Academy, Imphal Dhol Cholom

28 August, Monday

Salini V. G., Thrissur Mohiniattam

Samiksha Sharma Arun, Gwalior Kathak

Yamini Yasoda Naidu, Hyderabad Kuchipudi

Harish Watti, Raipur Kathak

Artists of Jawahar Lal Nehru Manipur Pung Cholom
Dance Academy, Imphal & Basanta Ras

29 August, Tuesday

Bijay Kumar Sahoo & Janhabi Behera, Bhubaneswar Odissi

Sharad Vaishnav, Bilaspur Kathak

Jyotsna Jagannathan, Chennai Bharatanatyam

Srishti Gupta, Bhopal Kathak

Kalamandalam Prashanth, Kollam Kathakali

30 August, Wednesday

Pubaroon, Sibsagar & Aparajita Dawka, Guwahati Sattriya

Dimple Makhija & Krati Sojatia, Indore Kathak

Indu G. Nair, Edapplly Nangiarkooth

Mayura Pandit & Monika Pandey, Bhopal Kathak

Artists of Sangeet Natak Akademi Chhau Project Chhau, Seraikella

31 August, Friday

Bharati Saraf & Punita Gupta, Jabalpur Kathak

Medini Hombal, Bhopal Bharatanatyam

Ranjeeta & Poorva Pandit, Indore Kathak

Artists of Sangeet Natak Akademi Chhau Project Chhau, Mayurbhanj

Credits

Compare: Sadhana Srivastav

Light: Raj Kumar

Astha Godbole

Astha Godbole was initiated into Kathak by her mother Smt. Savita Godbole at a very young age. Later she obtained a degree in Post Graduation from Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh. She also received scholarship from CCRT and the Junior Scholarship from the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India for training in Kathak dance. She has performed in many prestigious festival including Kalidas Samman Arpan Samaroh organized by Govt. of M.P., Pratibha Utsav of North & South Central Zone Cultural Centre, Vividh Kala Mahotsava organized by the Govt. of Maharashtra, Bundelkhand Sangeet Samaroh and Akhil Bharatiya Sangeet Samaroh, Miraj.

Astha is also a well-known actor in the Central region and has acted in several Marathi and Hindi plays directed by Smt. Padamshree Jolaskar and Afzar Hussain. She has also appeared in several documentaries and tele-serials. Presently she is assisting her mother in imparting training to young dancers at their institution Layshala Lalit Kala Samiti, Indore.

Itishree Jena

Itishree Jena received training in Odissi dance under the tutelage of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, Smt. Kumkum Mohanty, Smt. Kasturi Pattnaik, Shri Nityananda Senapati and is continuing under Guru Ramani Ranjan Jena. She has obtained Visharad Purna from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal. Itishree has performed extensively in the dance-dramas of the Odissi Research Centre, Bhubaneswar and has given solo presentation in various prestigious festivals including Odissi Dance festival organized by Orissa Sangeet Natak Akademi, Shri Ranga Charan Kala Mahotsav of Kamala Kala Pitha, Uday Shankar Birth Centenary Celebration, Balasore Vikas Mahotsav & the Puri Festival.

Rashmi Ranjan Jena

Rashmi Ranjan Jena trained in Odissi dance under his father Shri Ramani Ranjan Jena since an early age and continued his training under Smt. Sanjukta Panigrahi and Smt. Kumkum Mohanty at the Odissi Research Centre, Bhubaneshwar. He received a scholarship from the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India for his training in Odissi dance and completed Nritya Visharad from Chandigarh University, Chandigarh. He has performed extensively within the country and abroad including festivals organized by Sangeet Natak Akademi in Orissa, Yuva Mahotsava of Sahitya Kala Parishad, Shree Ranga Charan Kala Mahotsav, Vikash Mahotsav and the Puri festival, Orissa. He has also toured to Japan, Vienna, Berlin, Frankfurt and Dublin for his performances. Shri Rashmi Jena is assisting his father his father in imparting training to young dancers at Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi.

Rakshit Yadav

Rakshit Yadav received his training in Bharatanatyam under Shri Unnikrishnan and later he joined M. S. University, Baroda for his advanced studies in Bharatanatyam. He also learnt Kathak dance and obtained a degree from Pryag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad and University of Khairagarh.

He has participated in several workshops conducted by Prof. C.V. Chandrasekhar and has traveled to Italy to attend a workshop in Western ballet under Ms. Louis. He has performed in prestigious festivals including Narmada Mahotsav in Rajpipla, Gujarat, Uday Shankar Dance Festival, Kolkata, Gujarat Darpan organized by EZCC and Madhya Pradesh Swarn Jayanti Varsh organized by Govt. of Madhya Pradesh. He has participated in many dance dramas choreographed by Shri Nabhandu Banerjee, Rema Shrikant, Dr. Parul Shah and Smt. Juthika Mahen. Shri Rakshit Yadav is presently working for his post graduation in Bharatanatyam at M. S. University, Baroda.

Vinita Verma Zala

Vinita Verma Zala received her initial training in Kathak from Shri S. Dharmadhikari Dr. Vijayakhadikar and Dr. Suchitra Harmalkar. Later she joined Kathak Kendra, New Delhi for her advanced training under the guidance of Smt. Urmila Nagar, on a scholarship from Kathak Kendra, New Delhi. She has participated in several dance festivals including Chhattisgarh Mahotsava, Dutt Jayanti Mahotsav, Ahmedabad and Samarthya Utsav, Ujjain. She has also composed many dance dramas. Presently, she is engaged in teaching dance to young artists.

Salini Vijayan

Salini received her initial training in Mohiniattam under the guidance of Smt. Kalamandalam Girija and Smt. Pallavi Krishnan. She has also learnt Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. Salini received a scholarship from Centre for Cultural Resource and Training for learning Mohiniattam. She has performed extensively within the State and outside along with the group of Smt. Kalamandalam Girija to participate in several dance festivals including State Youth Festival.

Samiksha Sharma Arun

Samiksha Arun had her training in Kathak under the tutelage of Guru Purushotam Nayak and later from Shri Rajendra Gangani at Kathak Kendra, New Delhi. She received scholarship from Kathak Kendra, New Delhi and the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India. She has performed extensively within the country and abroad with her guru Shri Rajendra Gangani to participate in Surya Festival, Trivandrum, Heritage Festival, Patiala, Kathak Mahotsav, Jaipur & Jodhpur and Nav Samvatsar Utsav, Gwalior. She has traveled to Germany, Venezuela, South America, Norway and Spain for her performances. Samiksha has also conducted workshops for young dance aspirants in various places with in the region. Presently she is engaged in imparting Kathak training to young artists.

Yamini Yashoda Naidu

Yamini Yashoda Naidu learnt Kuchipudi under the guidance of Dr. Chinta Ramanathan and Shri Vedantam Satyanarayan Sarma at Shri Siddhendra Kalakshetram, Kuchipudi on a scholarship from the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India. She obtained her Masters degree in Kuchipudi dance from Telugu University, Hyderabad. She performed in various places within the State and outside including Siddhendra Jayanti Mahotsav, International Telugu Cultural Conference, Andhra Pradesh Bhavan, New Delhi, Shilparamam, Hyderabad and Bombay Andhra Mahasabha, Mumbai.

Harish Watti

Harish Watti started his training in Kathak dance under Dr. Arti Jain at Kamala Devi Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, Raipur. He obtained his becholar’s degree in Kathak dance from Kamala Devi Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, Raipur. He performed in various festivals including Chakradhar Samaroh, Raipur, Gwalior Mela, Gwalior, Kumbh Mela, Ujjain, Malwa Utsav, Indore Rajayotsav Mela, Raipur, Akhila Bharatiya Dak Taar Vibhag, Dehradun, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Orissa.

Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal

A constituent unit of Sangeet Natak Akademi, Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Akademi, Imphal is the leading institution in the country for teaching of Manipuri dance. Established in 1954, it offers several comprehensive courses in Manipuri dance, music and allied subjects like Lai Haraoba. The courses are planned as a foundation for professional for artists. The institution has on its staff teachers of eminence. It also has a production Unit, which is the repertory company of the Academy. Performances by artists of the Academy have featured in major national and international festivals. Masters of the Manipuri dance, music traditions such as Maisna Amubi Singh, Haobam Automba Singh, Atombapu Sarma, Abhiram Sarma, Kalidaman Singh, Rajani Maibi, Khetri Tombi Devi among others have been associated with the institution.

The Academy’s group in the present festival is being led by Shri Th. Chaotombi Singh. The artists who will be performing Pung Cholom, Dhol Cholom and Basant Ras in this festival are T. Nanaotomba Singh, L. Robindro Singh, M. Deban Singh, S. Chandramani Singh, M. Jibon Singh, Km. T. Goutamani Devi. K. M. Urmila Devi, S. Somola Devi, Kh. Roma Devi, Ng. Ranjita Devi, O. Debola Devi, Ph. Devajani Devi, H. Ushapyari Devi.

Bijay Kumar Sahoo

Bijay Kumar Sahoo was initiated into Gotipua dance at a very young age at Chandrasekhar Gotipua Kala Sansad under the guidance of Guru Mahadev Raut. Later he received training in Odissi dance from Shri Gangadhar Pradhan, Dr. Bidyut Kumari Chaudhary and Bichitra Nanda Swain. He obtained Nrutya Charya from Orissa Dance Academy and Graduated in music from Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, Bhubaneshwar. He received a scholarship from Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India for his training in Odissi dance. Bijay Kumar Sahoo has performed both as a soloist and as a member of Orissa Dance Academy including Konark, Puri Beach Festival, Orissa, Swarn Utsav, New Delhi, and Thanjavur Festival, Thanjavur. He has also traveled to Canada, Washington DC, San Francisco and other States of the US.

Janhabi Behera

Janhabi Behera was initiated in Odissi dance under Shri Yudhistir Naik at Orissa Dance Academy. Later she specialized under the guidance of Shri Gangadhar Pradhan and Smt. Aruna Mohanty. She received a scholarship from Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India for training in Odissi dance. Janhabi has performed in various prestigious festivals including National Festival of Dance Drama, Baroda, Konark Festival, Konark, Puri Beach Festival, Swarnotsav, Dhenkanal Mahotsav, Dhenkanal and Jaidev Utsav, New Delhi. She has also traveled to Japan to perform at the Kobe Kyoto O Saka and 20th Spring Friendship Art Festival in North Korea.

Sharad Vaishnav

Sharad Vaishnav had his initial training in Kathak dance under his grand father Shri Firtu Maharaj at a very young age and later under the guidance of his father Shri Ram Murti Vaishnav, Smt. Vasanthi Vaishnav and Shri Sunil Vaishnav. He received scholarship from Department of Culture, Govt. of India for his training in Kathak dance. He has performed in various festivals such as the Malhar Mahotsav, Malhar, Akhila Bharatiya Nritya Sangeet Samaroh, Raipur, Sangeetanjali, Bilaspur and Chakradhar Samaroh, Raipur. He has participated in Virasat 2006 and several dance festivals organized by the Govt. of Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, he has appeared in several documentaries in lead roles. Presently he is assisting his teachers in training young dancers at Bilaspur.

Jyotsna Jagannathan

Jyotsna Jagannathan started learning Bharatanatyam from Dr. Hema Govindrajan at Nritya Mihira, Nairobi, Kenya and later she continued under Smt. Jayanti Subrahmaniam and Shri A. Lakshman at Chennai. She also learnt Abhinaya under Smt. Kalanidhi Narayan. She received a scholarship from Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Natak Manram. Jyotsna has given performances in various prestigious festivals such as Yuva Utsav organized by Bharat Kalachar, Chennai, Pongal Dance Festival organized by Kartik Fine Arts, Natyanjali Festival and Talent Promotion Dance Festival of Krishna Gana Sabha and Kartik Fine Arts, Rasika Ranjani, Chennai, Kittappa Pillai Memorial Festival, Bangalore and Poona Sangeetha Sabha, Pune.

Srishti Gupta

Srishti Gupta received her training in Kathak dance under the guidance of Smt. Alpana Vajpeyi. She received a scholarship from Department of Culture, Govt. of India. She has performed in Pratibha Utsav, Ujjain, Sadhana Mahotsav, Indore and festival organized by Ustad Allauddin Khan Evam Sangeet Akademi. She has also participated in various dance dramas choreographed by Smt. Alpana Vajpeyi presented in Ramadan Festival, Dubai, India International Trade Fair and Judicial Academy, Bhopal.

Kalamandalam Prasanth

Kalamandalam Prashanth learnt Kathakali dance at Kerala Kalamandalam under the tutelage of Kalamandalam Balasubramanian. He specialized in Purush Vecham of the Kathakali arts. He has performed extensively within the country and abroad in many prestigious festivals, as an artist of the Kerala Kalamandalam group.

In this festival he is accompanied by Kalamandalam Rajeevan who is also a trained artist of Kerala Kalamandalam and a disciple of Kalamandalam Vasu Pishrodi, he specializes in the female roles.

Pubaroon, Sibasagar

The presentation of Gayan Bayan is being featured by artists of Pubaroon Cultural Society, Sibsagar. They have received their training under the guidance of Late Shri Rameshwar Borbayan of Kamalabari Sattra. These artists have given several performances of gayan bayan in various festivals within the State of Assam and out side. In this festival the group is led by Shri Uttam Saikia.

Aparajita Dawka

Aparajita Dawka received her training in Sattriya dance under the guidance of Shri Ghankanta Bora. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Sattriya dance. She also learnt Odissi under the guidance of Smt. Gorima Hazarika. She has performed in various festivals including Gantantra Mahotsav, Shillong, Nritya Parva, Guwahati organized by Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, dance festivals organized by Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan and Rukmini Devi Kalakshetra, Chennai. At present, she is undergoing her advanced training in Sattriya dance under the SNA Project of Support to Sattriya dance under Guru Ghanakant Bora at Guwahati.

Dimple Makhija

Dimple Makhija received her training in Kathak under the guidance of Dr. Puru Dadich and Smt. Vibha Dadich at Natwari Kathak Nritya Academy, Indore. She completed her Visharad from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya. She has performed in various festivals including Kalidas Samaroh, Ujjain, Sanskar Bharati, Indore, dance festivals organized by Natwari Kathak Nritya Academy and Dr. Sudha Singh Smriti Nritya Samaroh. She has also conducted several dance workshops for young Kathak dancers in Indore. Presently she is engaged in completing her Masters degree in Kathak dance.

Krati Sajotia

Krati Sajotia received her training in Kathak dance under the guidance of Dr. Puru Dadich and Smt. Vibha Dadich at Natwari Kathak Nritya Academy. She completes her Visharad from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya. She has performed in various festivals including Kalidas Samaroh, Ujjain, Sanskar Bharti, Indore, dance festival organized by Natwari Kathak Nritya Academy, Dr. Sudha Singh Smriti Nritya Samaroh. She has also conducted several dance workshops for young Kathak dancers in Indore. Presently she is pursuing her Masters in Kathak Dance from DAVV, Indore.

Indu G. Nair

Indu G. Nair received her training in Nangiarkuthu under Guru Moozhikkulam Kochukuttan Chakyar, Usha Nangiar and Margi Madhu. She also learnt Mohiniattam and Bharatanatyam from Kalamandalam Chandrika. She has presented papers and lecture demonstrations for several seminars organized by Tapasam researchers Association at Samikhsha, Kalady and Sree Shankaracharya University of Sanskrit. She has undertaken University of Sanskrit. She has undertaken her doctoral thesis in Kuttiyattam from Sree Sankracharaya University of Sanskrit, Kalady. She has performed in various festivals within the state of Kerala and outside. She has also conducted workshops for tribal students at Bhopal directed by Shri Habib Tanvir, and National School Intensive at Ghaziabad conducted by Spic Macay.

Mayura Pandit

Mayura Pandit started her training in Kathak under the guidance of Smt. Mohini Moge and later under the tutelage of Guru Ramlal Bareth. She obtained her Masters degree in Kathak from Govt. Music College, Indore. She received scholarship from Govt. of Madhya Pradesh and Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India for training in Kathak dance. Mayura Pandit has performed in various festivals all over the country including Kathak Shringar & Kala Mandir Festival, Bhopal, Dhwani Sanstha Samaroha, New Delhi, Kathak Festival organized by NCZCC, Chakradhar Samaroh, Chattisgarh Sathapana Diwas, Raigarh and Virasat, Lucknow.

Monika Panday

Monika Pandey started her training in Kathak under the guidance of Smt. Mohini Moge and later learnt under the tutelage of Guru Ramlal Bareth. She obtained her Masters degree in Kathak from Govt. Music College, Indore. She received scholarship from Govt. of Madhya Pradesh and Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India for training in Kathak dance. Monika Pandey has performed in various festivals all over the country including Kathak Shringar & Kala Mandir Festival, Bhopal, Dhwani Sanstha Samaroha, New Delhi, Kathak Festival organized by NCZCC, Chakradhar Samaroh, Chattisgarh Sathapana Diwas, Raigarh and Virasat, Lucknow.

Artists Of Sangeet Natak Akademi Project Of Support To Chhau Dance (Seraikella)

Sangeet Natak Akademi’s project of support to Chhau dance has been launched with a view to support, sustain and provide performance opportunity to this artistic tradition. Support is extended both for strengthening the exiting performers and setting up new training centers, thereby creating an ambience for regular training and practice of Chhau dance traditions. The training programme for Seraikella Chhau is going on in places like Seraikella and Delhi.

The artists being featured in this festival are Bishwanath Kumbhakar, Govind Mahato, Pulkit Gupta, Ranjit Acharya. These artists have received their training in Seraikella Chhau under the guidance of Shri Shashadhar Acharya.

The accompanying musicians are Shashadhar Acharya, Sapan Acharya (Dhol), Vikas Babu (Shehnai).

Bharati Saraf

Bharati Saraf received her training in Kathak under the guidance of Smt. Swati Modi Tiwari, Smt. Mohini Moghe Poonchhwale and Smt. Savita Godbole. She obtained her Masters degree in Kathak from Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh. She has performed in various Mahotsav, Sharad Mahotsav, Bhedaghat. M. P. Stapathana Divas Swaran Jyanti organized by the Government of Madhya Pradesh and the Nohteshwar Mahotsava, Nohta. She is presently working as a dance teacher in Arvind Pathak Music College, Jabalpur.

Punita Gupta

Punita Gupta received her training in Kathak dance under the tutelage of Smt. Mohini Moghe. She obtained her Masters degree from Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya. She has performed at Akhila Bhartiya Nritya Samaroh by Narmada Welfare Society, Var Rang Darshan, Nritya Shree Festival, Kathak Nritya Sadhna Shivir organized by SCZCC, Alankaran Samaroh, Nritya Shree festival of Prasang, Shri Sangeet Ayogit Society, Patan, Kal ke Kalakar Samelan, Mumbai and dance festival at Hyderabad.

Medini Hombal

Medini Hombal had her initial training in Bharatanatyam under the guidance of her parents Smt. Mala Hombal & Shri Prem Chand Hombal and her grand parents Smt. Girija Hombal and Shri Shankar Hombal. Later she joined Rukmini Devi College of Fine Arts, Chennai for her advanced studies. She has performed in various festivals including Kal Ke Kalakar Sammelan, organized by Sur Singar Samiti, Banabhatta Samaroh. She has also performed in Sanskrit plays presented in the Banaras Hindu University, dedicated to Late Prof. Smt. Prem Lata Sharma.

Ranjeeta Dargaiya

Ranjeeta Dargaiya received her training in Kathak dance under the tutelage of Dr. Suchitra Harmalkar of Raigarh gharana. She has attended several workshops conducted by Smt. Uma Dogra in Mumbai. She Obtained Masters of Arts in Kathak Dance. She has performed in various festivals including Chhattisgarh Mahotsav and Mandu Utsav, Madhya Pradesh.

Purva Pandit

Purva Pandit received her training in Kathak dance from Smt. Suchitra Harmalkar, Shri Kartik Ram and Shri Ram Lal. She obtained a diploma in Kathak dance from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya. She has performed in various dance festivals including Chhattisgarh Utsav, Chhattisgarh, Swadeshi Mela, Indore, Mandu Utsav, Mandu and India International Centre, New Delhi. At present, she is pursuing Master in Arts in Kathak dance.

Artists of Akademi’s Chhau Project (Mayurbhanj)

Sangeet Natak Akademi’s project of support to Chhau dance has been launched with a view to support, sustain and provide performance opportunity to this artistic tradition. Support is extended both for strengthening the existing performers and setting up new training centers, thereby creating an ambience for regular training and practice of Chhau dance traditions. The training programme has been continuing for more than a decade in places like Baripada and Rairangpur in Mayurbhanj. Eminent Gurus have been imparting training in Mayurbhanj under this project.

The artists being features in this festival are Loknath Das, Pradeep Mohanty, Santanu Nayak, Hari Samal, Pagulu Jena, Deba Dhaiki, Gurva Baitha, Ranjan Baitha, Forein Dhada, Chhatish Dhada, Naba Ghadei, Kishore Ghadei, Gambhir Dhada, Ratan Ghadei, Ashok Baitha.