Amrita Das

Amrita Das, a skilled artist in the field of Indian Classical Dance is blessed to groom her talents under the tutelage of legendary Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, Guru Ratikanta Mohapatra and Smt. Sujata Mohapatra at Srjan, Odissi Nrityabasa, Bhubaneswar. Her life’s great passion had come at the age of eleven when she came to Guruji’s house. The crown jewel of her training was the time spent at Srjan. She was intensively trained and groomed by her Gurus for more than 18 years and has become the bearer of Indian Cultural Heritage. Apart from the regular training course, she has also learnt some Odissi items from Guru Muralidhar Maji, Smt. Aloka Kanungo, Smt. Paushali Mukherjee and Smt. Nandini Ghoshal. Amrita enriched her repertoire while she attended the workshop on ‘Contemporary Dance’ under the World Dance Alliance, Asia Pacific, and Workshop on Orissa’s Sambalpur Folk Dances conducted by Guru Sudhakar Sau. She has also joined the appreciation course on Dance conducted by West Bengal State Music Academy.

The most memorable performance was in the year 1995 while Amrita was only eleven years old and participated in a Dance drama ‘Krishna-Sudama’ at Cuttack Doordarshan Kendra where Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra played as ‘Sudama’ and Amrita was little ‘Krishna’. 

Amrita has been appreciated both as a performer and choreographer not only in the field of Indian classical dance but also in the field of Creative dance. Few of her creations are being appended.

Nrityabasa Prerana was founded by Amrita in the year 2000 while she was only seventeen years old. After ten years’ successful running this institution has turned into a fully grown organization. Behind setting up this foundation, Amrita’s aim was to produce perfect dancers – not just performers. Towards fulfillment of her desire, Amrita is trying utmost so that her dreams become true.

The students of this institution are given lessons on traditional Odissi items choreographed by Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra and Guru Muralidhar Maji. Apart from regular training on Odissi, lessons on creative dancing, Rabindra Nritya and traditional folk-dancing are taught here.

Year          Place Details

2013 China Kunming International Cultural Tourism Festival

2012 China Sanghai and Luoyang Festival  

2011 Bangladesh CMFB (Cultural Movement Foundation of Bangladesh) Performance 

2011 Malayasia Rabindra Utsav organised by Malayasian Bengalee Association, Kualalampur

2011 Bangladesh Dhaka University and Kumilla Rabindra Utsav

2010 Beijing Performed in Beijing International Tourism Festival, Beijing, China

2010 Bangladesh Performed in various programs at different places

 

Year          Place Details

2013  Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri   Dooars Utsav  

2012  Nagpur Various Programmes During Durgapuja  

2012  Rabindra Sadan, Kolkata   Rabindra Nrityalekshya ‘Pratikshya’ 

2001 - 13 Bardhaman Bardhaman Utsav

2005 - 13 Bardhaman Krishnasayar Dance Festival

2010 Delhi Amrita performed as 'radha' in the Dance drama ‘Raas-Lila’

2009 Dance Drama festival, Kolkata  

2009 EZCC, Kolkata  

2009 - 10 Ras-Utsav, Madan Mohan Mandir, Coochbehar  

2008 Benaras  

2009 Kerala Played a role of Odissi Dancer in the film 'Desire'

2008 Jorasanko Thakurbari, Kolkata Rabindra Janmotsav

2008 Jalpaiguri Tista Torsa Utsav from Rabindra Bharati University.

2007 Andaman Performed at Doordarshan Kendra, Portblair, on 27.03.2007

2007 Ahmedabad, Baroda, Mehesana Various programmes at Durgapuja festivals

2007 Rabindra Sadan, Kolkata Uday Sankar Dance Festival organized by W.B. State Music Academy and W.B. Dance Group Federation.

2007 Gyanmancha, Kolkata Disha Dance Festival

2006 Ahmedabad Various Programs at Durga Puja Festivals

2006 Canning, 24 Prgs Sundarban Mela, EZCC

2006 Nandan, Kolkata Opening Ceremony of International Film Festival

2006 Jorasanko Thakurbari, Kolkata Gitabitan Utsav

2005 Purulia Played as Shyama in ‘Tinkanya’ dance drama.

2001 Bishnupur Bishnupur Festival

2000 Rabindra Sadan, Kolkata Utkal Divas

1999 Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu Foundation stone laying ceremony and Salangai Natham, S.Z.C.C.

1) Shakuntala : Shakuntala: this production is based on the divine love of Shakuntala and Dushyanta created by the great poet kalidas in his invaluable creation 'avigyan shakuntalam'. The choreographer has characterised the theme of whole incident in a different angel where it is seen that the nature responds with the change of feeling of human life.

2) Nabadurga : Nabadurga: Nabadurga means the nine appearances of devi durga, the goddess of power. In this production those nine states of durga - sailaputri, bramhacharini, kushmanda, chandraghanta, katyayani, skandomata, kalaratri, mahagouri and siddhidatri have been fully described. The dance-drama ends with the killing of 'asur', the image of evil strength by the hands of durga.

3) Nari : They are cute daughters, they are sweet sisters, they are lovely lovers, they are darling wives, they are adorable mothers, they are Women. Through this piece of dance one message regarding the strength of women, their ability, their devotion to work in every sphere of life are reflected. The existence of women in every stage cannot be ignored.

4) Nritya Chhande Baje : The universe functions with rhythm. The celestial bodies move with rythmic sequence. The changing pattern of moon, the intensity of the waves in the ocean, the sound ot the flowing water of the stream, the setting of day and night, change of the seasons, the beat o the heart – all have rythmic cycles. Often this rhythm is manifested to the ‘Padachhanda’ of Nataraj. This production is based on Rabindra-Bhavna.

5) Chandalika : Rabindrik dance-drama – choreography is based on classical odissi dance and folk dances of various states of India.

6) The Beauty of Love: It portrays the meeting and separation of Lord Krishna with Radha. This fact has been proved by graceful blending of Tandava and Lasya, both styles of Odissi.

7) Nrityer Kromobikash : Dance in human society is rooted in age old tradition. This vast sub-continent has given birth to varied forms of dancing, each shaped by the influences of a particular period and environment. The evolution of dancing art form is the basic issue of this production.

8) Matir Gandha : This production is based on various folk dances in India. There is really no such genre as folk dancing. The common thing among all these dance forms is their rural origins which we want to portrait with our dance production.

9) Agni (The Fire): This production based on contemporary styles is under process.