Utsav Educational & Cultural Society, founded by Ranjana in 1987, is a cultural organization, which has been promoting & propagating Indian culture, dance & music for more than two decades to true connoisseurs of the art.

Students at UTSAV are trained under the guidance of Ranjana. They are taught in accordance with the structured syllabus of the University of Pracheen Kala Kendra (to which Utsav is affiliated).

The duration of the basic course is 3 to 5 years which includes both practical (basic footwork, fundamental dance movements & introduction to some beginners' dance items) as well as theoretical (Abhinaya Darpana, Taal system & Oriya literature) components.

At the senior level, students are taught a larger repertoire from the different schools of Odissi. Facilities to teach through the audio-visual medium are also available at the school.

Every year students get opportunity to perform on a professional platform & senior students also travel interstate & overseas as part of Ranjana's troop to perform at various dance festivals.

Ranjana has also imparted training to foreign students from countries like Germany, UK, Brazil, France, Japan & USA. Utsav has the capacity to accommodate students from interstate & abroad while they are training with Utsav.

OTHER PROJECTS

Utsav invites gurus & senior Odissi dancers at regular intervals from the Odissi Research Centre, Bhubaneshwar to bring about standardization & uniformity in the dance form. It also hosts dance shows to offer financial benefit & create opportunities for talented artists from different parts of India who may not otherwise have an opportunity to perform outside their area.

Utsav is also actively involved in projects for the disabled children, by attempting to improve their motor abilities through dance movements. Specially choreographed ballets - Holi Ki Kahani, Bacchon Ki Zubani, Shravan Kumar Eklavya & Alibaba Chalis Chor, have been organized to this end.

HIGHLIGHTS

Quest for Identity: Seminar on Odissi music.

Providing an opportunity to see the neglected Raigarh style of Kathak by late Guru Kartik Ram & his students.

Joining Hands - A project for Orissa Cyclone.

Performance to raise funds for the family of late Guru Sri Nath Raut, who was tragically killed in a road accident.

Contact: G-8 Jangpura Extension, New Delhi - 110014. PH: 24319187, 9810132756.Email: ranjanaodissi@gmail.com