"Utsav" Ranjana’s Odissi Dance Company comprises dedicated, focused and committed young artists who have been personally trained by the renowned Odissi exponent, Padmashree and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee, Ranjana Gauhar. 

The dance company has won appreciation of the audiences, critics and art lovers at several events and festivals held in India and abroad. Some of them are: Kalidas Samaroh (Ujjain), Nishagandhi Festival (Thiruvanthapuram, Kerala), Alwa’s Virasat Festival (Mangalore), Triveni Mahotsav (Allahabad), International Conference “Namaste” (Hyderabad, ICCR festival, HCL Concert series at IHC, Festival in Kuwait, Konark Festival and many more. In September 2010, the repertory performed a series of dance recitals for ICCR’s festival of India “Namaste France” in France & in Europe. 

Guru Ranjana Gauhar conceptualizes and designs performances of India’s centuries old traditions of philosophy, mythology and spirituality to suit the modern mindset, which is easily understood by all.

 Our Productions: The repertory has a repertoire of full-fledged productions which include:

  • Chitrangada-New dance production based on the work of Nobel Laureatte Rabindranath Tagore

  • Darpan-Reflection of the tradition

  • Chandra Bhaga (a mythological story of Konark, Orissa)

  • Dehi Pad Pallam Udaram (Based on the Sanskrit poetry of Jayadev Geet Govind) Nal Damayanti (A ballet for the Mahabharats)

  • Prerna (On women’s empowerment)

  • Production based on Hindi poets including Nirala and others.

 

Chitrangada copyright Utsav@2011

 Brief write ups of some of the Utsav productions:

1.      Chitrangada- Through her dance production, Ranjana, recounts the tale of Princess Chitrangada, a brilliant and brave character mentioned in the great Indian epic Mahabharata, was a warrior princess of Manipur, who fell in love with the mighty Arjuna.

2.      Darpan-Mirroring the tradition of Odissi dance: This is a traditional repertoire of Odissi dance such as Mangalacharan, Batu, Pallavi and Geet Govind (Expressional dance)

3.      Chandra Bhaga: Chandra Bhaga is a mythological story depicting the story of a beautiful ocean gir meets a tragic end due to the plots of the Gods on the shores of the sea at Konark. 

4.      Dehi Pad Pallav Mudaram: A dance-drama based on the one of the master pieces in Sanskrit poetry “Sri Geet Govindam” written by the saint poet Sri Jayadev in the 12th Century.