NCPA Umang – Odissi duet and Kathak trio

Umang presenting promising Artist

Supported by HSBC

KUNDALINI
Odissi duet  by Samir Kumar Panigrahi & Santosh Ram

NATAWARI
Kathak Trio by Neesha Jhaveri, Anuradha Sethuraman & Aruna Swamy

NCPA Umang is a platform dedicated to showcasing and nurturing promising artistes across diverse dance forms. Celebrating creativity and excellence, Umang provides a stage for talented dancers to present their craft, connect with audiences and take a significant step towards a flourishing career in the performing arts. This month we present students of two illustrious gurus—Bichitrananda Swain and Sunayana Hazarilal.

Samir Kumar Panigrahi and Santosh Ram are award-winning Odissi artistes and disciples of Bhubaneswar-based teacher and choreographer Bichitrananda Swain. At dance festivals across the world, they have performed Swain’s unique choreographies, which honour the tradition but offer fresh renditions of this exquisite and ancient Indian classical dance form. Swain is a renowned choreographer and performer of Odissi, known for his energetic, thought-provoking compositions. His dance institution, Rudrakshya Foundation, has emerged as a successful training centre for aspiring dancers from India and beyond.

Neesha Jhaveri, Anuradha Sethuraman and Aruna Swamy are disciples of Sunayana Hazarilal, an Honorary Director of Natawari and the torchbearer of the rare style of the Jankiprasad gharana of Kathak from Varanasi.

Neesha Jhaveri, a recipient of the National Scholarship from the Government of India and a graded artiste of Doordarshan, has performed at various dance festivals in India and abroad. She is the Chairperson of Sri Shakti Academy, the first professional Indian dance company set up in Hong Kong. An investment banker by profession, Anuradha Sethuraman has been zealously pursuing her passion for Indian classical dance forms throughout her academic and professional years. A disciple of Neesha Jhaveri, she has performed at prestigious stages in India and abroad. Aruna Swamy is a graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi and a disciple of Neesha Jhaveri. She is known for her ability to connect with audiences, beautiful abhinaya and technical virtuosity and has performed at various cultural festivals, nationally and internationally. She is the Executive Director of the Natawari Kathak Foundation.

The trio will be performing four pieces including Krishna Vandana, Nritta, Raas Mandal and Tarana.

Entry free and on a first-come first-served basis.