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International Women's
Day - 2004, was a colourful three day dance ballet festival
presenting two ballets on each day. We called it "Women of
Substance, 10 - A Dance Extravaganza". Smitalay first started
celebrating the international women's day 10 years ago through the
medium of performing arts.
Three groups from
various parts of India were invited. Lasya headed by Pallavi
Krishnan from Trichur, Shambhavi school of dance - headed by
Vyjayanthi Kashi of Bangalore and OVM Centre headed by Sharmila
Biswas from Kolkata.
We were blessed to have
our beloved Guruji present on all the three days of our festival.All
the three days of the festival received an overwhelming response
from the audience.
Guruji Inaugurating the
festival (centre), Dr. Vaijayanthimala Bali (left), Jhelum Paranjape
(right)
8th
March 2004
Leelavati
- Based on the famous treatise of Bhaskaracharya, the 12th century
mathematician and astronomer, this dance ballet choreographed by
Smitalay's director Jhelum Paranjape in Odissi style, has received
international acclaim.
Salabhanjika
- A dance ballet in Mohiniyattam style, choreographed by Pallavi
Krishnan of "Lasya" (Trichur), this production is based on the
moving story of Ahalya.
9th
March 2004
Yagna
- Set in the Kuchipudi style, choreographed by Vyjayanthi Kashi of
the Shambhavi School of Dance (Bangalore), this ballet is a
colourful depiction of the lives of different legendary women
through ages.
Uma
- This dance Ballet by Smitalay choreographed by Jhelum Paranjape is
based on Kalidas's epic "Kumar Sambhav". Set in the Odissi style it
is a unique interpretation of female strength depicted through the
character of Parvati.
10th
March 2004
Katha
Surpanakha - A dance ballet
in the Odissi style choreographed by Sharmila Biswas of Odissi
Vision and Movement Centre (Kolkata), this presentation on
Surpanakha is unconventional in that it shows this hitherto negative
character in a new positive light.
Narmada
- In this ballet using the Odissi style and folk forms from western
India, choreographer Jhelum Paranjape of Smitalay draws inspiration
from an issue of today. The ballet is about the river Narmada and
how in its many moods and transitions, it embodies all that is
strong in a woman, and about the woman who fought for the tribals
living on the banks of Narmada. | 
