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October
21 2004, Pune : Smitalay in association with 'NAAD' premiered the ballet
'UMA' at Tilak Smarak, Pune. Uma
is based on a marathi poem by the late Vasant Bapat, which is inspired by
Kalidas’s Kumarsambhav. The ballet is beautifully choreographed and
directed by Jhelum Paranjape.
This
ballet is an excellent example of Jhelum Paranjape's work to adapt
Odissi for the large marathi speaking audience. The dance, costumes and
music are purely Odissi. The language is marathi and the subject from Indian
mythology. With music from the venerated Pandit Raghunath Panigrahi, it was
a refreshing experience for the pune audience.
October
17 2004, Mumbai : Smitalay,
the dance wing of Sane Guruji Arogya Mandir, Santracruz, celebrated its 15th
annual function at the Dinanath Mangeshkar Hall, Vile Parle (east).
The
date is special because it is Smita Patil's birthday. The institute itself
is named after her by the founder - director Jhelum Paranjape, who was very
close friends with her.
The
programme showcased all the students currently learning at Smitalay for the
past one year. A very unique aspect of the programme was that most of
the items were sung by the students themselves. Some senior students
were given the task to choreograph their dance items in the group format,
much in the lines of Jhelum Paranjape who has pioneered in exploring this
facet of Odissi performances.
Overall,
the programme expressed clearly that Smitalay aims at building a complete
performer as opposed to just teaching dance steps.
September
24 2004, Mumbai : The monthly Friday programme completed one year this September.
To
celebrate this success Smitalay and its parent organisation Sane Guruji
Arogya Mandir decided to construct a permanent concrete stage. The western
suburbs of Mumbai have always felt an absence of a performance space of this
sort. This venue is open to all dance, theatre and music groups.
This
new stage was inaugurated by an odissi dance performance by
Smitalay’s director Smt. Jhelum Paranjape. On this very special occasion
she performed the "Chhaya Nat" pallavi for the first time for an
audience. This is a new pallavi choreographed by herself.
August
20 2004, Mumbai : Smitalay
organized the "Odissi Dance Youth Festival" in the memory of the
late queen of Odissi, Padmashri Sanjukta Panigrahi. Sanjunani as she was
called by the young dancers, always encouraged the youth into Odissi. She is
even today an inspiration for dance students worldwide.
Four
groups from Mumbai performed in the festival. Smitalay's director Smt.
Jhelum Paranjape wishes to make this an annual event.
July
19 2004, Mumbai: The students of Smitalay put up a surprise program for
their beloved Guru Smt. Jhelum Paranjape. The program was appropriately
named "Guru Pranam". The first half contained dance numbers
performed by the students and the second half was a video show.
The
show was fully organized by the students themselves. The greatest surprise
was that all the items performed were choreographed in the Odissi style to
popular music by the students themselves. Not only that, even the costumes,
selection of songs etc. was done by them.
June
24 2004, Mumbai:
Like every year, the students of Smitalay gathered and offered flowers to
the great Sanjukta Panigrahi. As has been the tradition, continuous dancing
in the "Kavi Vasant Bapat Dalan" till 8 pm in the evening
was the main event.
Jhelum
Paranjape along with a few students, demonstrated some Odissi items, for the
students of ninth standard of SGAM. This was Mr. Leeladhar
Hegde's initiative to introduce Odissi, Sanjukta Panigrahi, and Guruji
to the young students.
May
23 2004, Mumbai: The closing ceremony of Summer Workshop 2004 was held at 11 AM
at the Sane Guruji Hall. Participants performed the items they had
learnt in the workshop. Ratikantha Mohapatra, son of the
legendary Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra was present. He later confessed
that it was a great pleasure watching the students not only dance but also
sing and play the mardal (Odissi Pakhawaj). He said this is very much what
Guruji had had in mind. He even said that Jhelumapa is the leading
torchbearer of Gurujis heritage - word to
that. .
May
7 2004, Mumbai: Smitalay held a Shraddhanjali to the great Guru
Kelucharan Mohapatra. A booklet filled with memories of Guruji was
released..
March
8th, 9th 10th
2004:
Smitalay celebrated its 10th year of performing on the
International Womens Day by organising "Women of Substance, 10 -
A Extravaganza". Along with Smitalay, three groups
from different dance schools of India viz. Lasya - Academy of Mohiniyattam
(Thrichur), Shambahavi School of Dance (Bangalore) , Odissi Vision and
Movement Centre (Kolkata). More info and pictures from our festival will
soon be on the website.
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