Productions

 

Bhanushingher Padabali

Barshar Gaan

Naad

Maha Raas

Stapatya Satya

Gataagata

Shiva Shakti

Mahavidya

Kautuk

 

 

Bhanushingher Padabali

Aloka KanungoSongs are indispensable for any Odissi Dance recital. It is the Bachika abhinaya, which leads the way to bring out Swatik Bhava. It turns each movement of the dancer in to a poem in action. It unfolds a play either in conflict or harmony-agony or ecstasy

It is said the Bachika abhinaya is the ‘king' and other abhinayas follow it and surely the language and the composition play an important role.

The love story of Radha and Krishna, which has been intricately woven by poems, is a constant inspiration as well as a favorite choice for all the dancers. It is Aloka Kanungo's humble tribute to the all time Great immortal KABIGURU Rabindranath Tagore.

 




Barshar Gaan

Barshar GaanKabiguru Rabindranath Tagore always wanted to be one with the nature and it is best reflected in his poems on nature. The poems on monsoon are not only suitable to express the varying moods but fits very well with the Odissi medium. This is an attept to acknowledge the love and affection, the concern and the encouragement of the people of Calcutta, who have provided boost to Aloka Kanungo's career as well as induced her to look in to herself and discover herself again and again.

 

 



Naad

NaadThe Universe functions with rhythm. The celestial bodies move with rhythmic sequence. The changing pattern of the moon, the intensity of the waves in the ocean, the sound of the flowing water of the stream, the setting of the day and night, change of the seasons, the beat of the heart –all have rhythmic cycles. Often this rhythm is manifested to the sound, which originates from “ OM” and sends vibrations. The body responds to it and creates gestures punctuated with rhythm.

The music of Naad using various instruments and vocal chord is composed by Sri Dipak Chowdhury an eminent sitarist and a senior disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar. Naad originates from OM oscillates to manifest Dhwani, which again diffuses to create Naad. This is reflected in this dance ensemble- which creates a visual extravaganza.



Maha Raas

Maha RaasWhatever evokes RASA (sentiments) is called RAAS (amorous dance). This fact has been proved by the graceful blending of the two dance styles – ODISSI and MANIPURI in portraying the meeting and separation of Lord Krishna to the final cosmic union – “ Ek Gopi Ek Shyam”, where Lord Krishna seems to dance with every Gopi at the same time, which also assures his presence inside all of us.

Both Odissi and Manipuri dance forms have originated from eastern India, have enjoyed royal patronage, were performed as rituals in the temples and influenced by Vaishnavite Culture. In technique, both Odissi and Manipuri lay emphasis on torso and wrist movements. Both dance forms have petal soft expositions as well as vigorous tandava. Yet Odissi and Manipuri are unique in their own ways.

Guru Kalavati Devi and Aloka Kanungo have blended these two styles to explore a new horizon in creativity while remaining true to the tradition of their own.


 

Sthapatya Satya

Sthapatya SatyaThis production is based on extensive research and embellished with Bandha in four performing Arts –namely Chitra, Kavya, Nritya and Geeta.

As different strokes of a brush bound with lines and curves in various shades and colors make up a painting- as different letters and words bound in rhythm and style make up a poem—as different intricate postures and rhythmic stepping mingled with facial expression make up a dance sequence---All these convey the essence of Bandha. Bandha may be expressed in many and different ways but all convey one meaning—Tie or Bond.

Some Orissan patta painting depict Gopies in acrobatic postures forming a vehicle or animal on which Krishna rides. These are known as Bandha Chitra. Then there was a trend to arrange letters of a poem in a pictorial shape popularly known as Bandha Kavya or Prabandha Chitra Kavya according to Kavya Prakash.One of the meaning of Bandha is a position or posture of the body. The dance performed styling in acrobatic form encompassing the intricate postures is called Bandha Nritya . This is how the eminent scholar Sri Dhiren Patnaik has defined in his book Odissi dance.According to Sri Krishnadas Badajena author of Geeta Prakash, a song which is bound by Angas (ie-Bakya, Swara, Tenak andPatta or Taal) is Prabandha Geeta . Stapatya Satya

Eventually the Chitra, Kavya and Geeta are expressed or reflected in Nritya and Bandha Nritya which is the domain of boy dancers or Gotipuas dominates the production.This choreographic work has the age old rustic, pristine gotipua dance along with the sophisticated Odissi dance of our time, but all the time the inspiration being the sculptures- the monuments on our temple walls, which have been there as the silent witness of our heritage and culture and the ultimate truth of our lineage and tradion.

Aloka Kanungo bows to the ancient sculptors, who had carved those magnificent dancing figures on the temple walls also the gotipuas, who have preserved, practiced, propagated and passed on this culture from generation to generation inspite of many adverse circumstances.

 


Gatagaata

With time everything undergoes changes. This also happens to the art scene. The ancient forms undergo much metamorphosis and evolved as contemporary, which again leads the way to nascent modernism. This cycle continues the past becomes present, which gives birth to the future.

By this process of alteration, modification, metamorphosis and evolution the primitive, simple, pristine indigenous arts become contemporary, complex, polished and sophisticated. But sometimes it is lost in the horizon, when the character of this art form can only be remembered, imagined but becomes difficult to witness. With due respect to the past Gata and welcoming the future Agata, Aloka Kanungo tried to present this trend of evolution in her production Gatagata., based on research and vision. While projecting this trend she used SABDA (bols) of SABDA NRITYA. She considers it a humble endeavor to revive this forgotten dance form in the hope that it will once again become a part of Odissi repertoire and give it a novel colorful rich appearance. The music is by Sri Ramahari Das and Sri Dhaneswar Swain.



Shiva Satya

Rani Karnaa and Aloka KanungoThis is a very short composition in Odissi and Kathak style by Kathak exponent Guru Rani Karna Nayak and Aloka Kanungo. This piece depicts the Purusha and Prakriti, which epitomize the Ardhanariswar to the music of Sri Shankar Ghosh.

 

 

 

 



Mahavidya

MahavidyaThe creation, its preservation and dissolution are possible only through Shakti or the formidable energy. The energy that is expressed in feminine gender is considered to be infinity. The tantra philosophy advocates the worship of Shakti to achieve the impossible and to expand ones own strength. There are specific Jantras and Bijamantras, which represent a particular Mahavidya. The ten Mahavidyas are- Kali, Tara, Shodashi, Bhubaneswari, TripuraBhairavi, Chhinamasta, Dhumabati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi and Kamala. These Devis are depicted by using an almost extinct dance form of Odissi – SABDA NRITYA. This production is based on extensive research



Kautuk

KautukKautuk is a dance-drama on the various moral stories of Panchatantra. Hundreds of children of various schools of Kolkata got together to perform the roles of different animals of the fabulous world of Panchatantra. What made it special was the involvement of the mentally and physically chalenged children of the Institute of Cerebral Palsy.




 

She...is also involved in research in the field of Odissi, helped by a fellowship from the Govt. of India. ( The Statesman)