Su-Tarang: A celebration of Odissi dance

Odissi exponent Ranjana Gauhar, a Padmashree and SNA Awardee, is presenting the 15th edition of her annual dance presentation, “Su-Tarang,” on April 22 at Triveni Kala Sangam, Mandi House. The event, which is being supported by the Ministry of Culture is a celebration of World Dance Day and will feature 32 young dancers from Gauhar’s dance academy, Utsav.

The presentation, conceptualized and propelled by the Utsav Educational and Cultural Society, will mark the 35th anniversary of the organization’s existence.

As a cultural ambassador of India, Ranjana Gauhar has performed across the world, including Germany, Italy, France, Greece, Serbia, Cyprus, Kuwait, Switzerland, Tunisia, Yugoslavia, Japan, Holland, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Croatia, and Latin American countries such as Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Mexico. She has also performed in Cambodia, Bhutan, Vietnam, Korea, Sri Lanka, the continent of Africa, Mauritius, and Egypt.

The performance will begin with a prayer to Lord Ganesha, followed by a series of traditional and contemporary Odissi dance compositions. The young dancers will bring the magic alive on stage with their graceful movements, intricate hand gestures, and expressive facial expressions. The performance will be accompanied by live music performed by three senior artists.

The event will be graced by Paramita Tripathi, Joint Secretary, M.E.A. Government of India, as the Chief Guest, while Navneet Soni, Trustee, IIC, and former Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, and Kamal Modi, Chairman, Art Karat, will be the Guests of Honour.

Speaking about the event, Ranjana Gauhar told Patriot, “We at Utsav aim to empower the disciple through dance for maintaining harmony and balance in society.”

“The success story of Utsav is that we let children blossom in an environment of love, proper guidance. They are nurtured through disciplined training and are given opportunities to express themselves by showcasing their talent on stage year after year,” she said.

Ranjana Gauhar considers it her prime responsibility to educate, train, and mold young minds to imbibe the cultural values of rich traditions in the Guru-Shishya Parampara.

She believes that when these values are practiced in daily lives, they help to achieve perfection and a sense of responsibility towards self, family, and society at large.

When: April 22

Where: Triveni Kala Sangam, Mandi House, New Delhi