Shatarupa: Splendorous Myths and Divinities of India
October 11 and 12, 2003: Kelly Strayhorn Community Performing Arts Center

“Usually Dey pushes the envelope of Indian dance with contemporary themes, but she stayed with tried-and-true classical movement in "Shatarupa: Splendorous Myths and Divinities of India" and the result, complete with guest artists, was magical.” The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“The first solo, wonderfully interpreted by Dey, made its way through the jealous imagination of Radha, who, along with Krishna, is a particular favorite of Odissi dance. Uniquely sensual in nature, it plumbed Radha's emotional landscape as she pictured Krishna in a relationship with another woman.

The program ended with a charming dance drama about Lord Jagannath, replete with galloping horses and bejeweled costumes. It showed that, more than its trademark lyricism, Odissi inherently exemplifies the best in life by acknowledging courage and spirit.” The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Shatarupa showcased the rich classical traditions of classical Indian dance in the Odissi style performed by well-known artists from India and Pittsburgh. Srishti’s Artistic Director Sreyashi Dey was joined by Guru Manoranjan Pradhan from Bhubaneswar, India and an international ensemble of artists in a performance that visually captured the many splendored mythology of India, the many Gods and Goddesses and their wondrous legends.

The traditional choreographies by the legendary Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and other renowned Gurus such as Gangadhar Pradhan and Pankaj Charan Das, were restaged in ensemble formats, and captured the grace and beauty of the Odissi style. The program featured traditional pieces such as:

• Shiva Panchaka Mangalacharan (invocation to Lord Shiva)

• Kirwani Pallavi (rhythmic piece based on Raga Kirwani)

• Naba Durga (on the nine forms of the Goddess Durga)

• Ashtapadi (depicting love stories of Lord Krishna and Radha, from the Sanskrit classic Geeta Govindam)

• Ahe Nila Saila (abhinaya depicting the devotion of muslim poet Salabega for Lord Jagannath)

The second part of the program featured the Dance Drama, Kanchi Abhijan, based on a myth surrounding Lord Jagannath, the presiding deity of Orissa, the land of Odissi dance. Kanchi Abhijan showcased India’s strong tradition of dance dramas since ancient times, combining folk elements with the classical Odissi vocabulary.

Shatarupa was widely previewed and reviewed in Pittsburgh and the production toured several U.S. cities including Nashville, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, Austin, Syracuse and Burlington, VT.

The production was supported by grants from: The Heinz Endowments Small Arts Initiative, The Pittsburgh Foundation’s A. W. Mellon Fund, The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, The Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts, the Commonwealth ofPennsylvania’s Institute for Cultural Partnerships and the Mellon Audience Development Fund.

Shatarupa received widespread critical acclaim and was named by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette as one of the ten best dance events in Pittsburgh for 2003.