Pragjyoti International Dance Festival 2014
Kalpa in association with Sivasagar District Administration Presents:
6th Pragjyoti International
Dance Festival 2014
The Pragjyoti International Dance Festival is conceptualised to exhibit the wide range of Indian Dances together on one platform to sing in unison and also to celebrate the richness of Heritage in this part of the north-eastern region which has throughout the ages promoted art and culture from the vantage point of being crowned with diverse traditions of its own. The Pragjyoti Festival in its own way spreads the message of peace and social harmony and creates a dialogue among the artists hailing from various places breathed with their own regional flavours and the masses of Assam. With a celebration of these young energies representing Margi dance styles, the festival is also a humble tribute to all the masters of the Indian Dance Traditions who have been contributing immensely towards the panoramic beauty of Indian cultural heritage. Aimed at celebrating living art and creativity, the festival contributes towards integration and harmony through art. The Festival has received great accolades from the connoisseurs of Indian Arts all over and is regarded as one of the prestigious dance festivals of the country. (Outlook India, 2011). During the last five years dancers from different parts of India and abroad (Bangladesh, Nepal, UK, US, Ukraine, Poland, Russia, France) and from various parts of Assam have taken part in it. The festival over the years has tried to reach out to more and more young minds and art cognoscenti and discussed with them various perspectives regarding the relevance of Indian art in the present period. The Pragjyoti International Dance Festival: A View of Indian Dance by Young Proponents – is an attempt to undertake a holistic journey of aesthetic and spiritual joy in the land of Pragjyotishpur. The festival aspires to create a new milieu in which artists and the masses of Assam will re-experience and re-search the nuances of Assam, its land and heritage through the movements of dance.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS
YEAR’S FESTIVAL
This year Kalpa invites renowned
young artists from Poland, Russia, Germany to represent Bharatanatyam, Odissi
and Mohiniattam along with other brilliant young exponents of India
representing forms like Chau, Theyyam, Kalarippayattu, Kuchipudi and Sattriya .
Through the movements of dance, music and rhythm Kalpa in its 6th
version intends to take up following themes to which it Festival will be
dedicated:
Revisiting Heritage
through Dance
·
Assam since its pre-historic days has been a heritage site taking nature, land and people in harmony. It has seen over the millennium a plurality of cultures making the entire region a living site of heritage. The festival will also be a tribute to the age old harmony among nature, land and people and their cultures.
Assam since its pre-historic days has been a heritage site taking nature, land and people in harmony. It has seen over the millennium a plurality of cultures making the entire region a living site of heritage. The festival will also be a tribute to the age old harmony among nature, land and people and their cultures.
·
The
festival is a genuine attempt to offer a kinaesthetic experience in re-visiting
land and nature, history and heritage and art and culture. In celebrating and
sharing the glory of its heritage, Kalpa through Pragjyoti International Dance
Festival would reach out to masses and would offer a holistic vision of the
land by connecting nature, history and cultural expression together in a
singular forum.
·
The
Festival in its inaugural session at Guwahati in Rabindra Bhawan responds to
two major concerns of the land. It opens up to the audience about the
connection of Ahom History and its contribution in the cultural enrichment of
the region. Also, attending to the need of the hour, the festival speaks up for
the preservation of rhinos and conservation of the nature, making the masses
aware and rethink about the pertinent issues of the land and its heritage by
dedicating the evening of dance to the cause.
·
A
photo exhibition reflecting the themes of this year’s festival will also be
arranged.
·
Morning
hour sessions in various educational institutions will be hosted in which the
dancers would speak about these concerns through the expressive language of
body and mind.
Date: 15th February, 2014 Inauguration
and 16th Second evening
Venue: Rabindra Bhawan
Morning Hour Session:
Educational Institution on 16th February, 2014.
Revisiting Assam
History through Dance
·
Assam has travelled a long way in the alleys of history since its prehistoric times to that of the present. The Ahom dynasty which loomed this region for over 600 years made tremendous contribution towards cultural enrichment along with political consolidation.
Assam has travelled a long way in the alleys of history since its prehistoric times to that of the present. The Ahom dynasty which loomed this region for over 600 years made tremendous contribution towards cultural enrichment along with political consolidation.
·
While
consolidating the diverse political forces, the Ahom rulers made a sincere
effort in the process of glorifying the diversity of cultures prevailing among
the multiple ethnic groups inhabiting the region.
·
However,
the world outside is yet to hear about the gloried past of the Assam and the
Ahom dynasty and momentous contribution of the kingdom towards Indian History.
·
The festival in responding to the cause of the
Land and its History, will offer a tribute to the contribution of the Ahom rule
towards society and culture of Assam by hosting the festival in the cultural
site of Siva Dol, Sivasagar sculpted and spaced by the aesthetic vision of the
Ahoms.
·
Through
the movements of Dance in its unique expression of a dancers language of the
mind perceiving the world and its cosmos, the Pragjyoti International Dance
festival in association with the District Administration of Sivasagar, would
aim to reach out to the world sharing the glory of the Assam the land and its
history with the kinetics of Indian Dance Traditions.
Date: 18th and 19th February
Venue:
Siva Dol Precincts, Sivasagar
19th
February, 2014, Interaction in
Educational Institution.
Reason behind
selecting the site and the theme:
·
The
Ahom Kingdom and its supremacy continued for six centuries. The buranjis chronicles, speak in volumes
about the military and administrative structure that enabled them to wield
power for so long. The Ahom kingdoms
began to expand rapidly under the headship of the great ruler Suhungmung (1497-1539).
Known for their indomitable spirit and patriotism, the Ahoms, continuously
challenged invasions of the lands by the outside political powers. The Chutiyas
were subjugated, the power of Kacharis was crushed, the neighbouring Nagas were
cowed down and three Muhammadan invasions were successfully repulsed.
·
The
history of 17th century Assam was in fact the history of Ahom Mughal
conflicts. Chakradhvaj Singha, another powerful king challenged a war to the
Mughals by refusing to the meet treaty obligations with them and under the
leadership of Lachit Barphukan, the Ahoms were successful in 1667 in retrieving
their lost territories up to Guwahati. The Saraighat battle in 1671 is one of
the historic wars of the region in which the Mughal invaders put their weapons
down surrendering before the courage, power and supremacy of the Ahom rule.
·
The Ahom power reached the zenith of its glory
during the reign of Rudra Singha. The period of six hundred years with Ahoms
brought in a new chapter to the history of Assam with its remarkable influence
in the geography and demography, life and manners, society and culture of the
region. During their reign artistic expressions attained a new introduction
with application of a new aesthetic vision and understanding. Visiting Gargaon,
the capital of Assam, in AD 1662-63 the Mughal chronicler Shihabuddin Talish
wrote about the royal audience halls: “My pen fails to describe in detail the
other arts and rare inventions employed in decorating the wood work of this
palace. Probably nowhere else in the whole world can see wooden houses be built
with such decoration and figure –carving as by the people of this country.”[1]
·
The
Ahoms were renowned for their contribution towards the artistry of temple
building. Against the normative style of
the Hindu temples of the earlier period, the artisans under the Ahom royalty
incorporated new conceivable shapes, indigenous and exotic in nature. Rudra
Singha built the Keshab Narayan Vishnu Doul alias Joy Doul on the bank of the
large Joysagar in memory of his beloved mother Joymoti. Rudreswar Temple, fakuwa doul , Rangghar
Nerghereting doul are some of the finest creations of the kingdom that
celebrates their brilliance of artistry, creativity and architectural
excellence. King Rudra Singha was the first Ahom monarch to have built a
well-planned and brick built city named Rangpur, the remnants of its
magnificence can be still seen in the Sivasagar district.
·
The
art and expressive patterns of the sculptures hold its own grandeur with a
youthful vigour. With the patronage of the Ahom kingdom, several art traditions
already prevailing in Assam flourished and extended the wing of its creative
innovations with new improvisations. The Sattriya Tradition incorporating
music, dance, theatre and other allied arts is one of the prominent examples in
this regard. Similarly the Devadasi dance tradition practiced in the temples of
Assam also flourished to a great height during the Ahom rule.
·
Performance site for
the Festival:
Keeping in view the contribution of the Ahom Kingdom in the field of temple architecture, Siva Dol precincts have been decided. The site imbued with its rich scenic beauty celebrating the glory of Ahom rule and local history through the rhythms of dance would remain as perfect site from the tourist point of view. Situated in the central area of the town with well transportation facilities, a large number of crowd is expected to attend the festival.
Revisiting Nature
through the Dance
·
The plurality of cultures in Assam is a reflection of the natural diversity including its flora and fauna.
The plurality of cultures in Assam is a reflection of the natural diversity including its flora and fauna.
·
The
land serves as the gateway through which the Oriental as well as Palaearctic
fauna spread across the country.
·
The
region is also an important site of natural history with a distribution of many
rare species such as great one horned Rhinoceros.
·
While,
the world is yet to experience the heritage site of natural history constituted
of rare species of flora and fauna, as citizens of Assam it’s our utmost
responsibility to take care of Natural resources of Assam.
·
Since
last few years, rhinos have been poached and killed for the mundane commercial
benefits and hedonistic gains of few enemies of the Assam’s pride.
·
In responding to the cause of the land and its
rich flora and fauna, Kalpa through Pragjyoti International Dance Festival
would like to spread a message to speak about the rights of peaceful existence
of the animals.
·
The
festival will aim at creating awareness of Assam’s natural resources by
extending its movements in revisiting the natural history with a message for
its conservation of its pristine glory.
·
Dance to the Tune of
Rhinos
A special choreographic presentation will be
prepared by the artists from various parts of the globe participating in the
festival, singing in unison to save the rhinos from the ongoing onslaughts.
Dancers belonging to various nations representing various Indian Dance forms
will put their voices of support to the preservation of Assam’s pride through their
movements. Dramatised actions reflecting conservation of Assam’s natural
heritage will be inserted in the course of performance. The aim for putting
forward such a choreographic presentation is that the spokesmen could in their
own ways also share the awareness of the Assam’s pride in their own land.
Moreover, the voices through the movements by delegates representing various
nations would also leave an impact in the hearts of the people of Assam about
their responsibility towards the preservation of their natural heritage.
Music Direction: Sunita Bhuyan, Dance
Choreography: Anwesa Mahanta
Date:
17th February, 2014.
Venue:
Kaziranga National Park
Outcome
of the Festival:
·
Holistic
focus of Assam the land and its heritage.
·
Drawing
attention to the panoramic beauty of Assam from the tourism perspective.
·
Spreading
awareness amidst the masses about the History of Assam, and the Ahom Kingdom.
·
Echoing
the archaeological richness of Assam
·
Celebrating
the vibrancy of Assam’s natural resources.
·
Speaking
for the conservation and preservation of Assam’s natural heritage.
·
Reaching
out to the youth and generate awareness amidst them about their local history,
heritage, art and culture.
·
In
responding to these major concerns the festival would help in opening up to the
world a new horizon of mutual interactions sharing the glory of Assam: the land
and its people, history and heritage, art and culture.
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