ODISSI-ORISSI PERFORMANCE

April 4, 2006
Media contact: John S. Robbins,
Performing and Media Arts Manager
The Evergreen State College
(360) 867-6651

Orissi Dance Ensemble Presents Recital
at
The Evergreen State College.

“The Flowering of Orissi,” sponsored by The Evergreen Orissi Dance Ensemble and featuring the Urvasi Dance Company, with 25 dancers and four musicians and led by Evergreen professor Dr. Ratna Roy, will be held at the Experimental Theatre, Communications Building, The Evergreen State College, on April 21 and 22, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 general and $5 students and seniors and are available at Rainy Day Records, online at BuyOlympia.com, the Evergreen College Bookstore or at the Box Office one hour before showtime.

Dr. Sunil Kothari, the foremost dance scholar and critic from India stated that Washington State is the only place in the world where Orissi or Odissi (variations in spelling) is more important than Bharata Natyam. Whether that is entirely accurate or not, what is internationally known and last February acknowledged in Orissa, home of Orissi dance, is that Washington is second only to Orissa in the flowering of this dance style. Olympia is the home of the dance style, particularly that of the oldest of the gurus, Guru Pankaj Charan Das with his Mahari ang (style) that is little known in India.

Three Evergreen students, an alumnus, and a 14-year old dancer from the Junior Company of Urvasi were featured at the 21st Konark Dance and Music Festival in Orissa on February 21, 2006. “Ratna Roy . . . a disciple of the late guru Pankaj Charan Das has faithfully maintained her guru’s style and technique over the years. . . The graceful movements of the arms with delicate wrist movements like creepers moving in the breeze, typical of Pankaj babu’s touch, were evident in ample measure. . . “

Urvasi Dance Company has been invited to the Mukteswar Festival, Puri Sri Kshetra Festival, and Guru Pankaj Charan Das Festival in Orissa in December.

For more information, please call Ratna Roy at (360) 867-6469 or e-mail her at royr@evergreen.edu or ratna-david@olywa.net. Please go to http//www.olywa.net/ratna-david for details of the program and photos from the February 2006 performance in Orissa, India.

DATE: Friday & Saturday, April 21 & 22, 2006

SHOWTIME: 8:00 pm

PLACE: The Evergreen State College – Experimental Theater – Communications Building

ADMISSION: Gen. Adm. $10; Students & Seniors $5

INFORMATION: (360) 867-6833 or go to http://www.evergreen.edu/expressions/

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________________________________
For more information send e-mail inquiries to
ratna-david@olywa.net