"Sanjukta Foundation " has been instituted at Cuttack by Founder Member Mr Srigopal in January this year.Named after the Prima Donna of Odissi Late Sanjukta Panigrahi it aims to achieve her unfulfilled dreams of having a institute to train dedicated dancers.
This is no ordinary school of Odissi Dance.Mandatory it is to undergo Yoga,Meditation and Sanskrit courses for five years before the students ascend the stage for a public performance.
It was unfortunate that Kelu Babu was its head for barely four months before he decided to bid farewell to all.
Visting Professors of great reputation are on its panel.The foundation does not promote the concept of "manufacturing dancers on a fast forward mode".
The authorities conduct rigorous interviews with the student and the parents before the induction is finally done.
The Foundation intends to celebrate the annual day on 24th of January 2005.
You can reach Mr Srigopal at sanjuktafoundation@yahoo.co.in
Donations,Office Equipments,Video & Audio Equipments (new or used) are welcome for the restoration of Sanjukta Panigrahi's documents and works.
My Guru as I saw her...
My Guru as I saw her….
I knew her as “Didi”, she was “Sanjunani” to lots but to my family and I she was our “Didi. The person or the artist I am referring to is none other than Guru Sanjukta Panigrahi. My insight into her life isn’t a formal one, to me she wasn’t a world famous artist who managed to be mentioned in the “ whose who of dance”, infact she was just a honorary dance academic, who imparted what she knew and learned so well. She was the epitome of what a woman should be and she fitted into these roles with perfect ease. She was extraordinary. She was knowledgeable, could read texts in numerous languages could understand all of them and spoke enough to communicate with people comfortably. We all know her contribution to the Odissi dance form and I remember her telling me, that every award she received only meant that she had to strive that much harder towards the recognition and perfection of Odissi and make it open to the world as a Classical art form.
My introduction to this art began when I was learning Bharata Natyam for Dr. Chandrabhanu. I was oblivioius to the existence of this dance style named Odissi. I only knew that it was tiring because of lots of movement of the hips and dynamism. It wasn’t until I saw Sanjukta Didi dance that I realized that I was actually learning something more than just a different style. It was indepth and the story depicted was well thought out and the characters in the mythological stories came to life. I remember watching for the first time, her rendition of “Garuda’s killing” and as the bird is on the verge of dying, there is still movement in his wings which he helplessly tires to move so that he can fly again but to no avail. It was breathing I remember sitting there in the audience spell bound.
My first proper introduction to Odissi began possibly when she took dance workshops in Dr. Chandrabhanu’s school. One of her musicians suggested that we ask her to teach me to dance Odissi because they saw potential in my dancing. At that point, I didn’t know what was happening and it didn’t phase me because I never actually thought it would come to fruition. My parents spoke to her, and she responded positively but needed permission from her Guru Sri Kelucharan Mahapatra. Months went by no news. I was happy, see my holidays in India would be just spending time with my grandparents and family. Well, not so around September, a letter came and it was from her, she had agreed to teach me Odissi. At that time, also I was to have some Bharata Natyam programs and co incidentally I was to perform on the same stage as her. I honestly didn’t know that was really happening. She even saw me dance Bharata Natyam.
Anyways we went to meet her in Kolkata. I was scared. We spoke to her, she invited us to her house in Orissa. As any parent would do, open up doors for their child, we did. I stayed there for almost three months in her old house, got chaperoned to her new house at 4.00 every day and picked up at night around 7.00 every night. I remember doing my maths work for University in my spare time and dancing in her new to be lounge with construction workers walking around my dance classes. She was a woman in control of everything yet never held grudges against people. She was honest. She worked hard for what she had achieved.
By Joyoti Das
Artistic Director
Kalamandir School of Indian Classical Dance.
Melbourne Australia.
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