Keeper of traditions

Odissi legacy

When I was a little girl, I was fascinated by actor Helen’s dance. My mother and I would watch her dance moves for hours, completely mesmerised. It was my mother’s decision to make me learn some dance form,” says Alpana Nayak, a highly talented odissi artiste and teacher.

Alpana was born and brought up in Balasore, Odisha, at that time when odissi was regaining its popularity, after it was banned by the British, as it was a temple dance performed by devadasis. “The gotipua dancers must get full credit for preserving this dance form.

Gotipuas, a group of young boys dressed as girls, performed odissi at social gatherings and functions. In the 1950s, there was a door-to-door campaign to promote odissi. It was only in 1956 that odissi was declared a classical dance because of its grace and rhythm. Well, I was only seven, when I was introduced to the graceful world of odissi in 1969. And there has been no looking back ever since,” Alpana explains.

She earned her Nritaya Shree degree at 13 and Nritya Visharad at 19. Alpana was born with congenital heart defect, but this never deterred her from learning the intricacies of the dance form. She has enriched her odissi style under the tutelage of late Hare Krishna Behera.

Her special touch

Apart from being a celebrated artiste, Alpana is also a guru to many across India, England, Japan and Sri Lanka. Her disciples also include persons with disability and special children. She has been conferred with the title of Guru Samrat by Society for the Welfare of the Intellectually Disabled in Bangladesh, Usha Rani Samman by Nritya Sangeet Kala Mandir and Vishishta Odia Samman 2015 by Jatiya Odia Sammilani, India.

Alpana is among the very few exponents of odissi who teach persons with disability. The artiste says, “My association with mentally and physically challenged people began way back in 2003, and ever since I have gained immense satisfaction by teaching them the dance form. They have given me so much love and affection that my bond with them has grown stronger over the years. It was a special moment for me, when I performed with my disciples in Rashtrapati Bhavan, and won compliments from late President A P J Abdul Kalam.”

Alpana’s work is aimed at spreading awareness among today’s youth about India’s rich, inclusive and composite cultural heritage. Many national and international TV channels have documented and telecast her life and work.

Speaking about the status of odissi in India, Alpana says, “The consistent efforts of committed dancers brought odissi back from oblivion. Artistes including Sanjukta Panigrahi, Priyamvada Mahanti and Madhavi Mudgal, have devoted their lives to odissi. Now, odissi is considered as one of the most graceful dances and is respected and learnt all over the world. Learning a classical dance also improves one’s confidence, coordination, concentration and social awareness apart from inculcating values of our culture.”

Alpana receives complete support from her husband, Sundeep Nayak, an IAS officer. Her children, son Sidhanth and daughter Ayushi, also respect their mother’s dedication to odissi. In fact, Ayushi has learnt the dance form from her mother and also helps her choreograph for dance recitals.