From Kathak to Odissi

At Shadhona's solo dance festival, Ranga Utsav, a young dancer left the audience awestruck with her graceful Odissi movements on November 10. One would be hard-pressed to speculate anything other than the notion that she had been practicing this particular craft for years. However, the speculation is only partially true.

Alka Das Pranti's journey with dance started when she was only six years old, when she was enrolled in Bulbul Academy of Fine Arts (BAFA) in 2003. Primarily a Kathak dancer then, she was under the mentorship of renowned dance exponent Shibli Mohammad for 4 years after she completed her course. However, the arts had another calling for Pranti. “When I left for India to study chemical engineering, I had no idea where my art would take me. However, I felt like I could not express myself enough through Kathak.” she says. While in Kolkata, the young dancer continued her practice in Kathak with Guru Ashim Bandhu Bhattacharya for 3 years. However, she also explored her inner self through attending workshops on several dance forms. “I found my true calling in Odissi through my mentor, Guru Smt. Sharmila Biswas. When I first got to know about Odissi Vision and Movement (OVM) last year, I contacted her immediately.”

Odissi is the one of the oldest surviving dance forms in the sub-continent based on archaeological evidence. Originating from the Indian state of Odisha, it is a form of illustrative anecdote of olden stories, poems, and religious scriptures. Alka Das Pranti effortlessly integrates the extremely complex rhythmic sequences of this form with her graceful expressions, giving her prowess a distinct kinetic style.

“I want to continue learning Odissi for the foreseeable future,” says Pranti. “I have a long way to go, but since I have found my true calling in this dance form, I am determined.” The young prodigy has also piqued an interest about researching on performance arts. A former assistant dance teacher at BAFA, Pranti wants to spread the love and knowledge of dance throughout her motherland, all while holding its flag high above her head. “My dream is to represent my country in front of a global audience.” Blessed with an abundance of natural talent, she most likely will.