Special features of the organization
Aangika was formed with basic ideology tp promote & propagate the wide range of folk dance & music of Orissa, keeping a focus on the Mayurbhanj Chhow . Orissa has an extremely rich heritage in folk dances and theatrical forms. Since its inception this organization has strived hard to promote Chhow , Gotipua , Pala , Daskathia , Odishi Kirttan , Prahlad Nataka , etc. through lecture demonstration, seminars and performance held in various district & State level functions. However, Aangika has also kept training pupils in the Mayurbhanj Chhow style with Sadashiv Pradhan as the chief Guru who is a renowned exponent of this style and has established himself in the national circuit as an eminent Chhow Scholar. , Since this organisation is already more than 20 years in existence, it difficult to describe all the activities undertaken within this short space. Here we are briefly describing our activities undertaken within the last three years i:e: 2009-2012. , In the year 2009 we had invited an eminent Odishi Kirtan Guru Srijukta Narendra Patsani, on the occasion of Teachers Day to talk about the origin, growth and development of Odishi Kirtana in Orissa and how Baishnavites were related to this form. He also talked about the classification of this instruments known as Mrudanga (locally called Khola). After his lecturer he had played the instrument and described its Ekaka Bani and Dweta Bani i:e: single handed sound and double handed sound respectively. Our major activity remained training10-15 students in the style of Mayurbhanj Chhow . , In the year 2010, we thought some different activites like Pala -the popular Katha Gayan style of Orissa and the original form of present Odishi dance called Gotipua ,along with its regular classes as well as performance. So we had invited Guru Gopi Krushna Behera of Banki,Cuttack an eminent master of Gotipua and Sriman Athithi Sahu of Puri district, a Pala Gayak to conduct workshop on his topic. Guru Gopikrushana Behera gave an extensive lecture on the techniques of Gotipua dance and demonstrated them wonderfully. He talked about its origin and how to train children and its process to disciple. Our Chhow classes continued as usual throughout the year. , In the year 2011, apart from our regular classes and public performances we had invited an eminent Mardala player of Utkal Sangita Mahavidyalaya ,Bhubaneswar named Guru Dhaneswar Swain. Guru Srijukta Swain described about unusual bol s and tala s of odishan rhythm system. Apart from Ekatali and Adatali , he also demonstratd different kinds of bol s and tala s which are similar to Chhow dance tala system. And he also trained our students on how to compose a tala for any musical composition. This year our students in Chhow experimented in adopting basic movements of Chhow into a presentation of Prahallad Nataka under the eminent Guru Sri Krusna Chandra Sahoo. Chhow classes continued.
