A festival of folk dance and music held in city

When it comes to folk dance, Odisha has several forms. Gotipua is one of the most well-known forms that has earned recognition everywhere. To celebrate the rich traditional dance forms of the state, a folk dance and music festival was held recently at Rabindra Mandap. It was a part of the horizon series organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in collaboration with the state’s Odia language, literature and culture department.

Gotipuas are male dancers who wear dress up like women. The young dancers from Baba Goreknath Gotipua Dance Association, led by Guru Chandramani Pradhan, showcased some spectacular performances at the fest. The various formations they made on the stage while performing that mesmerised the audience.
The folk music recitals also gave the audience a lot to cherish and enjoy. The folk musicians accompanying the dance troupes were playing traditional instruments like mardala, manjira, flute and violin.
“We’ve been learning this dance form since we were kids. We normally go to various places to perform and showcase our talent. This event is a good platform for young dancers like us,” said Prakash Palei, one of the dancers.
“Odisha has so much to offer when it comes to dance and music. I’ve been attending Odissi dance programmes, but Gotipua dance, though it looks a lot like Odissi, has a different feel to it. These young boys perform dance like girls and it’s really amazing! I would love to watch more folk dance performances,” said Gour Prasad Dixit, a tourist attending the event.