Assam 2009 - Posoowa

4. Raas (8 minutes): will be
presented in Sattriya Dance
Style
Radha accentuates the linkage between the
human soul and the Divine. This dance
piece is choreographed by the president of
Natyasangam dance academy of Colorado
Springs Bonmayuri Kalita and she will be
accompanied by her student dancers
Divyanka Gupta, Kuhu Basak, Tia Basak
and Vanika Hans.
8. Assamese Contemporary Dance (5
minutes) Nilakshi Thakuria and
Suravi Kalita, NJ
Sattriya dance, which has an ancient
history, was traditionally performed by
monks in the monasteries of Assam. The
main distinctiveness of this dance form is
– dipping and bobbing of the body and the
pull of gravitation. This is called “ULAHA”
and this Ulaha has to be maintained in
every movement. Sattriya, or Sattriya
Nritya, is one among eight principal
classical Indian dance traditions. Whereas
some of the other traditions have been
revived in the recent past, Sattriya has
remained a living tradition since its creation
by the Assamese Vaishnava saint Srimanta
Sankardeva, in 15th century Assam.
Sankardeva created Sattriya Nritya as an
accompaniment to the Ankiya Naat (a
form of Assamese one-act plays devised
by him), which were usually performed in
the sattras, as Assam’s monasteries are
called. As the tradition developed and grew
within the sattras, the dance form came
to be called Sattriya Nritya. Today,
although Sattriya Nritya has emerged
from within the confines of the sattras to
a much wider recognition, the sattras
continue to use the dance form for
ritualistic and other purposes for which it
was originally created circa 500 years ago.
About Raas: Lord Krishna took part in
Rasalila, the secrets of which can only be
understood by devotees like Narada, Radha,
the Gopis and Sri Gouranga. Lila is the
mosaic of music and dance of Krishna
with the gopis: as a group and with Radha
in particular. His frolic with the gopis
expresses the intimate relationship
between God and the devotees, where the
melody flowing from Krishna’s flute is the
call of the Divine, inviting all creatures to
rejoin God in eternal bliss. His affair with
34
5. Violin: Monalisa Baishya of NE (18
minutes)
Monalisa Baishya will be a freshman
at University of Nebraska at Lincoln and
will major in Biochemistry along with Pre-
Medicine. She has been playing the violin
for over 8 years, and will continue
throughout college. Outside of music,
Mona also plays tennis and was a part of
National Honor Society. She will be playing
Churalia Hai Tum and Kal Ho Na Ho.
6. Bharatanatyam Natraj Anjali
Dance: Nikita Bhuyan, Phoenix, (6
minutes)
Bharat Natyam is one of oldest
devotional classical Indian dance forms.
The word ‘Bharat’ is made up of three
Sanskrit terms: Bhaav meaning emotion,
Raag meaning music, and Taal meaning
rhythm. The word Natyam means drama.
In this dance theme called “Natraj Anjali”
is performed to pay respect to the Lord
Shiva who is also known as Natraj. It is
said that Natraj’s dance is the energy that
keeps the universe running, and that if
he ever stops dancing the universe will
cease to exist.
Nikita Bhuyan from Phoenix, Arizona is
the daughter of Samar and Rashmi
Bhuyan. She has been learning
Bharatnatyam and Indian classical dances
for past 7 years in Arathi School of India
Dances in Phoenix from her guru Kalashri
Asha Gopal.
7. Assamese Songs(15), artists: Rick
and Nick Bhuyan, NJ (15
minutes)
Rupak (Rick) Kumar and Neepak
(Nick) Kumar Bhuyan are twin brothers.
They have recently graduated from high
school. They are fully and professionally
trained vocalists for Western style music.
Rick has had the rare distinction and honor
to represent the state of New Jersey as a
vocalist in the all-state chorus for two
consecutive years in 2007 and 2008. In
addition, Rick and Nick have both
represented Southern New Jersey as
vocalists for three consecutive years. Rick
and Nick have also recorded five remix
albums containing forty songs. Rick is
heading to Harvard and Nick to Rutgers
in the fall.
The two sisters will perform a
Modern Assamese based on the Song
“Jonakore Raati”. The dance is
choreographed by Suravi, Nilakshi and
Pronoti Tahbildar.
9. Songs, artist: Surekha Baishya,
Longmont, Colorado (15 minutes).
Surekha D.Baishya is trained in
Hindustani Classical Music (vocal).
Blessed with a lovely voice, she also trained
under Kalyanjibhai (of Kalyanji-Anandji
fame). She loves singing bhajans, ghazals
and old Hindi film songs.
10. Kathak (10 minutes), artist: Hilli
Kalita, LA
Hilly is going to
perform a
Kathak dance
named
Chaturang.
The meaning
of the word
Chaturang is
four colors.
Hilly is going
to show
different
shades and
colors of Ek
Taal. It is a special 12 beats cycle
which will consists of Geet with
lyrics such as ‘Sakhiyon Saab Hil mil
ke Gawat Chaturang Hai’; the
second part is Tabla with boal like
POSOOWA • June 2009