23 May 2024/
PRABAHA KALABHOOMI PRESENTED NRITYAPRABAHA, IN MEMORY OF LEGENDARY ARTIST PANDIT R. VISWESWARAN ON HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY
PANEL DISCUSSION – SIGNIFICANCE & ROLE OF ARTS IN SPREADING ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS &
ARANYASANSKRITI, LIVING IN HARMONY-A TRIBUTE TO LEGENDARY GURU RABINDRANATH TAGORE ON HIS 163RD BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
Renowned Classical dancer Natyashri Smt. Debjani Chatterjee, with her dance academy, PRABAHA KALABHOOMI in collaboration with Ministry of Culture, Government of India presented the dance Production with live orchestra, Nrityaprabaha, in memory of legendary artist Pandit R. Visweswaran on his 80th birthday with the blessings of Padma Shri Guru Smt. Chitra Visweswaran at Madhusudan Mancha, Kolkata on 15 May 2024.
This spectacular extravaganza also marked the performance of ARANYASANSKRITI, living in harmony, a presentation amalgamating the songs of Rabindranath Tagore blended with Carnatic music and dance, followed by a Panel Discussion – SIGNIFICANCE & ROLE OF ARTS IN SPREADING ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS chaired by Sri Kalyan Kumar Chakraborty, renowned historian and academician, with speakers Padma Shri Guru Smt Chitra Viswaswaran, Prof. Mahua Mukherjee, Prof. Kumkum Chatterjee, Sri Chandroday Ghosh, Sri Santosh Mohta and Sri Sukrit Sen.
“In this time of an impending global ecological crisis, it is imperative to develop a population with the knowledge, attitude, motivation and commitment to work individually as well collectively towards an earth functioning in a balanced harmony with nature, as envisioned by the great bard. His philosophy of harmonious living is the basis if our dance presentation, Aranyasanskriti, living in harmony, presented through an amalgamation of songs of Tagore blended with Carnatic Music and dance,” says Smt. Debjani Chatterjee, renowned dancer, choreographer and director PRABAHA KALABHOOMI, Kolkata.
ARANYASANSKRITI, living in harmony – reflection of Tagore’s works choreo-graphed by renowned Classical dancer Natyashri Debjani Chatterjee and anchored by Rituraj Pramanik. Bharatanatyam performance by Smt. Nandini Ganesan, the disciple of Padma Sri Chitra Visweswaran mesmerised the audience with a celebration of love and care for our Mother Earth, as envisaged by our great Guru Rabindranath Tagore.
In the orchestra, behind the Rabindrasangeet direction and Lead Vocal was presented by Smt. Chandrabali Dutta and Smt. Deepavali Dutta followed the Carnatic Vocal headed by Sri Ranganathan Srinivasan; Percussion by Shri Biplab Mandal; Mridangam by Sri Venkat Raman and Keyboard by Sri Surajit Chakraborty. The Carnatic Music direction and Violin was presented by Sri Natraj Radhakrishnan and Rabindra sangeet Chorus by Geetika.
NATYASHRI SMT.DEBJANI CHATTERJEE
Bharatnatyam dancer and teacher, Natyashri Smt. Debjani Chatterjee, a disciple of Padmashri Guru Smt. Chitra Viswsewaran of Chennai, with the guidance of Smt. Thankamani Kutty, Sri. Kalamandalam Venkitt and Smt.Anusuya Banerjee since early childhood, considers herself a ‘devotee in the pursuit of knowledge which is our philosophy and classicism’. She is a highly acclaimed and renowned dancer, who has displayed his immense talent by performing in all major festivals in India and abroad.
Natyashri Smt. Debjani Chatterjee was honoured with many awards including the National Scholarship Award by the ministry of Information & Culture; Rajya Sangeet Award, Government of West Bengal; The Best Dancer Award, Nrittakshetra and Natyashri Award by NMDA, Andhra Pradesh; the Kalakanmani by Kala Vikash Parishat, Karnataka; the Natraj Nritya Sanman, Kala Samarpan Award and Guru Jyoti Award.
She has performed all over the country including at ABU International Dance Festival, Vysakhi Nrithyotsav, Karur Dance festival, Amravati Dance Festival, National Arts & Crafts Festival, Shilparamam Hyderabad, National Music & Dance festival Odisha, Natraj Dance Festival, Tirupati Dance Festival, Gundica Dance Festival, Kolkata Rath Yatra Festival, Uday Shankar Festival, Banga Sanskriti Utsav, Pratibha Utsav EZCC, Dance Drama Festival, Mayapur Festival (ISKCON), World Peace Meet, Stars of Tomorrow.
Natyashri Smt. Debjani Chatterjee has been featured in Discovery Asia Channel and attended various Workshops, also presented demonstrations and lectures in many national and International schools, colleges and Universities.
A lecturer of Zoology, Smt. Debjani Chatterjee is the founder of Prabaha Kalabhoomi, a premier institution for the promotion of Bharatnatyam in the Chidambaram style through the Guru-Shishya Parampara and to instill our rich heritage and culture.
Prabaha Kalabhoomi has been hosting regular Bharatanatyam performances in the traditional repertoire and also other group productions based on experimental concepts or on literary works of poets and composers like Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Jaydev, Surdas, Govindas and on world music, using compositions of Beethoven, Bach and Beatles. Also organises in-house workshops, seminars, interactive discussions on dance, dance therapy, techniques of stagecraft, lighting, costume-makeup etc.
“As part of its social awareness program, Prabaha Kalabhoomi provides special training to underprivileged children and those with special needs as a means to reach out and spread the aura of dance and analyze the therapeutic value of dance as well. Though nascent in origin, the students of Prabaha have already participated in many state level competitions- Rajya Sangeet Dance Competition by West Bengal Govt, Nritya- Classical State level Competition etc., and won laurels and accolades for the Institution. Prabaha has extended wings to start three new departments under its portal- Vocal Music, Art-Craft & Yoga under the able guidance of very talented and sincere mentors,” says Natyashri Smt. Debjani Chatterjee, founder and Principal of Prabaha Kalabhoomi.
The most highlight of the programme is their commitment and the message on conservation of environment by distributing SEED BALLS, fruits and sweets in eco-friendly cane baskets to the entire audience during the dance production – Aranyasanskriti, as part of the choreography, through the medium of Art and Culture.
