jose k joseph
post news network
Bhubaneswar, July 21: Orissa is home to many dance forms. However, only a few of these, such as Odissi, Sambalpuri and Chhau, have received adequate attention; and members of the present generation are unaware of many of the folk dance forms native to the state.
Many youngsters Orissa POST spoke with were clueless about folk dances such as Ghumura, Gotipua, Dhap, and Karma Naach. Those that knew of these dance forms had only the basic, sketchy information about these.
The limited knowledge about the folk forms appears to be arising from the lack of exposure to these. “A Dance form such as Odissi is always performed at all and sundry functions and cultural events. I have seen many Odissi performances, but have only heard about the other dance forms,” Debasish Rout, a college student, said.
Elders see the lack of exposure to folk dance forms and ignorance about the state’s culture as a result of the influence of television and other new mediums of entertainment.
Laxman Dash, a retired banker, said: “The present generation has several means for entertainment. That is why they are uninterested in watching traditional dance forms and cultural events. This may be the key reason for their lack of knowledge regarding folk dance forms,” Laxman said.
Dance exponents believe the root of such ignorance about dance forms lies in the lack of adequate training and promotion of these in educational institutions.
“The current generation knows about at least some folk dance forms. But the next generation may not even know as much. We have to teach them about folk culture through our educational institutions,” Bhabani Charan Biswal, a lecturer of Chhau of Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya and member of Subject Research Committee of Folk Dance at Utkal University.
Dhirendranath Mallick, the secretary of Orissa Sangeet Natak Akademi said the akademi has been organising several events for the promotion of dance forms.
“We have organised several events in the country to promotion dance forms.
We are trying our best to help artistes,” Mallick said.
Experts such as Biswal also point out the need to promote veteran artistes in folk forms to sustain and popularise them.
“Most folk dance forms are passed on from one generation to the next. So no one can truly claim to be an expert in such forms or hold any certificate to prove his expertise. So the government needs to promote veteran artistes and ensure that the knowledge continues to be passed on through generations,” Biswal said.
Some experts suggested that the department of tourism and culture should organise more national and international events to promote the folk dance forms of
the state.
