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 Dance Style of Uday Shankar (as per lessons under Amala Shankar) August 2, 2023 A person in their nineties comes with new dreams and desires to do something new, which is rarely seen around us. Such a person is Dr. Utpal K. Banerjee, who recently received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in Delhi for his lifelong contribution to the field of culture. Two years ago, driven by a deep desire to preserve the cherished memories of his beloved late wife, Sampa Devi, Dr. Banerjee conceived the visionary idea of establishing the Utpal Sampa Kala Kendra. With unwavering determination, he undertook the task of meticulously documenting the rich tapestry of India's cultural heritage.   The first work, 'Reimagining One Nation, One Music' has already been published, where it is explained how the two gharanas of Indian classical music have the same origin with the advent of a new raga "Swarnadeshi". Dr. Banerjee's second project at Utpal Sampa Kala Kendra was recently recorded in the ICCR gallery. It showcases the grammar of Uday Shankar dance style taught by his wife Amala Shankar. Aditi and Maushri Singha, dedicated disciples of the illustrious Amala Shankar, deftly steered the helm of this ambitious project, ensuring its success. They were joined in their mesmerizing performance by other talented students, who, under Amala Shankar's tutelage, honed their skills, as well as a select group of students from the esteemed Euphony Cultural Center. Amidst this captivating spectacle, the rhythmic heartbeat of tabla by 78 year old Souren Ghosh reverberated, who had been working together in live music with Uday Shankar and Amala Shankar for 43 years. Accompanying him were Sharadindu Aich on percussion, and Atanu Chatterjee on sarod. On behalf of Utpal Sampa Kala Kendra, Ujjwal Bhattacharya and Abhishek Ghosh coordinated the entire project. |
