Abhishree Priyadarshini, a disciple of acclaimed Odishi exponent Aruna Mohanty, believes that Odishi, the classical dance form, has a direct connection with Lord Jagannath. The danseuse finds the attire and jewellery of this art form very attractive.
Abhishree was trained and nurtured under the guidance of Padma Shri Aruna Mohanty. She prefers to perform the abhinaya aspect of Odishi. The dancer has showcased her skills at international events like Konark Mahotsav, Dhauli Mahotsav, Keonjhar Mahotsav and Mahabalipuram festival in Chennai. She has also given a solo performance at the International Odishi Dance Festival in Bhubaneswar on December 30, 2017.
In 2015, Abhishree participated in Nupur, a dance reality show, telecast on the Prarthana channel where she came as first runners-up. Even if she didn’t win the title, she definitely managed to grab the eyeballs of the judges with her mesmerising performances.
At present, she wants to focus on her studies besides participating in different shows and festivals. The passionate dancer is looking forward to show her dancing skills on the national platform either this year or next. A BSc final year student of the Jayadev College, she developed a passion for Odishi dance when she was just four years old. “Since childhood, I love Odishi and the mudras; the attire really caught my attention then. When my parents noticed my interest in this dance form, they helped me take it forward. My first guru was Mamata Satpathy. When I was seven, my parents got me enrolled in the Odisha Dance Academy. And that’s how my journey in the Odishi dance started.
Abhishree finds herself lucky that she has got an opportunity to perform in front of the Jagannath chariot on Rath Yatra. “I feel blessed that I got the chance to dance before the Lord’s chariot while the devotees pulled it; and the whole experience gave me an immense pleasure,” she says.
When asked about her memorable incidents, she recalls, “I was performing at Sisir Saras when Bhubaneswar MP Prasanna Patasani praised my performance a lot and the best part was he was unaware of the fact that my parents were sitting beside him. He also said I will be an Odishi exponent in the future; and this compliment from him made my parents proud.”
Apart from the Odishi dance itself, Abhishree feels that the attire and jewellery make this dance form exceptional.
Abhishree is a multi-talent girl in the true sense because apart from studies and dance, she also hosts television shows. But she thanks her parents for their love, support and motivation; and she also says that it is because of their love and blessings that she has reached this position today.