Orissa Society Of New England

Formed by the Oriya's from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine and Vermont. OSNE members meet a few times a year because of their commitment to Oriya culture, traditions, customs and to associate the younger generation with the same. This summer of 2009 OSNE celebrated its 25th year with a lot of pomp and show. The members continue to serve and nurture the society with the hope of it growing and contributing to the society, and its original roots.

Events and Activities 

Odissi in Boston during Jagannatha's Car Festival
Numerous dances were presented in the Hare Krishna Festival held in Boston, by the Students of Noopur Dance Academy and OSNE members.

Odissi a traditional Dance, is primarily a devotional dance with Sringara Rasa playing the dominant role. Originating from ritualistic service in the temples of Orissa, Odissi a classical dance with unsophisticated pristine beauty and lyrical charm unique to this dance style. The abundance of Chauka & Tribhanga postures interwoven with sculpt risqué poses from the Konark temple.

Odissi (Batu)---- Heli, Hemali & Janki
In this particular item the dancers are showing the instruments used for Odissi Dance, Like Beena, Flute, Mridanga (Drum) and Kartaal (cymbals). Also dancers are describing the beautiful poses, inherited from Konark temple.

Govinda Gokul Aayo----Ananya, Amisha, Ariya, Neha, Radhika, Sneha
The dancers were celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna. Whole Mathura was happy, Nada Bhawan was decorated, and there was drum and clarinet playing.

Mukunda Mukunda ------ Arushi, Khushi, Medha
This is about the different incarnation of Lord Krishna like Narshingh, Ram & Krishna. God had came to earth to diminish the evil.

Noopur Dance Academy was founded by Mrs. Jayashree Mohapatra since 1989 at Montreal, Canada. Jayashree Mohapatra is an eminent Odissi artist, recipient of several awards in national level in India.

News about the event can be seen in Lokvani and ISKCON.

 

BKP Dance: An Evening of Multicultural Experience

OSNE presented Odissi and Bollywood Dance on 26th, Sept., 2009 in a multi-cultural fund raising program hosted by "Bagong Kulturang Pinoy Inc", a registered nonprofit organization whose overarching mission is to develop a reading culture among Filipino children in poverty-stricken areas in the Philippines. Bagong Kulturang Pinoy, Inc. has been recognized for its invaluable contribution to literacy, in establishing mini-libraries and conducting educational programs to develop a culture for reading and literacy among under-privileged children in the Philippines.

    The Odissi dance was performed by Mrs. Jayashree Mohapatra, an eminent Odissi artist who started her career from very childhood at Kala Vikash Kendra, Cuttack, India. She was fortunate to get timely guidance of Guru Shri Kelu Charan Mohapatra and Guru Shri Raghunath Dutta. She has received the Central Sangeet Natak Academy fellowship and adorned with several awards in the field of Odissi Dance. In a national level dance competition Jayashree was awarded by Neelam Sanjeev Ready, the former President of India. Her expressive Abhinaya and charismatic dance in Pallavi always attracts the audience. Today she has an ambition to add some new enthusiasm into old original Odissi culture. She believes in unfolding a new horizon in the field of Odissi's dance tradition. The Bollywood dance was performed by Arya Mohanty.



Exquisite Odissi Dance Performance by Leena and Leesa Mohanty

Bansi Bilas, Chinmaya Mission Boston and OSNE presented an exquisite Odissi performance by Leena and Leesa Mohanty on October 10, 2009. Leeta Mohanty of OSNE provided vocal and narratives for the show. Leena Mohanty Leesa Mohanty
Leena Mohanty, direct disciple of Guru Deba Prasad Das, studied with Guru Durga Charan Ranbir after the great master's passing and became a leading exponent of the dance. She is known for her impeccable technique and subtlety, especially in her abhinaya. Hers is a dance of both delight and devotion which brings luster to Odissi. A recipient of the first Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar from Sangeet Natak Akademy, New Delhi and the prestigious Mahari Award winner, she has also been awarded a senior fellowship from the Government of India. She has performed extensively to critical acclaim around the globe. She has choreographed and has organized several dance festivals. She is the Artistic Director of Bansi Bilas. 

Leesa Mohanty has performed widely in India and is regarded as a dancer with imaginative prowess. Her forte is abhinaya or expressive dance, and has created, choreographed and directed many dance productions. She has been felicitated with awards including the Best Child Artist Award (Orissa), Rajdhani Ratna Award (New Delhi), Film Media Award (UP) and the title of Rasamruta Sambardhini by Temple of Fine Arts, Kualalumpur. She directed a film on dance, Milan Madhuri; a documentary on the Late Guru Deba Prasad Das in 2001 as well as conceptualized and anchored a documentary entitled "Idioms of Oriya Culture" in 2006. She is the Executive Director of Bansi Bilas.