Profile of Rajib Bhattacharya
Name: Rajib Bhattacharya
Date of Birth: 27th July, 1970
Address: C/o Provat Kumar Manna
67, Tollygunge road, Kolkata-700033
Mobile: +91 9831121261
E-mail: rajibodissi@gmail.com / rajib6burai@yahoo.co.in
Website: www.rajibodissi.com
Dance has always been my medium of interaction with the Almighty. From a very young age, I have found it easier to express myself through my dance and now it runs through my veins. If the cycle of birth and re-birth exists, I wish to be a dancer, a performer in every birth. In fact, I can take birth only to become a dancer.
I had received my initial training from Smt. Sharmila Biswas at a very young age and moved on to complete my M.A. in Odissi dance from RABINDRA BHARATI UNIVERSITY, Kolkata. When I stepped foot in the world of Odissi, I could not rest myself. I immediately knew that I have to acquire more skill and knowledge. Hence, my eagerness for specialization in Odissi brought me to SRJAN (Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Nrityabasa) and had the good fortune to receive training under the able guidance of Guruji, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and his son, Guru Ratikant Mohapatra. When I enrolled in SRJAN, I felt like I have entered the never-ending cosmos of Odissi. Guruji seemed like an ocean of knowledge to me. This ambience piqued my curiosity even further and I delved deeper into this cosmos. Four decades had passed away while I completely immersed myself in learning very closely the intricate details of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Gharana at SRJAN. However, my yearning for more insight in the Odissi form did not restrict there. In those times, I had attended several workshops by renowned Gurus in different subjects related to Odissi dance including the legendary Odissi dancer Smt. Sanjukta Panigrahi. I also feel blessed to have received the training in the MAHARI form of dance from SASHIMANI and PARASMANI MAHARI. Throughout my career, I was a recipient of national scholarship under the able guidance of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra from the Dept. of Culture, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India and have performed in the major dance and music festivals of India and abroad. I had stood First in Odissi dance competition organized by THE STATE MUSIC ACADEMY. Now I am a ‘TOP’ grade artiste of Doordarshan Kendra, New Delhi and empaneled as an ICCR artiste. As an empaneled artiste, I am fortunate to perform at various prestigious festivals organized by the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC).
Presently, I receive the benefit to continue learning Odissi dance under the able tutelage of Guru Ratikant Mohapatra. Have I not only tried to establish myself as a solo dancer for more than three decades, but also engaged in propagating the art of dance through conducting classes in my own institution, ‘Srijan Chhanda’ (Govt. registered) where I am the artistic director. I now also conduct various workshops in and around India as well as abroad to spread the beauty and rich legacy of Odissi dance everywhere. I am the Secretary and the Principal of SRJAN (Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Nrityabasa, Kolkata chapter). Other than my institution, I also hold classes at “DEVI PRATIDHWANI” (GURU GIRIJA DEVI‟s INSTITUTION), MUDRA KALA KENDRA, MALANCHA, LALIT KALA ACADEMY (SALT LAKE). I am an examiner of RABINDRA BHARATI UNIVERSITY, NIKHIL BHARAT SANGIT SAMITY, WEST BENGAL STATE MUSIC ACADEMY and THE DOVER LANE DANCE
COMPETITION. Moreover, I am the Assistant Secretary of the Odissi Dancers’ Forum, Kolkata. Now, I am making an able effort to bring in more male dancers and train them in Odissi dance since there is still a dearth of male classical dancers in this field and simultaneously training female dancers who are keen to learn about the practical as well as theoretical aspects of this dance form. I put immense effort in developing new productions that deal with contemporary issues to make Odissi dance more familiar with the young generation of our country who are now more inclined towards western culture more and are oblivious to the rich heritage we possess. Through these productions, I am trying to make the younger generations aware of the rich cultural heritage of our country.
If I find the slightest opportunity to spread my knowledge all through the decades, I leave no stones unturned to grab that opportunity. If I can inspire and enlighten young minds, as a dancer that will be biggest achievement in life .
a) Bangkok: Performed in India-International Festival
b) USA: performed in various places such as Austin, Los Angeles, Tulsa, Dallas, San Francisco etc.
c) Bangladesh: in a show organized by The High Commission of India.
d) Performed in at various places in Canada and British Colombia
e) Performed at various places of TAIWAN
Dance performances in India:Delhi: |
i. Program organized by ICCR,Delhi |
ii. I.I.C. in Delhi, |
iii. performed in golden jubilee celebration of Sahitya Akademy |
iv. Performed at Sangeet Natak Akademy |
Kolkata / West Bengal: |
i. Uday Shankar Dance festival organized Rajya Sangeet Academy Kolkata, |
ii. music and dance festival at Uttam Manch, |
iii. Geeta Jayanty Utsav, |
iv. GKCM award,Kolkata |
v. Indo-Burma Petroleum(IBP) organized program, |
vi. program organized by ICCR and Birla Academy |
vii. program organized by Odissi Dancer‟s Forum, |
viii. Deesha festival. |
ix. Horizon series programe by ICCR Kolkata |
x. Performed at SHRADDHANJALI, Odissi dance festival by Odissi Dancer’s Forum Kolkata |
xi. Performed at ASIATIC SOCIETY |
xii.Performed at Chaitanya Mission |
xiii. Dance Drama Festival organized by WB State Music Academy |
xiv. Margam dance festival |
xv. Dover Lane Music Conference 2019 |
Bhubaneswar: |
i. International Odissi Dance Festival organized by Indian Performing Art Inc. |
ii. Baisakhi Festival |
iii. Purush Festival |
iv. National Odissi Dance & Music Festival organized by GKCM Odissi Research Centre |
v. program organized by GKCM ODISSI RESEARCH INSTITUTE |
vi. Performed at MAHARI festival |
vii. Performed at EKAMRA festival |
Chennai: |
Swarna Utsav organised by Central Sangeet Natak Academy |
Varanasi: |
i. Sankat Mochan Music & dance Festival organized by Sankat Mochan Temple Foundation. |
ii. Ganga Mahotsa, |
iii. Maha Mrityunjay Festival |
iv. in a program to pay respect to renowned classical singer Padmabhushan Dr. Girija Devi |
v. performed at DURGA KUND |
vi. Performed at VINDHYACHAL MAHOTSAV |
vii. Performed at Shivratri Mahotsav |
Puri: |
i. Puri Beach Festival, |
ii. Samudra Mahotsav |
Mumbai: |
Shringarmani Dance Festival |
Other performances: |
i. Soorya Festival,Kerala, |
ii. performed in various festivals held at Chandigarh, Indore, Jaipur, Porbandar, Pune, Bombay, Kerala, Cochin, Bengaluru, etc, |
iii. Ghungroo Festival, Jabalpur, |
iv. Dance and Music Conference, Jalpaiguri |
v. Performed at MAIHAR FESTIVAL |
vi. Performed at BABA ALLAUDDIN KHAN SANGEET SAMAROHA |
vii. Performed at a program organized by EZCC |
viii. Shal Mahul Festival,Jhargram |
ix. program organized by Malancha and Manjir Dance Academy in Tripura Navaraspur Festival, Bijapur |
x. Barrackpore Music Conference, Barrackpore |
xi. various solo performances on television for Doordarshan |
xii. performed at Makhla Shinjini Dance festival, Uttarpara |
xiii. Shruti Mandal,Jaipur |
xiv. Dol Purnima (Holi) Celebration at ISKON temple, Mayapur |
xv. Chidambaram Dance Festival |
xvi. Tanjor Dance Festival |
xvii. Kamakshi Festival |
MA in Dance from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata
Skill:i) Dancing
ii) Teaching
Teaching Experience:i. Devi Pratidhwani in Kolkata, Padmabhushan Dr. Girija Devi’s institution |
ii. Srijan Chhanda in Kolkata, satellite institute of Srjan, Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra Nrityabasa, Bhubaneshwar |
iii. MUDRA KALA KENDRA |
iv. LALIT KALA AKADEMY (Salt lake) |
v. MALANCHA (Shyambazar) |
i. ‘Chinta O Chetana’ award |
ii. Declared ‘First’ in Odissi dance competition organized by ‘The State Music State Academy’ |
iii. ‘A’ grade artiste of Doordarshan |
iv. Recipient of National Scholarship in Odissi from Dept. of Culture, Govt. of India. |
v. Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Yuva Prativa Samman, 2016 |