Vinay Kumar
Bhubaneswar: For the first time, The Odisha Society of the Americas (OSA) NYNJPA chapter recently presented Odissi at All-Indian Dance Festival 2026 at Carnegie Hall in New York — one of the most prestigious concert venues in the world like Royal Albert Hall, London, or Sydney Opera House.“It was a celebration of our identity, tradition and art on a world-class platform,” said Nilasundar Jena, president of the chapter.Altogether 28 Odissi dancers, aged 10 to 49 years, performed “Odisha Parikrama”, which celebrated the state’s spirit through dance. The routine was directed and choreographed by Rashmirekha Rajaguru under the guidance of Odissi gurus Gayatri Ranbir and Amulya Balavantaray Ray.Learning and preparing for the performance took time and dedication from the Odia dancers living in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. “Planning for the performance began in Aug 2025 while practice got underway in Nov. It was organised in different studios on Sundays and those who required extra help were tutored on Saturdays,” said Rajaguru.The troupe used to send its practise videos to Gayatri Ranbir, who is based in Bhubaneswar, and she used to review them and suggest changes. “The Carnegie Hall sets a standard, and that must be met. She helped us maintain that standard,” said Rajaguru. All the costumes and jewellery were tailormade for Odissi and sent to the US.Rajaguru said the most important aspect of the performance was the commitment of the dancers and their families. “They are keen on preserving Odia culture and carrying it forward to the next generation. This desire increases when you live far from your motherland,” said Rashmi.For the dancers, the experience was amazing as well as overwhelming. “It was a proud moment to represent our culture on such a big stage, and something I will always remember,” said dancer Sasmita Rath, adding that Odissi keeps her connected to her roots.Most importantly, their months of hard work paid off. “It felt great to see the audience appreciate our performance. It has motivated me to keep learning and performing Odissi,” said Rath.
