Odissi dancer to hold digital song-dance contest to pay tribute to Galwan martyrs
BHUBANESWAR: New Delhi-based noted Odissi dancer Chandana Raul (46) is going to organise a digital dance and song competition, 50% of whose registration fee will go to the families of the Galwan martyrs and government funds for the fight against Covid-19. The results will be declared on August 15. “In such a time, I felt that I should provide a platform to children, who are at home now, to express themselves creatively and pay tribute to the martyrs and laud the Covid warriors at the same time,” said Chandana.
Both the dance and song competition have general and divyang (disabled) categories for entry besides having three groups based on age. Participants from India, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh can participate in it.
The competitors can only dance on Bande Utkal Janani, Odisha’s state song, and a Sanskrit song that Chandana is sending to them and send back the two-minute videos to the organizer. The dances can be classical, western or contemporary. The singers will have to record their two-minute songs of their choice that have to be either devotional or patriotic.
Chandana said the songs are patriotic or devotional because this competition is being organised as a tribute to the martyrs. There will be five judges for each competition. The last date for entry is July 20 and submission of videos is July 31. Children from New Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha have already started registering themselves.
“Though it’s a competition, the digital format will help children improve their performances before submitting the video to us. Also, there will be no pressure of competition on them as it is not live,” Chandana, who has been dancing since she was nine years old, said.
The videos of the winners will be uploaded on Chandana’s Facebook page, her YouTube channel, her Instagram account and Twitter handles on the evening of August 15. She will also perform live on Facebook on the day. “Subsequently, I will upload videos of the other participants, who will also receive certificates,” said Chandana, who belongs to Jeypore in Koraput district.