Watch out for sublime multitudes of Odissi in Janhabi Behera's performance this evening

Bhubaneswar: A stickler for perfection, Odissi danseuse Janhabi Behera is trying to get every step right ahead of her performance at Rabindra Mandap in Odisha capital today.

She will be performing Mangalacharana (Ganesh bandana), Hansadhwani Pallavi, five of Nabarasas and Kuru Yadu Nandan from Gita Gobinda this evening under the Horizon Series of ICCR in association with the State Department of Culture.

"I will be performing the Ganesh Bandana after a gap of two years. Sringara, Hansya, Bhaya, Karuna and Shanta are the five rasas that I will be portraying on stage conveyed through different episodes of Ramayana. My Guru Aruna Mohanty had choreographed Kuru Yadu Nandan for me. It was with this dance recital that could touch the audience's heart with my abhinaya," she said.

Janhabi, known for artistic grasp over abhinaya (expression), has carved a niche for herself as a solo performer and also a group member of the  Odissi repertoire of Orissa Dance Academy, Bhubaneswar.

She began training in the classical dance form at the age of 13 under the guidance of Guru Ramesh Chandra Jena and Guru Yudhisthir Nayak. Later, she honed her skills under the watchful eyes of Guru Aruna Mohanty, guided by legendary Guru late Gangadhar Pradhan.

"I was naturally inclined towards classical dance forms. I slowly fell in love with Odissi. And the passion soon became a profession," she said.

Recollecting a recent trip to Syria, Janhabi said, "My musicians were apprehensive about traveling to the trouble-torn country. After our performance at an opera house in Damascus, we could not get down the stage for almost 45 minutes with the appreciative audience keen to meet us," she said.

She enjoyed the hospitality there and came back home rich with memories.