Dance is an applied art- it is a science. Science and art are like twins, one is practical and other is theoretical. For Dr. Mukherjee both the faculties complement each other pretty well. The doctorate degree in botany actually helped her tremendously to take a more theoretical approach to dance. Currently she is working towards reviving the dance academy named Gaudiya Nritya. Gaudiya means old Bengal and Nritya means dance. Gaudiya Nritya reflects Bengal's physical structure too. The Sunderbans, the paddy fields and the rivers flowing through it and the north, which is rigid because of the Himalaya, characterized old Bengal. The origin of Gaudiya Nritya can be traced back to Natyashastra but did not flourish because of lack of support and patronage. Gaudiya Nritya comprises elements of chhau dance which kind of heroic dance, nachni which is shringaar form, kushan which deals with Lava Kusha and has its roots in the Ramayana and the Kirtan dance, the devotional aspect She received dance training from many renowned gurus. She learned Purulia Chau from Padma ShreeGambhur Singh Mudha, Nachni from Shashi Mahato and Kirtannritya from Narattam Sanyal. She has with her relentless efforts and dedication tried to learn the nuances from each and every gurus she had trained under. Some of the most celebrated compositions of Gaudiya Nritya by her are Alapchari, Dashavatar, Vandana, Mangalacharan, Putana Badh, Mahisasura Mardini, Abhimanyu Badh, Ekalavya's Gurudakshina etc. The Films Division, Human Resource Development of Government of India made a documentary Film "Dance of the Gods" on her work Gaudiya Nritya. |