Odissi Mandala, 2008
Bringing together three traditional styles of Odissi dance, following the lineage of three well known gurus of Odissi – Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, Guru Debaprasad Das and Guru Gangadhar Pradhan, this performance presented two generations of Odissi dancers. US based teachers Sreyashi Dey, Leena Mohanty and Sandhyadipa Kar and their students performed a traditional Odissi repertoire.
Angika, 2007
Creatively combining Odissi and Manipuri styles once again, Angika explored unique aspects of the two performance traditions from eastern India. Performed by Sreyashi Dey, Manoranjan Pradhan, Sohini Ray and Sanjib Bhattacharya, Angika featured rare ritualistic performances of Mahari style Odissi and Mai-bi from Manipuri, along with other virtuosic pieces, this performance toured 8 US cities.
Yugma, 2006
Yugma was a production combining the lyrical grace and sculptural motifs of Odissi with the visual geometry and kinetic excitement of Bharata Natyam to create a unique performance of striking beauty. Presented with well-known Pittsburgh artists Sreyashi Dey and Vijay Palaparty in conjunction with reputed artists from India – Manoranjan Pradhan and Nalini Prakash, this production featured specially composed music, authentic costumes and innovative stagecraft. This performance traveled to 10 US cities.
Lavanya: Graceful Expressions of the East, 2004
Lavanya was an exciting new production that interwove two of India’s seven primary classical dance styles Odissi and Manipuri to present a unique performance of unparalleled beauty and grace, as well as dazzling virtuosity.
As East Indian dance styles they share basic similarities in their technique, literary themes, religious and spiritual basis, and grace and lyricism. However, the two styles are also distinct enough that their contrasts also provide room for exploration. Performed by Sreyashi Dey and Poushali Chatterjee and their companies, this performance toured 13 cities in the US.
Shatarupa: Splendorous Myths and Divinities of India, 2003
Shatarupa showcased the rich classical traditions of classical Indian dance in the Odissi style performed by well-known artists from India and Pittsburgh. Srishti’s Artistic Director Sreyashi Dey was joined by Manoranjan Pradhan from Bhubaneswar, India and an international ensemble of artists in a performance that visually captured the many splendored mythology of India, the many Gods and Goddesses and their wondrous legends. This production toured to nine cities in the US.
Yaatra: Journey, 2003
Yaatra: Journey was a performance piece meshing traditions of Indian classical and contemporary dance, and classical music. The theme of this piece was journeys, both on physical and metaphysical levels. The choreography explored many cycles: birth and death, sunrise to sunset during the course of a day, the cycle of seasons, and the acutely personal and emotional struggle to attain peace. The dancers made a unique journey to a river’s source. The journey ultimately leads to birth, thus continuing the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. Yaatra was about the journey of people.
Karna and Kunti, 2002
A unique dance-theatre work “Karna and Kunti”, based on Rabindranath Tagore’s poetic work “Karna Kunti Sangbaad” was a new choreographic work in the Odissi and Kathakali dance styles of India, choreographed and performed by Sreyashi Dey and E. Kannan.
Ancient Rhythms, 2001
This performance was a unique collaboration between Sreyashi Dey and yoga exponent and storyteller Alison Babusci. A blend of Odissi choreography and yogic poses, interspersed with Babusci’s narration, the performance explored the common aesthetic that grounds both the performance art of Odissi and the ancient physical science of Yoga.
Ramayana, 2001
Ramayana – a Dance Drama in two traditions of India and Indonesia, was a cross-cultural collaboration between Srishti and The University of Pittsburgh’s Sundanese Gamelan Musical ensemble directed by Professor Andrew Weintraub. The dance-drama based on the ancient Indian epic documenting the triumph of good over evil was a unique blend of Odissi and Indonesian dance. The novel choreographies were performed to live music from Srishti’s music ensemble, and the University of Pittsburgh’s Sundanese Gamelan ensemble, including master drummer Undang Sumarna. Ramayana was widely previewed and reviewed in the Pittsburgh Press and was a resounding success, watched by an audience of over 1,200 in its two performances.
Our World: One People, Many Faces, 2000
A collaborative Srishti production with a modern dance company, The Mary Miller Dance Company and African Arts Ensemble UMOJA. Exploring issues of differences in perceptions of the “other”, this work spanning three cultures began with images of distrust and doubt and culminated in a joyous finale. The communication between the artists worked at multiple levels, blurring lines and attempting to perform each other’s styles with integrity if not mastery. Eventually, the work transcended just anyone thought, it became bigger than anything each choreographer could have created alone.
Sreyashi Dey 