Prerona Bhuyan and Madhusmita Bora of Sattriya Dance Company. It is through their efforts, with the help of the Pew Center, that the monks have come to the United States.
Dancers Madhusmita Bora, in a gold dress with red waistcloth, and Prerona Bhuyan, in gold dhoti pants, could have sprung from the walls of a temple. They told their story in broad dance moves and facial mime, with precise hand gestures called mudras. They delighted every time they took to the stage.
The dancers showed a clear juxtaposition between Prerona Bhuyan’s agility and Madhumusita Bora’s grace. Their mature execution employed elements of stillness along with subtleties such as an angry face, a smirk, and eyes that widened and then slowly closed. It seemed to me that their purpose was not to present a performative act of dance; the dance was an offering, a quiet conversation from the dancer to the divine
The devotional song Dokhobotar (Ten Incarnations of Vishnu) was brought to life by Bora and Bhuyan in a delightful rendition. The structure of the choreography neatly replicated the format of the song. As the verses of the sung text enumerated the circumstances around each of Vishnu’s ten incarnations, which he manifested in service to humanity, the dancers cleverly mimed each interactive episode. Between the verses, they danced a rousing celebratory phrase in unison that coincided with the praises sung in the song’s joyful refrain.
Two duets by Madhusmita Bora and Prerona Bhuyan showcased a complementary pair. Bhuyan, markedly younger and lengthily limbed, is a crisp mover with clear execution while Bora navigates her joints with freer romanticism.
Sattriya (almost unknown in this country) found exquisite interpreters in Philadelphia's Madhusmita Bora and Prerona Bhuyan. The piece built into a mystic web of feelings.
Intriguing in its use of unisons and rolling wrists, Sattriya — performed by two women, one in pants — conveyed the gently rocking geniality of two friends on the road. I have to assume that the one with a hat was Lord Krishna. For those familiar with the mudras, Indian dance's gestural language, they were so beautifully clear that they were easy to follow. I recognized three for sure: a welcoming gesture, shooting an arrow, and riding a horse.
The second day brought a touch of novelty. For the first time, Sattriya was presented at the St. Louis festival. It was an elegant presentation of the compositions of saint poet Sankardeva by Madhusmitha Bora and Prerona Bhuyan.
The dance show was cheered with gratitude by the audience”, wrote the India in Mexico monthly newsletter, published in the Embassy of India April 2019 issue. Embassy newsletter for April 2019. India In Mexico (Embassy of India, Mexico City) @Muktesh pardeshi
India in Mexico monthly newsletter