City’s connoisseurs of dance and music had a unique treat on Wednesday with the debut of city-based Korean Odissi dancer-singer-percussionist Beena Keum at Jayadev Bhawan here.
In her late 20’s, Beena arrived in Orissa five years ago to learn Odissi dance from the well-known Odissi Guru Gangadhar Pradhan at Konark. Now based in Bhubaneswar, she later learnt singing Odissi music and playing the Odissi mardal from Guru Bijay Kumar Jena and Guru Banamali Moharana respectively.
The dancer of foreign origin pleasantly surprised everyone with her address in chaste Oriya language. Governor M.C.Bhandare was the special guests at her mancha prabesha (debut performance) while all her gurus who trained her in dance and music besides her mother was present on the occasion. The artiste who has decided to settle down in Orissa for her love for Odissi, moved hearts with her puja (worship) of the gurus in traditional manner.
After a brief narration of her experiences in India in Oriya, English and Korean languages, Beena commenced her recital with singing of two traditional Oriya songs. She then played the percussion instrument of mardal and finally performed pure and expressional Odissi dance numbers as a soloist.
Apart from several Korean nationals, a large number of Odissi dancers from abroad attended the event.
