The Assamese dance couple of Jayanta Bhagawati and Pranaame Bhagawati, having gained national and international recognition for their contemporary choreographic productions, added one more feather to their cap by captivating the audience at the recent Assam Day celebrations in the United Kingdom. The Assam Day 2009, organised by the United Assam Association of UK, was held at Barnsley, London with a two-day programme on August 29 and 30.
The Assam Day is a fantastic occasion celebrated by and for all the non-resident Assamese residing in different parts of the UK. It is also a platform for showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Assam and other States of North East India. The core motto of the celebrations is to promote the Assamese culture and heritage among the upcoming generation, while acquainting them with how they would represent their native culture in a standardised way.
Jayanta was also seen on the stage in a new avatar – creating magic with percussion. He amply displayed his mastery over taal and laya with the leather percussion instrument as he blended the bols of Indian musical instruments — the tabla and the pakhawaj. One of his compositions, titled Shiva, was a beautiful blend of dance and percussion that cast a spell of awe and enthralment over the spectators. And what added vibrancy and melody to their choreographies were Jayanta’s skills of composing and arranging music.
It’s interesting to watch the dancing duo’s concepts being played with creative gestures and modern expressions. The couple has been working hard together for many years to develop themselves as prominent contemporary dance choreographers. They have paved a new way with their modern approaches to create a contemporary dance scenario.
Born in the cultural island of Assam — Majuli, Jayanta has been brought up in the ambience of the Satriya culture of the river island. He later went for his advance training in dance, specialising in the Kathak dance in Lucknow. He received scholarship from the Cultural Affairs department, Assam. He was also a fellowship holder at the Kathak Kendra, New Delhi. Along with stage productions, Jayanta has also choreographed and directed many events.
Pranaame, born in Guwahati, is a dance activist and a cultural enthusiast. She took her initial training in Kathak dance under Bipul Das and in Satriya dance under Jibonjit Dutta. A two-time gold medalist at the national level, representing her State, she has also been awarded with the national scholarship from the Union Ministry of Culture for advance training in Kathak.
The couple presently resides in Haryana with their little baby girl Bella.