Hungarian teen enthrals audience at int’l Odissi fest
Bhubaneswar: A 17-year-old Odissi dancer from Hungary, Molnar Zselyke, enthralled the audience at the International Odissi Dance Festival at Rabindra Mandap here, which concluded on Saturday. The festival, which began on Jan 7, brought together over 100 participants from various countries and stages.
Zselyke, a student of Guru Aniruddha Das in Hungary, delivered a rendition of ‘Sangini Re Chahan’, an Odia song based on the poetry of medieval poet Banamali. Set to raga Kalavati and Tala Jati, the piece was choreographed by late Deba Prasad Das. The presentation portrays a sakhi enchanted by the beauty of Lord Krishna, comparing his divine form to Kamdeva, god of love. Zselyke brought the narrative to life, combining precise footwork with expressions, leaving the audience spellbound.
“It was an honour to perform in the land where this beautiful art form originated,” Zselyke told TOI. “Dancing to an Odia song was a profound experience for me, as it helped me connect deeply with the culture and emotions behind the poetry,” she added.
“Her precision, expressions and dedication were extraordinary. It’s incredible to see such a young artist from another country embracing and presenting our culture so beautifully,” said Shankar Das, a resident of Old Town.
Despite her young age, Zselyke has already performed more than 400 classical recitals in Hungary.
Zselyke, a student of Guru Aniruddha Das in Hungary, delivered a rendition of ‘Sangini Re Chahan’, an Odia song based on the poetry of medieval poet Banamali. Set to raga Kalavati and Tala Jati, the piece was choreographed by late Deba Prasad Das. The presentation portrays a sakhi enchanted by the beauty of Lord Krishna, comparing his divine form to Kamdeva, god of love. Zselyke brought the narrative to life, combining precise footwork with expressions, leaving the audience spellbound.
“It was an honour to perform in the land where this beautiful art form originated,” Zselyke told TOI. “Dancing to an Odia song was a profound experience for me, as it helped me connect deeply with the culture and emotions behind the poetry,” she added.
“Her precision, expressions and dedication were extraordinary. It’s incredible to see such a young artist from another country embracing and presenting our culture so beautifully,” said Shankar Das, a resident of Old Town.
Despite her young age, Zselyke has already performed more than 400 classical recitals in Hungary.
