A tale as timeless as Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake has been captivating hearts for nearly 150 years with its blend of magic, romance, and drama. The iconic ballet, composed around 1875, has now been gracefully reenvisioned through the classical Indian dance form of Odissi, presented by the Sanjali Centre for Odissi Dance. This weekend, audiences in Bengaluru will be treated to a unique production titled Hansika, directed by the accomplished dancer and Sanjali’s founder, Sharmila Mukerjee.
“Ballet captured my imagination from a young age, and Swan Lake was a piece that consistently resonated with me,” Sharmila recollects. Her dream of one day bringing this narrative to life through her dance institute is now a reality. “I always pictured staging it once I was at the helm of my own dance center,” she says.
The ambitious undertaking of Hansika involved meticulous planning and a significant cast, coupled with ornate set designs. Odissi, renowned for its fluidity and elegance reminiscent of a swan’s movements, was Sharmila’s dance form of choice to encapsulate the essence of Swan Lake. Emphasizing the natural fit between the two, she explains, “Odissi offers the perfect canvas for this ballet’s beauty to unfold.”
At the heart of Hansika’s score is a harmonious marriage between East and West, thanks to Praveen D Rao, a Bangalore-based music director renowned for his command of Western and Eastern classical music traditions. Praveen has skillfully interwoven instruments such as the tabla, sitar, and pakhavaj with the violin, crafting a musical backdrop that complements the dance spectacularly.
While Hansika remains faithful to the original Swan Lake storyline, Sharmila has creatively adapted certain elements to resonate with Indian culture. “There were tweaks necessary to contextualize the tale for our audience,” she notes. Almost a year’s worth of preparation is reflected in the costumes, which, while atypical for traditional Odissi attire, are deliberately chosen to mirror the themes of Swan Lake with stunning whites and crowns to distinguish the swans.
Sharmila’s creative liberties include reimagining the leading ladies Odette and Odile as competing sisters and incorporating traditional Indian rituals such as the haldi before the wedding scene. The thoughtful manipulation of lighting further enhances the stage, painting a vivid tableau of love, jealousy, and the spectrum of human emotion, enabling the poignant narrative to captivate the audience over the condensed 55-minute duration of Hansika.
Trained under the legendary guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, Sharmila carries on the esteemed guru shishya parampara’s legacy at the Sanjali Centre, which she founded in 2004. Striving to balance tradition with innovation, she firmly believes in progressing the art form. “Innovation is vital – otherwise, we risk stagnation,” Sharmila asserts. “It’s all about pushing forward while honoring where we came from.”
Embedded in Hansika is also a social message, a signature element Sharmila is keen to incorporate in her productions. The performance of Hansika, with its unique blend of Indian classical dance and Russian ballet, promises a cultural immersion filled with narrative depth and artistic excellence.
This enchanting Odissi adaptation will grace the stage on February 4 at ADA Rangamandira, JC Road, at 6.30pm. Audience members eager to experience this cultural fusion can secure their tickets starting from ₹500, available at AllEvents.in. Through Hansika, the Sanjali Centre for Odissi Dance invites you to witness the enduring love story of Swan Lake, redefined through the lens of Odissi and set to the backdrop of enthralling music and powerful performances.
