A Satriya dance performance, inspired by the relationship between portraiture and classical dance form, left the entire audience spellbound and mesmerised in the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) in London recently. It was on October 23, that the young artiste from Assam, Menaka PP Bora, now a lecturer in Dance at Kingston University, London, put a lively performance before a full capacity crowd at the Ondaatje Theatre of the NPG. Menaka has a long stint of successful programmes of Indian classical dance and workshops at the NPG since 2003. She had also enthralled the viewers at various stages in London, Leicester, Liverpool and other places for all these years. Of late, she had introduced ‘Dance and Museum Project 2008’, which is commissioned to develop an innovative lecture and dance series linking ancient heritage and exhibitions.

The latest project is quite different and innovative too, as it gave the performer a challenging opportunity to explore gender and identity through the 550 year old theatrical tradition of Ankiya Bhaona from Assam. While doing so, Menaka presented her programme with live dance, slide shows depicting manuscript paintings, apart from using traditional jewellery, costumes, masks and speech explaining the Satriya and Vaishnavite culture.

Soon after being introduced by Sumi Ghosh before the audience at the NPG, Menaka presented a piece of beautifully composed Jhumura. Thereafter, she explained the salient features of Ankiya Bhaona with the help of slides depicting stories from the Ramayana through the manuscript paintings called Sanchipaat in

Assamese. Not only that, her performing zeal was typically supported by a piece of Borgeet in the voice of singer Bibhuranjan Choudhury.

Menaka also performed a Chali Nritya, while explaining about the Naamghar and traditional monasteries of Assam. She told the spectators that the Satriya dance form has come a long way since the days when only the male monks performed it. Now it symbolises the universal yearning for peace and harmony, although it is very much devotional in character.

Her performance aptly showed why she was hailed as a 'sculpture come alive' in India and abroad. Being a doctoral researcher in media and communications, Menaka has lived up to all expectations.

Manoj Borpujari