Anchal Panda, a class VII student of Kendriya Vidyalaya No.1 in Bhubaneswar, has stunned her audiences with her Odissi performance, graceful movements and expressions. Orissa POST interacts with 12-year-old Anchal who has brought several laurels to her school as well as the state with her scintillating performance.
Daughter of Barna Manjari Mohapatra and Jayanta Kumar Panda of Bhubaneswar, Anchal is being trained under the tutelage of Odissi dancer Bijan Kumar Palai. She is also learning classical from Aniket Pallav Nayak.
Her father Jayant is a teacher while Barna Manjari is with the Odisha Police.
“I don’t know how I developed a fascination for Odissi, but whenever I hear the song Tulasi Dayana by popular Odia singer Sailabhama, my legs spontaneously start tapping. Finding my interest in dance, my parents admitted me in classical dance classes. I won at least ten awards for performing the song ‘Tulasi Dayana…,” Anchal Panda revealed.
“The little star started dancing after watching a television show at her play school when she was four. In 2016, she took part in a competition held at Soochana Bhawan where she was adjudged first. On her way back, she was invited to take part in another contest at Rabindra Mandap where she also stood first. After winning those competitions she never looked back, She has received many awards in inter-school and national level dance competitions of Kendriya Vidylaya.” said Anchal Panda’s mother.
“I was a theatre artiste and wanted to make career in arts. But due to unavoidable circumstances I joined the Police service. When we discovered our daughter’s interest in dance, we tried to facilitate everything she needed to learn Odissi and other performing arts,” her mother pointed out.
Although Anchal was selected for Nupur, a TV dance reality show, she couldn’t make it to the finals. But it was a learning experience for her as she learned many steps during the show. Later, she participated in many talent-hunt shows in the city and won awards.
“My mother is my inspiration for my dance. My father supports me, but he doesn’t get time from his busy schedules and my mom escorts me wherever I go for performance,” Anchal recalls.
To a question about her expertise, the child said, “I am good in Abhinaya, Mangalacharan, Batu and Shiva Tandava. I like to take soft steps and love abhinaya the most. People appreciate my distinct facial expressions during performance. I have not taken part in any group recital but wish to do once so that I can assess my abilities.”
Can you live without dance? “Dance is my first love and favourite pastime. I never get tired dancing. It energies me and boosts my morale when am worried or angry. I don’t spend a single day without dancing. Often I get so much involved in dance that I forget myself. After school, I finish my homework first before going to dance or painting class.”
Anchal Panda is also a meritorious student who has received awards in debate, essay-writing and extempore speeches held at inter-school competitions of Kendriya Vidylaya.
Asked whether she is interested to join films, she asserts, “No. I just want to be a classical dancer. I am not keen on films or albums.”
“My dream is to represent Orissa in international fora with my Odissi performance,” Anchal adds.
SOYONG,OP