Colourful and vibrant Chhau dance to Oslo!
An experience out of the ordinary, with fantastic masks and costumes, acrobatic dance and a unique sensibility of rhythm
This February, pupils in Oslo get the unique chance to experience a spectacular dance tradition from West Bengal in India!
Purulia Chhau, photo: Lars Opstad/Rikskonsertene
The Chhau dance of the Purulia district is one of the most vibrant and colourful art forms. Emerging from martial practice, the Purulia Chhau is a vigorous form of dance drama that draws its themes from the two great Indian epics, The Ramayana and The Mahabharata.
The stories center around a dramatic fight between good and evil, where justice prevails in the end. The different masks, made by local artists in Purulia, represent gods, goddesses, demons, monsters and animals. The dance is energetic and powerful, and is accompanied by three percussionists on dhol, dhamsa og shenai.
Purulia Chhau is an experience out of the ordinary, with fantastic masks and costumes, acrobatic dance and a unique sensibility of rhythm!
The dance will be shown to pupils in the Oslo area during February, starting Feb 6. In addition there will be two public performances in the Norwegian National opera & Ballet. The tour is a collaboration between Concerts Norway and the Norwegian National opera & Ballet, financed by teh Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Purulia Chhau. Photo: Lars Opstad/Rikskonsertene