On 4th July 1998 Arindam Banerjee laid the founder stone of Kalakshetra. Although Kalakshetra began its career as a mere Bharata natyam training school but it had its vision to emerge as a creative group to rule the heart of the millions.
Combining Bharatanatyam with modern Choreography Kalakshetra started representing the creative delicacy of Arindam on stage.
The first production of the group was 'Desh Amar Maa'. The enchanting choreography, breathtaking performances clearly portrayed the unforgettable sacrifices and patriotism of our freedom fighters at the Murshidabad Book fair. The unanimous response earned Kalakshetra 12 outdoor shows among which 2001 Kolaghat festival, Farakka NTPC deserve mention.
Dedication, enovation and passion to rise in the limelight marked the evolution of Kalakshetra. unqueness of the group lies in its ability to showcase the essence of a poem or a song or a novel with Bharatanatyam based modern choreography, the brain behind being Arindam, the creative director of Kakakshetra.
The different productions of the group which deserve mention are -
- Lajja (based on women emancipation)
- Mukhtir Pothe (based on Rabindranath tagores Chandalika)
- Ami Se Ramani Noi (based on Chitrangada)
- Kakhano Jabo Na (based on Purnendu Patris Megh O Pahar)
- Ashru Nadir Sudur Pare (based on Rabindranath tagores Bodhu)
- Sankhacheel (Based on Hemanga Biswas Song "Sankhacheel")
- Man & Tree (Based on 'Original Symbiosis between Man and Nature')
- Desh Amaar Maa (Based on Patriotic Song)
- Rituranga - The Supreme freedom of the consiousness (Based on Tagore's Rituranga and Geographical Concept)
- Paritranaya Basudevaya (Based on 'Bhagwat')
- Behula Bhasan (Based on Sabyasachi Deb's Poem)
The journey of Kalakshera is studded with performances in -
- 2001 Kolaghat Utsab
- 2003 Haldia Festival
- 2004 Bokreswar Shilpa mela
- 2006 Bidyasagar Mela
- 2007 was a special year for the group when it was
choosen among the top 5 groups in West Bengal by Dance
Mania, a competition organised by Ananda Bazar-Patrika.
- Rajya Yuva Utsav
- ICCR (Satyajit Ray Auditorium)
- EZCC (Purbashree)
- Uday Sankar Festival
- Tagore Beyond Frotiers Festival at ICCR
- Santiniketan Srijani Poush Utsav
- World Dance Day (Accompany by Deptt. of Culture,
Govt. of West Bengal, Rajya Sangeet Academy, Indian
Council for Cultural Relations, Rabindra Sadan, EZCC
and West Bengal Dance Group Federation)
- Basanta Utsav (Accompany by West Bengal Dance Group
Federation and Rajya Sangeet Academy)
- Kabipaksha (Accompany by Rajya Sangeet Academy)
- Gopalpur Beach Festival (2010)
- Puri Beach Festival (2010)
- Cuttack Dance Festival (2010)
- Bishnupur Festival (2010)
- Kolaghat Festival (2011)
- Sanskritik Express Programe Lucknow, 2011
- Sanskritik Express Programe Varanasi, 2011
- World Dance Day (Kolkata) - 29th April, 2011
- Kabi Phakkha (Kolkata) - 9th May, 2011
- Nazrul Mela (Kolkata), 2011
- 17th International Puri Beach Festival, 2011
- Rajya Yuva Utsav (Kolkata), 2011
The driving force behind Kalakshetra is the unanimous appreciation, love and affection of the millions of audiences and the Hall of fame in this field. In 2008 Kalakshetra gave the first stage show at Gyan Mancha in Kolkata. 'Swapna Sambhaba', the latest production of the group tell us that "there is still hope for light in which we can dream for a better world amidst the darkness engulfing our society.
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