Laser Art Accompanies Timeless Odissi, India
Graceful Odissi met dazzling laser art
where traditional dances with laser light
was a mesmerizing spectacle

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Lord Krishna

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Krishna in feather form playing flute (left) and Krishna's resting feet (right)
(All art are created with laser beams)

June 8, 2025, Denver, Colorado:

Manick Sorcar's unique laser art accompanied the graceful, timeless "Odissi" dance-art from India, originated from Odisha, a vibrant state in the east of India.

'Moksha, the Academy of Odissi Dance', presented "An Eclectic Afternoon of Odissy Dance & Laser Art", on Sunday, June 8, 2025 at the prestigious Lakewood Cultural Center at Denver, Colorado.

'Moksha Academy of Odissi Dance' is run by renowned dancer Swagata Banerjee. 'Dance is experiencing to state of euphoria. It is the training of your mind and body to merge into nihility or reach the state of Moksha', said Swagata, 'Manick Sorcar's laser arts that will accompany the dances are an attempt to reach that goal'.

In Mangalacharan, the dancer enters with flowers in hands

And it did exactly that. The items that accompanied Manick's laser art were (1) An introduction to 'Mangalacharan' or the 'Invocatory piece', (2) An Introduction to 'Batu', (3) An Introducton to 'Bilahari Pallavi', (4) 'Prakriti' by a total of twenty dancers - where they were outside to appreciate the nature created by laser arts on background screens, (5) 'Puratani', a dance by Swagata Banerji herself, longing to meet Lord Krishna amidst a weather of thundering, stormy rain, and (6) 'Utsav' was performed by a group of thiry-three dancers with modern laser graphics on screens dedicated to the rhythm of the music.

In the first three items, Manick's laser graphics were to introduce the dance with Swagata Banerji's narration. The other three (item 4, 5 and 6) Manick's laser art accompanied the the lyrics and the music of the dances. A thundering climate was created by lasers producing lightnings, rains across the entire stage for 'Puratani', a song by renowned vocalist Srilekha Bandyopadhyay. Lord Krishna was seen mostly playing flute as a peacock feather, who ulimately made himself visible in real figure and feet resting or enjoying in 'playing flute' position. In 'Utsav' (Festival) the dancers were seen dancing with the rhythm of music and the appropriate laser graphics on all the three screens. After 20 minutes break it was the performance by Guru Rina Jana.

Eyes of the Odissi dancer

In the beginning of the show when Manick Sorcar was introduced, he thanked all and briefly explained how graphics/animations were created with laser beams. At the end of the show he was invited on to the stage and was honored with a plaque award by 'Moksha Academy'. (More pictures and story coming).