"The Grand Opening Ceremony",
Directed by Manick Sorcar
A Super Hit at the NABC-99, San Francisco |
Manick Sorcar with
Miss Universe Sushmita Sen at the NABC-99 |
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Manick Sorcar
was invited by the 19th
North American Bengali Conference committee to help them design
a stage with the state-of-the-art lighting and create and direct
a 'Grand
Opening Ceremony' that will be totally unique. And that's exactly
what Sorcar delivered.
Denver-based Manick Sorcar took time out of his busy schedule and
made at least two trips per month since February to San Francisco
to create a five-stage performing arena that is not only the first
of its kind in NABC history, but also in USA.
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| A full size 40-ft stage
was connected to two smaller stages on each side, with unique two
and three dimensional stage settings, stylized art work, intriguing
lighting - altogether representing a most artistic yet typical village
scene meeting the NABC-99 theme 'Sonar Bengal' or the Golden Bengal.
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The center stage of
the 5-Stage Performance Arena |
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Former Miss Universe
Sushmita Sen
acting in Grand Opening Ceremony |
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The stage settings with complex props, state-of-art
lighting with computer-operated Cyberscope-laser-ellipsoidals, and
corresponding stereophonic sound were specifically designed to give
a most unique effect to the "Grand Opening Ceremony",
also directed by Sorcar. |
| Former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen
acted as the Bengali Lady to light the evening lamp followed by
a sequence dances with corresponding popular songs which enhanced
the show. A total of 70 performers took part in the most unique
show which was liked by all. |
Palki Dance in Grand
Opening Ceremony,
Designed by Manick Sorcar |
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A Scene from the Grand Opening Ceremony
on Stage 2 |
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A Scene from The Grand Opening Ceremony on
Stage 4 |
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A Scene from the Grand
Opening Ceremony
on Stage 3 |
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INDIA WEST, the popular news-weekly of California
wrote:
"After a series of mercifully brief speeches,
however, the organizers redeemed themselves dramatically with what
must be ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR INAUGURAL EVENTS IN ANY INDIAN
MEET.
On a five-level stage, sets of dancers took turns performing in
each level to music which was so well sung and orchestrated that
it was hard to believe it was done by Bay Area artists - but it
was.
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To begin with, Denver-based Manick Sorcar's SUPERB
STAGE WAS A SIGHT TO BEHOLD. No flimsy props or makeshift banners
here. Sorcar had exquisitely hand painted all the rural icons so
dear to Bengalis - drummers here, a pair of village maidens seated
in a typical pose
with one doing the hair of the other, a boatman, tall palms, a billowing
paddy field, even two huts on two sides. Instead of
a standard 40 ft stage, all of this was set in a huge 120 ft.
five level stage that was quite a spectacle.
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Former Miss Universe
Sushmita Sen
acting in Grand Opening Ceremony |
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"Since childhood, I used to help my father in magic,"
Sorcar, who is the son of magician P.C. Sorcar, told India-West.
"I used to help in lighting. I became an engineer but I could
not forget my art."
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| NABC 5-Stage Performance Arena, Stage
1 |
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A Scene from the Grand
Opening Ceremony
on Stage 1 |
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Sorcar, who flew in at least twice
each month from Denver to coordinate his work, also directed the
inaugural show, with scores of dancers dividing into several groups,
each dancing to popular Bengali songs. Former Miss Universe Sushmita
Sen came on stage as a demure village belle to light the evening
lamp, and the event was rounded off with a patriotic D. L. Roy
song dear to all Bengalis "Dhano Dhanye Pushpe Bhara."......
The conference also featured a Manick Sorcar
Animation Festival . Sorcar was honored for his "Untiring
and Enthusiastic Efforts To Promote the Bengali Culture in North
America"
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