Deepa Singh of Odisha, a paramedic at the Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital, Baripada, in the Mayurbhanj district, has learned how to balance her art and her vocation. Despite the rigours of nursing, Singh manages to put in enough practice to excel at several dance forms – be it folk, contemporary, or Chhau.
This 23-year-old Munda tribal is especially attached to the latter and her teachers wax eloquent on her expertise too.
The Chhau dance of Mayurbhanj is an indigenous mix of dance and martial art, showcasing graceful moves from animal and bird mimicry to combat moves. Traditionally taught to male artists, but Singh is a rare woman adept at masculine techniques.
“Many girls can perform the 32 feminine techniques of Chhau,” says his proud mentor, Guru Lokanath Das. “But Deepa is one of the few who can do the 42 masculine techniques immaculately. Be it feminine-masculine Mahakali or the (completely) masculine Shiva Tandav, she shines and outshines others.”
Guru Loknath runs Baripada-based Uttarsahi Chhau Nritya Pratisthan and also trains Singh in folk dance.
At 23 years of age, Deepa is equally at home performing the intricate Chhau with contemporary or folk dance moves
Despite all the praise she gets, it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Singh. In 2010, her folk dance performance, Jhumar, at a district-level inter-school competition, was a complete washout.
Singh though refused to wallow in dejection, proved to be a huge hit at Jagadhatri Mela of Baripada very next year, with a rousing display of Shiv Tandav.
Singh was named Best Chhau Dancer at another district-level competition after this, but the string of successes culminated with her losing out in the semifinal of reality show Dance Odisha Dance in 2017. Her ‘Shiva Tandav’ performance at the state Sharagiphool festival next year also did not offer much solace.
In hindsight, Singh says, “My route at Sharagiphool 2017 was a blessing in disguise as I got noticed. My joy knew no bounds when I was invited to Sharagiphool 2018 as a guest.”
Singh’s teacher, Ratnakar Nayak of Radiance Dance Academy in Berhampur, Ganjam district, thinks very highly of Singh’s talents at the contemporary dance too. “I noticed a spark in her when she was a student of Baripada-based Ranibhole Government Girls’ High School,” he recollects. “I trained her for three years. Finally, she emerged adept in pure contemporary dance.”
Deepa Singh proved her guru right with her victory at the Adi Rani Tribal Queen, 2018, in Bhubaneswar.
Singh was overjoyed when Odia Society in London invited her, along with a 13-member dance troupe. To participate in its Silver Jubilee jamboree in 2020. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic put paid to those plans.
Nonetheless, this tribal girl remains sprightly. “I squeeze time out of my busy professional schedule to practice for one hour every evening. One day I will reach the zenith,” she vows, In the evening session. SH Shyam Kumar, Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (CCA), NER. Ministry of Finance Department of Revenue was the guest of honor.
The hosts were Temjen Imna Along, Minister for Tribal Affairs and Higher Education, and Pukhayi. Advisor for Food and Civil Supplies, Legal Metrology. And Consumer Protection and Taxes, Nagaland.
