Press
Chitralekha is one of the foremost exponents of Odissi dancing worldwide
Regional Weekly News, September 7, 1988.
MVQKCI: Bhishma
"Just to identify the glorious aspects:-
the costume was befitting
the narration super
the cast very representative
the choreography excellent
the pyrotechnics noteworthy
the storyline natural"
N.R. Subramanian, President, Bharathi Kala Manram
"Bhishma, a compelling and outstanding performance."
New Generation, November 2003.
"It was real treat to see dancers enacting the story in Odissi style. Ellora is an excellent artist and the credit goes to her mother Chitralekha who is herself an expert in Odissi. The movements of the dancers were very agile and beautiful. Props like boat and ratha were used to give live effects to the show. So was the use of pyrotechnics to highlight the dramatic effects of war. Thus when the missile flew from Pandavas to Kauravas and vice versa they bursted showering fire as in B.R. Chopra's Mahabharata. Perhaps this was the first time such effects were used on the stage. The music and the colorful costumes from Orissa effectively heightened the show."
Meena Bhandari, CanIndia News, Friday, October 31, 2003.
"...I have no words to describe the beautiful Pallavi that came soon after. The highly sensuous, lyrical style, that is the hallmark of Odissi, was executed with great control and precision. The flowing intricate patterns were so exquisite, and matched with the complementary colours of the male & female dancers' attire, and combined with the appealing melody of Orissa, created a picture so vividly beautiful, that it excited and soothed at the same time. That such wondrous peotry in motion was due to the rigorous discipline of blancing the body in static poses and dynamic movements covering space in geometric patterns comes as a shock. Devraj and Ellora Patnaik were simply superb...The Mahabharata is not a new tale for most, but its presentation on stage, through the dance, and with the help of narration, projection, pyrotechnics and sound, made it unique. It was one of the most outstanding performances I have ever seen. Devraj Patnaik in the role of "Bhishma" was awe-inspiring. His passion, his dedication and his talent shone through his performance. Ellora as Krishna was amazing...the amazing co-ordination of light and sound with other special effects was near perfect."
Jasmine Sawant, India Observer, November 2003.
"The other commission is Pallavi Science in the Odissi dance style of South Asia performed by the stunning brother and sister Devraj and Ellora Patnaik, with Devraj doubling as choreographer and composer. Odissi is considered the most lyrical and sensual of the South Asian dance styles. The art form brings to life temple dance sculptures in a series of beautiful poses linked by intricate footwork and hand movements. Devraj's clever spin on this living sculpture is to elaborate on traditional Odissi movements-in other words, to make the dance more complicated and ornate, a concept embraced in the word "pallavi". The "science" part is anchored in the complex mathematics of the musical structure of the raaga, or specific number of beats of the music. The resulting dance is like watching Odissi in fast-forward. Traditional poses flash by like telephone poles from a passing car, while the siblings execute Devraj's demanding physicality with awesome speed. In short, Pallavi Science is a brilliant tour de force for the talented Patnaiks."
Paula Citron, Globe and Mail, Friday March 28, 2003.
"Toronto audiences are used to the electrifying performances of Ellora and Devraj, every time they enter the stage."
Kala magazine, Spring 2002.
"Not only did the dancing blow the pants off of any major musical I've seen in the last five years, the tranquility of the performances and the energy of the dancers made me question why this show was in the Hart House Theatre and not in the Royal Alex."
Richie Mehta, The Medium Online, November 2001.
"Devraj Patnaik May Be Tomorrow's Uday Shankar"
The Weekly Voice, November 2001.
"The young Adonis-like Guru Shri Devraj Patnaik has done his mother proud."
The Weekly Voice, November 2001.
"The continued applause at the end of the performance was a scene in itself to be remember[ed]. The audience applauded as the cast was on stage. And they continued for about ten minutes, not giving a chance to the cast leave the stage."
Renuka, South Asian Outlook, November 2001.
"Ellora and Devraj Patnaik of Burlington are a brother and sister team whose powerhouse duets are the maintstay of their company's repertoire. These are two of Canada's most accomplished Odissi dance artists: in India and the United States they are the marquee names that bring in the crowds."
Dance Current, March 10, 2001
"[Devraj Patnaik] is also a talented percussionist, and his musical mastery encompasses the entire field of Indian Classical music."
India-West, October 20, 2000.
"Ellora is regal, her face lit with joy, a statue come to life, a 2,000 year temple frieze that slithered off the wall."
The Hamilton Spectator January 27, 1998.
"Chitralekha torchbearers Ellora Patnaik and brother Devraj [have] after a lifetime of study have taken over the artistic business of the company from their mother and its founder, the world-famous Odissi master Chitralekha Patnaik."
Now Magazine, December 4, 1997
"It's the snake who is the charmer in Naga Mandala, at Tarragon Theatre through Aug 3. Not just the character of the King Cobra, but the spell-binding Odissi dancer who plays him, Devraj Patnaik."
Susan Walker, The Toronto Star, July 1997.