Experimental Choreographies: 1994
CHITRANGADA: THE WARRIOR PRINCESS
An ancient legend of love and war brought to life with Classical Orissi music, Tagore's songs, and Dance of India.
Produced by the Orissi module, adapted and directed by Ratna Roy, "Chitrangada" was a retelling of Tagore's breakthrough feminist dance drama. Act I opened with the King and Queen of Manipur praying for a son and receiving Chitrangada, a daughter. They rear her as a son. In Scene II, the princess, now the ruler of her kingdom, is out hunting in the forest with her friends, when she encounters the legendary hero, Arjuna, protagonist of the epic, Mahabharata. She falls in love. Dressed as a woman, Chitrangada offers herself to Arjuna in marriage. He refuses her on grounds of vowed celibacy. Although Chitrangada is in tears, the warrior in her is undefeated. She asks Madana, the God of Love, for the weapon she needs, Beauty, for one year.
Act II opens with a transformed Chitrangada marveling at her beauty, at feelings that she had never had before. Arjuna, entranced by her beauty, breaks his vow of celibacy and declares his pride in his manhood. Chitrangada's rival is now her own body, and she realizes the bitterness of her victory. She also watches her hero belittle himself. In desperation, she goes to Madana who assures her that she needs to play the game a while longer.
Arjuna also tires of this love when suddenly he encounters villagers getting ready to fight off marauders. He learns from them of the woman who rules Manipur, one who loves like a mother and fights like a tigress, a King. He longs to meet his equal. It is time for Chitrangada to return her "stolen" beauty to Madana.
In the last act, Chitrangada, the Warrior Princess, enters her own court and demands the right and power to be an equal in prosperity and adversity if Arjuna still wants to marry her. Arjuna accepts her on her own terms. There is a celebration.
The dance drama dealt with feminist issues and was performed later again in Tri-Cities, sponsored by the Asians of the area. This was also a breakthrough as two Evergreen students played Arjuna and the beautiful Chitrangada to acclaim. The Orissi program had come into its own.
