When Stones Begin To Dance: A Carlsbad Studio Brings ‘An Untold Saga’ To Life

Photo: Lycka Klickz by Sony

India-West News Desk

ESCONDIDO, CA – What might happen if the dancers carved into the walls of India’s ancient temples could step out of stone and move among us?

That question animated ‘An Untold Saga,’ a world premiere presented by RDM Studio on August 2 at the Grand Ritz Theater here, where nearly 400 people gathered for an evening that placed the centuries-old vocabulary of Odissi inside a contemporary theatrical landscape.

The production, the Carlsbad based RDM Studio’s fourth curated work, was performed by Artistic Director Nilanjana and her ensemble. Rather than treating classical dance as something confined to a historical frame, ‘An Untold Saga’ used Odissi as a starting point for exploring the meeting of sculpture, mythology, devotion and human experience.

Odissi was particularly suited to the idea. Known for its sculptural poses, lyrical movement and close ties to the temple traditions of Odisha, the form can make the dancer appear almost carved from stone before releasing that stillness into movement. That quality became central to the theatrical premise: figures inspired by India’s temples seemed to emerge from the past and acquire new life onstage.

The production was directed by Sukalyan Bhattacharya, who brought together choreography, lighting, multimedia and theatrical movement. His approach allowed the production to move beyond a conventional dance recital, creating a work in which stagecraft was part of the storytelling.

Yet beneath the modern presentation was an older artistic inheritance.

It was conceived by Nilanjana’s guru, Mitra Purkayastha, as a tribute to her own guru, Muralidhar Majhi. The production therefore carried more than a story from one generation to another. It carried a lineage of artistic training and interpretation — from guru to disciple, and eventually onto an American stage.