Reviews

"Group presentations of Odissi had many representations. In terms of group symmetry, rehearsed smoothness of rendition, proficient dancers and costuming elegance, Nrutyayana's presentation of Panchadeva stuti was the high point in all that the festival had to offer. Guru Durga Charan Ranbir, who very justifiably has been awarded the SNA award this year, grows from strength to strength, his choreographic sense and ability to visualise the most powerful group arrangements making him one of the most gifted teacher/choreographers of Odissi today. Not the slightest sign of diffidence could be seen in any dancer throughout the long production with homage to Ganesa, Narayana, Siva, Devi and Soorya. The music by Samarendra Kundu was evocative while never losing the typical Odissi flavour. In a very professional troupe, Rahul Acharya's passing portrayal as Siva, reducing Manmatha to ashes, was quite unforgettable in its communicative incisiveness.”  
Leela Venkatraman, Shruti (India’s premier music and dance magazine), 6th May 2006.

"Strictly in the sabda/swara/patha approach of late Odissi Guru Debaprasad Das, awardee Durga Charan Ranbir's new sthai based on Ramahari's score featured two of his best male students, Rahul Acharya and Debashish Pattanaik. The duo combined immaculately in the rhythmic display, featuring Durgacharan's prolific inventiveness, the bhramaris clockwise and counter-clockwise and the chauka well etched. Poet Banamali's Oriya song "Mohane deli chahigo" in the rendition by Sangeeta Dash had that stillness in emotive depth she excels in. As for the dancer's Sooryashtakam set to Bairagi raga, Jati tala, it was all internalised power — nritta in alternating shades soft and vigorous, linking passages of prayerful quietude to the Sun God, with exemplary musical support.”  
Leela Venkatraman, The Hindu, 31st March 2006.


"Eclipsing all other fare with the sheer awe-inspiring geometry of group arrangements with simple but throbbing singing by Samarendra Kundu was the grand finale, Panchadeva Stuti by Nrutyayana, the choreography by Durgacharan Ranbir visualising the iconography and myth of Ganesha, Narayana, Devi, Shiva and Surya through magnificently intricate dance formations. In a sterling all-round performance, Rahul Acharya's fleeting depiction of Shiva's wrath against Kamadeva was searingly powerful.” 
Leela Venkatraman, The Hindu, 27th January 2006.


"Con gran éxito se presentó en el Teatro Balboa el grupo hindú "Odissi", brindando una presentación llena de cultura, magia, belleza, movimientos sensuales y mucha tradición. Este grupo está conformado por un joven junto a seis lindas bailarinas, además de cinco músicos y los intérpretes de las canciones. El maestro y gurú Durga Charan Ranbir deleitó al público con una representación de los nueve movimientos tradicionales, como lo son el amor, la valentía, la lástima, la sorpresa, la risa, el miedo, el disgusto, la rabia y la paz, que son las formas más frecuentes en las que se basa la danza. Durante la actividad cultural se interpretaron las diferentes danzas utilizando las técnicas y musicalización de Odissi. Una de las danzas se basó en la forma hindú de adorar al sol a través del ballet al estilo Odissi; que es la "Aditya Archana", pieza basada en una antigua tradición de rendir culto al sol. Esta resulta ser la primera prueba sobreviviente del culto a la naturaleza celebrado por los humanos, puesto que se considera que el sol es la esencia de la vida... "Nada puede ocurrir en la tierra sin que no sea tocado por los rayos solares". La misión del gurú Dugra Charan Ranbir es propagar el estilo de danza de su maestro, a través de sus estudiantes y sus discípulos, que es Rahul Acharya, el único hombre que baila con las bailarinas.”    
El Panama America – EPASA (Panamanian National Daily), 4th April 2004.


"For Guru Ranbir, Odissi is not just a vocation, but a mission to popularize his Guru Deba Prasad Das’ style. An apt pupil he concentrates on the maximum use of facial expressions as his Guru. ‘Nrutyayan’, an Odissi institute run by Guu Ranbir in Bhubaneswar, is a constant endeavour to enrich the style.” 
Indian Express, 21st January 2000.


"Durga Charan Ranbir’s compositions of expressional dance, reveal a delicate feel for the subtleties of abhinaya. In the Oriya song “Mohane deli chahigo” where Radha as an unawakened Mugdha heroine loses her hart to Krishna after a glimpse of him, the dances version incorporates fleeting moments of  a variety of emotions the nayika feels.”
Leela Venkatraman, The Hindu, 19th April 1996.