Odissi dancer

An Odissi exponent

Odissi, also known as Orissi (Oriya: ଓଡ଼ିଶୀ oṛiśī, Devnagari:ओड़िसी), is one of the eight classical dance forms of India. It originates from the state of Orissa, in eastern India. It is the oldest surviving dance form of India on the basis of archaeological evidences.^[1][2] The classic treatise of Indian dance, Natya Shastra, refers to it as Odra-Magadhi. 1^st century BCE bas-reliefs in the hills of Udaygiri (near Bhubaneshwar) testify to its antiquity. It was suppressed under the British Raj, but has been reconstructed since India gained independence. It is particularly distinguished from other classical Indian dance forms by the importance it places upon the Tribhangi (literally: three parts break), the independent movement of head, chest and pelvis^[3][4] and upon the basic square stance known as Chauka or Chouka that symbolizes Lord Jagannath. This dance is characterized by various Bhangas (Stance), which involves stamping of the foot and striking various postures as seen in Indian sculptures. The common Bhangas are Bhanga, Abanga, Atibhanga and Tribhanga.

Origin and History[link]

Temple rituals of Jagannath Temple, Puri, included Odissi.

The first clear picture of Odissi dance is found in the Manchapuri cave in Udayagiri which was carved during the time of Emperor Kharavela. Flanked by two queens, Emperor Kharavela was watching a dance recital where a damsel was performing a dance in front of the court along with the company of female instrumentalists. Thus, Odissi can be traced back to its origin as secular dance. Later it got attached with the temple culture of Orissa. Starting with the rituals of Jagannath temple in Puri it was regularly performed in Shaivite, Vaishnavite and Sakta temples in Orissa. An inscription is found where it was engraved that a Devadasi Karpursri’s attachment to Buddhist monastery, where she was performing along with her mother and grandmother. It proves that Odissi first originated as a court dance. Later, it was performed in all religious places of Jainism as well as Buddhist monasteries. Odissi was initially performed in the temples as a religious offering by the Maharis who dedicated their lives in the services of God. It has the closest resemblance with sculptures of the Indian temples.^[5]

The history of Odissi dance has been traced to an early sculptures found in the Ranigumpha caves at Udaygiri (Orissa), dating to the 2^nd century BCE. Odissi appears to be the oldest classical dance rooted in rituals and tradition. In fact, the Natya Shastra refers to Odra-Magadhi as one of the Vrittis and Odra refers to Orissa.^[6]

Temple history[link]

In Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Orissa, Udayagiri Caves, Khandagiri Caves and Jain Caves are present which date back to the 2^nd century BCE, that served as a royal palace for Emperor Kharavela. It is suggested by scholars that Odissi is archaeologically the oldest Indian classical dance form due to sculptural evidence found in the caves. There are several sculptures of dancers and musicians in Konark Sun Temple and Brahmeswara temple in Bhubaneswar.

In the excavated ruins of the Buddhist Ratnagiri hills in Orissa, dating back to the 6^th thru 9^th centuries, several panels and icons of dance are found resembling present-day Odissi dance.

In the Tantric temples, such as the Hirapur Shrine, many of the yoginis especially are depicted in poses reminiscent of present day Odissi. When Orissa became a big centre of worship of Lord Shiva, it is only natural that dance would be used as a form of worship, since Lord Shiva was a master dancer himself. He is also known as Nataraj, the Cosmic Lord of Dance. The Shaivite temples of Bhubaneswar display innumerable sculptures in postures of Odissi. The Vaishnavite Temples such as Jagannath Temple and Konark Sun Temple abound with an array of dancing sculptures carved into the temple walls, giving testimony that a particular school of dancing had continued from the Shaivite art tradition to the Vaishnavite art form.

Manuscript evidence[link]

Sage Bharata's Natya Shastra, written in 2^nd century CE, speaks of four types of Pravrittis (local usages): Avanti, Dakshinatya, Panchali, and Odra Magadhi, and the areas where each type is employed. Some scholars have interpreted that Odra Magadhi is "the earliest literary reference" to Odissi.

Abhinaya Chandrika written by Maheshvara Mahapatra is a detailed study of the movements of the feet, hands, the standing postures, the movement and the dance repertoire. It includes illustrations of the Karanãs mentioned in NãtyaShãstra.

The illustrated manuscript Shilpaprakãsha deals with Oriya architecture and sculpture as well as the figures of dance. In this, one finds a elaborate analysis of the manner in which the salabhanjikãs or the feminine figures called the Alasa Kanyas are carved in the temple. The illustrations of Shilpaprakãsha reinforces the evidence of sculpture in temples.

A rather unexpected source, the Jain Manuscripts, especially the Kalpasutra and Kalkacharya Kathãs show traces of Oriya dance style although they were being executed in Gujarat. The marginal figures of dancers show women in poses and movements similar to the distinctive style of Odissi. For example, in one of the famous illustrated Jain Manuscripts called the Devasanpada Kalpasutra (1501, Jamnagar), there is depiction of the Samapada, the Tribhangi and the Chuaka.

This shows that there was a great deal of mobility between east and west and many migrations took place. According to some historians, there were groups of dancers who were brought to Puri from Gujarat and Andhra.

Mughal and British period[link]

During the Mughal rule of India, the duties of the Maharis (the temple dancers) shifted, as they were employed to entertain the royal family and courtiers in the royal courts. They became associated with concubinage in respect to the king and ceased to be respected solely as servants to Lord Jagannath. Although the British have helped India in several ways, a decline and degradation occurred in all the Indian Classical dance styles during the British period, especially when a bill was passed prohibiting temple dancing. Most of these dancers, losing their well-deserved place in society, were forced to prostitution to survive in the changing climate of political and cultural oppression of the British.

Tradition and dancers[link]

Odissi pose at Konark Sun Temple

The Odissi tradition existed in three schools: Mahari, Nartaki, and Gotipua.

• Maharis were Oriya devadasis or temple girls, their name deriving from Maha (great) and Nari or Mahri (chosen) particularly those at the temple of Jagganath at Puri. Early Maharis performed mainly Nritta (pure dance) and Abhinaya (interpretation of poetry) based on Mantras and Slokas. Later, Maharis especially performed dance sequences based on the lyrics of Jayadev's Gita Govinda. Bhitari Gauni Maharis were allowed in the inner temple while Bahari Gauni Maharis, though in the temples, were excluded from the sanctum sanctorum.
• By the 6^th century, the Gotipua tradition was emerging. One of the reasons given for the emergence of Gotipuas is that Vaishnavas did not approve of dancing by women. Gotipuas were boys dressed up as girls and taught the dance by the Maharis. During this period, Vaishnava poets composed innumerable lyrics in Oriya dedicated to Radha and Krishna. Gotipuas danced to these compositions and gradually stepped out of the precincts of the temples.
• Nartaki dance took place in the royal courts, where it was much cultivated before the British period. At that time the misuse of devadasis came under strong attack, so that Odissi dance withered in the temples and became unfashionable at court. Only the remnants of the Gotipua school remained, and the reconstruction of the style required an archaeological and anthropological effort that has tended to foster a conservative purism.^[7]

Mahari Tradition[link]

The consecration of females to the service of temple dancing began in the Shaivite temples and continued in the Jagannath temple in service of the Lord Jagannath. These attendants have been known as Maharis (great women) or Devadasis (servants of the lord), and have been considered the wives of Lord Jagannath. Odissi developed through their art.

The first evidence of the Mahari institution in Orissa comes from a commemorative inscription by Udyota Kesari, the last King of the dynasty. In the 10^th century the King’s mother, Kolavati Devi, dedicated temple dancers to Lord Shiva in the Brahmeswara Temple.

Raja Anantavarma Chodagangadeva appointed dancing girls for ritual services in the Jagannatha temple in the 11^th century, and these Maharis were the ones responsible for keeping the dance alive for centuries. Through the technique of unequal division of weight and firm footwork balancing a fluid upper torso, the dancer achieves a sensuality that is uncommon in other classical dance styles. Some eminent Mahari dancers are Moni Mahari, Dimmi (Domi) Mahari, Dungri Mahari (Harapriya), and Padmashri Guru Pankaj Charan Das.

Gotipua tradition[link]

In the Oriya language Gotipua means single boy. Gotipua dance is performed only by boys who dress up as females. During the rule of King Prataprudra Dev, who was a follower of Sri Chaityana, renewed this dancing tradition by boys, as the Vaishnavas did not approve of dances by females.^[8]

Dance vocabulary and repertoire[link]

Odissi group performance

Odissi group performance

Traditional Odissi repertoire consists of:

Mangalacharana

An invocation piece. After paying homage to Lord Jagannath a shloka (hymn) in praise of some God or Goddess is sung, the meaning of which is brought out through dance. Mangalacharan also includes the Bhumi Pranam (salutation to Mother Earth) which is offered to Mother Earth as a way of begging forgiveness for stamping on her and the Trikhandi Pranam or the three-fold salutation - above the head to the Gods, in front of the face to the gurus and in front of the chest to the audience.

Battu Nrutya

Also known as Sthayee Nrutya or Batuka Bhairava (Furious Dance) it is performed in the honor of Lord Shiva- the cosmic Lord of Dance. It is one of the 64 furious-aspects of Lord Shiva known. The origin of dance is believed to be from Tantrism that had flourished in Orissa. Linga Purana and Mahanirvanatantra give an elaborate description of Batuka Bhairava in three aspects, and the results of their worship have also been explained elaborately in the texts. Battu Nrutya is an item of pure Nrutya (Dance)and remains the most difficult item of Odissi dance. The dance begins with a series of sculpturesque poses depicting such actions as the playing of a Veena (Lute), Mardala or Pakhawaj (Drum), Karatala (Cymbals) and Venu (Flute), that brings out the interrelationships between this dance and the dance sculptures adorning the temples of Orissa. These poses are stringed together with steps in different rhythms. There is no song or recitation accompanying the dance, but throughout the item a refrain of rhythmic syllables is provided. The accompanying refrain is in the form of one line of Ukuta and as this is recited in the Tala, different Jathi-patterns are improvised and are executed with the feet. Some Tala variations are introduced and each sequence of the dance terminates with a Tehdi known as Katam. The last sequence is always in Jhula Pahapata Tala and is performed with a fast tempo.

Pallavi

A pure dance item in which a raga is elaborated through eye movements, body postures & intricate footwork. Pallavi literally means “blossoming”. This is applicable not only to the dance, but also to the music, which accompanies it. Pallavi starts with slow, graceful & lyrical movements of the eyes, neck, torso & feet & slowly builds in a crescendo to climax in a fast tempo at the end. Both the dance and the music evolve in complexity as the dancer traces multiple patterns in space, interpreting the music dexterously in the multilayered dimensions of taal (rhythm) and laya (speed).

Abhinaya

An expressional dance which is an enactment of a song or poetry, where a story conveyed to the audience through mudras (hand gestures), bhavas (facial expression), eye movement and body movement. The dance is fluid, very graceful, and sensual. Abhinaya can be performed on verses in Sanskrit or Oriya language. The verses are extremely ornate in content and suggestion. Most common are Abhinayas on Oriya songs or Sanskrit Ashthapadis or Sanskrit stutis like Dasavatar Stotram (depicting the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu) or Ardhanari Stotram. Most of the Abhinaya compositions are based on the Radha-Krishna theme. The Astapadis of the kãvya Gita Govinda written by the Saint Jayadev are an integral part of its repertoire. The beginning pieces are dedicated to Lord Jagannath - an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.^[9]

Dance drama

Usually longer than Abhinaya and typically performed by more than one dancers. Some of the much appreciated dance dramas composed by Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra are: Sudama Dharitra Bhanjana, Mathamani Pradhana, Balya Leela, Rutu Samhara, Krishna Sudama, Dushmanta Sakuntala, Utkala Mauda Mani, Yagnaseni, Meghadoot, Kumara Sambhava, Sapan Nayaka. Usually Hindu mythologies are chosen as themes, but experimenting with the theme and form in recent years have led to extremely unique creations. Some worth-mentioning themes in recent years are Panchakanya, Ganga Yamuna, Chitrangadaa, Shrita Kamalam, Mrutyuh, Tantra, Padapallavam, and Raavana.

Moksha

The concluding item of a recital. Moksha means “spiritual liberation”. This dance represents a spiritual culmination for the dancer who soars into the realm of pure aesthetic delight. Movement and pose merge to create ever new patterns, ever new designs in space and time. The dance moves onto a crescendo that is thrilling to both, the eye and the ear. With the cosmic sound of the “Om”, the dance dissolves into nothingness — just like Moksha or the deliverance of the soul in real life.

Odissi terminology[link]

Sharmila Biswas performing Odissi in a dance festival in Kerala

Alap

It is the opening section of a typical Indian classical performance. It is unmetered, improvised (within the raga) and unaccompanied (except for the drone of the Tanpura), and is started at a slow tempo.

Anadha

Hide category of the 4 musical divisions, e.g. Mardala or Pakhawaj (Drum), Tabla, and Mridangam.

Asanjukta Dhvanis

Sound created by striking the Mardala or Pakhawaj (Drum) with one hand.

Avartan(a)

One complete cycle of a taal.

Bani

Odissi term used to describe the spoken drum neumonics. During dance performances Bani are spoken by the percussionist or the guru.

Bhaga

In taal, this would be the groups the taal is divided into. Also the points on which the tali, or khali would be. e.g., Adital (Odissi) is divided into 4 groups of 4 beats. It is said that Adital has 4 Bhago. These are the measures. Odissi music term.

Bhajan

It is any type of Indian devotional song. It has no fixed form: it may be as simple as a Mantra or Kirtan or as sophisticated as the Dhrupad or Kriti with music based on classical Ragas and Talas. It is normally lyrical, expressing love for the Divine.

Chanda

In tal, this would be how the divisions of the tal are divided. e.g., in Adital (Odissi), the sixteen beats are divided into 4 groups of 4. So the Chanda for Adital is 4 + 4 + 4 + 4. This describes what the Bhagas are.

Devadasis

They were the original temple dancers who were "Servitress of God". They were dedicated to a deity or a temple. Apart from taking care of the temple and performing various rituals, these women learned and practiced Odissi dance, for dance and music were an essential part of temple worship. They enjoyed a high social status.

Gita Govinda

Poet Jayadev's famous work depicting the relationship of Radha, Krishna and Gopis in Vrindavan. Themes from this work have a great significance towards the classical arts of India.

Goti

These are barrel-shaped tension pegs made of wood which adorn the Mardala or Pakhawaj (Drum). The straps (Pitha) connecting the two apertures of the Mardala run over them. These pegs can be moved to either increase or decrease the tension of the leather membranes covering the two apertures of the Mardala and are useful in tuning it.

Gotipua

Young boys trained in the fine art of Odissi dance. The Gotipuas were allowed to leave the temple and dance for the public. The current form of Odissi is heavily influenced by the Gotipua tradition (and also the temple carvings from Orissa.)

Khanda Ukutta

When bani and ukuttas are formed together to make phrases. e.g., Kititaka gadigana. Odissi term.

Mana

The ending sequence that is repeated to designate that the ending of the piece or of a section. Typically in 3 repeats. Odissi term. People in Orissa inter change Tihai and Mano. But they mean the same.

Maharis or Devadasis

The original temple dancers of Orissa, but now extinct. This is the root of Odissi dance that was later taught to young boys, Gotipuas. The style is now modernized and work is being done to preserve it.^[10]

Odissi music[link]

Odissi dance is accompanied by Odissi music, a synthesis of four classes of music,^[11][12] i.e. Dhruvapada, Chitrapada, Chitrakala and Panchal. The Dhruvapada is the first line or lines to be sung repeatedly. Chitrapada means the arrangement of words in an alliterative style. The use of art in music is called Chitrakala. Kavisurya Baladeva Rath, the renowned Oriya poet wrote lyrics, which are the best examples of Chitrakala. All of these were combined to form the style that's peculiar to Odissi music.

Chhanda (metrical section) contains the essence of Odissi music. The Chhandas were composed by combining Bhava (theme), Kala (time), and Swara (tune). The Chaurisha represents the originality of Odissi style. All the thirty four (34) letters of the Oriya alphabet from 'Ka' to 'Ksha' are used chronologically at the beginning of each line.

A special feature of Odissi music is the padi which consists of words to be sung in Druta Tala (fast beat). Odissi music can be sung to different talas: Navatala (nine beats), Dashatala (ten beats) or Egartala (eleven beats). Odissi ragas are different from the ragas of Hindustani and Karnataki classical music. The primary Odissi ragas^[11][12] are Kalyana, Nata, Shree Gowda, Baradi, Panchama, Dhanashri, Karnata, Bhairavee and Shokabaradi.

Odissi music is sung through Raganga, Bhabanga and Natyanga Dhrubapadanga followed by Champu, Chhanda, Chautisa, Pallabi, Bhajan, Janana, and Gita Govinda, which are considered to be a part of the repertoire of Odissi or an allied act form of Odissi.

Odissi music has codified grammars, which are presented with specific Raagas. It has also a distinctive rendition style. It is lyrical in its movement with wave-like ornamentation. The pace of singing in Odissi is not very fast nor too slow, and it maintains a proportional tempo which is very soothing.

Costume and Jewelry[link]

See also: Tarakashi, Sambalpuri Saree and Bomkai Saree

The jewelry is made from intricate filigree silver jewelry pieces. Filigree, in French, means "thin wire", and in Oriya it is called Tarakasi. This highly skilled art form is more than 500 years old and is traditionally done by local artisans on the eastern shores of Orissa.^[13] The process of creating each piece takes the collaboration of many artisans each specialized in one step of the many that turns a lump of raw silver into a handcrafted work of art.

The jewelry pieces are an important part of the female Odissi dancer’s costume. The hair is drawn into an elaborate bun on which the Tahiya is placed. The Seenthi is a jewelry piece placed on the hair and forehead. The dancers face is adorned with Tikka (decorations made by hand with sandalwood paste), Mathami or Matha Patti (forehead ornament), Allaka (head piece on which the tikka hangs), unique ear covers called Kapa in intricate shapes usually depicting a peacock’s feathers, an ear chain, Jhumkas (bell shaped earrings), a short necklace, and a longer necklace with a hanging pendant.

The dancer wears a pair of armlets also called Bahichudi or Bajuband, that is worn on the upper arm. They wear a pair of Kankana (bangles) at the wrist. At the waist they wear an elaborate belt made of silver or similar materials that's silver plated. They wear a pair of ankle bells (numerous small bells strung together on a single string) tied around their ankles. The dancer's palms and soles are painted with red colored dye called the Alta.

The Odissi Costume

The crown or Mukoot or Mookut, worn by the Odissi dancer is made only in the devotional city of Puri in Eastern Orissa. It is formed from the dried reeds called Sola in a tradition called Sola Kama. The reed is carved by a series of cuts into the rod-like stem and forms various types of flowers when a string is tied in the middle of the rod and pulled tight. As the string is tightened, the flowers shape into Jasmines, Champa (one of the five flowers of Lord Krishna’s arrows), and Kadamba (the flowers of the tree under which Radha would wait for her beloved Lord Krishna).

The Mukoot consists of two parts i.e. Ghoba and Tahiya. The flower decorated back piece, called the Ghoba, sits around the dancer’s hair pulled into a bun at the back of the head. This piece represents the Lotus flower with a thousand petals that lies above the head in the head Chakra, or energy center. The longer piece that emerges from the center of the back piece is called the Tahiya, and this represents the temple spire of Lord Jagannath or the flute of Lord Krishna.

The Saree worn by Odissi dancers are generally coloured with bright shades of orange, purple, red or green. These sarees are characterized by features of traditional prints of Orissa, special borders, intricate designs and a shiny embellishment. This costume is drapped around the body in unique traditional way unlike other classical dance forms of India. Sambalpuri Saree and Bomkai Saree are preferred in Odissi dance over other type of Sarees. "Stitched costumes" are popular with the younger generation for its convenience and is composed of five pieces, that includes angrakha, blouse, pyjama, etc. These costumes are created by making use of the Sambalpuri and Bomkai saree materials.

The makeup of an Odissi dancer includes Bindi (red dot), applied on the forehead with a pattern made from sandalwood around it, Kajal (black eyeliner), applied around the eyes with a broad outline to give them an elongated look, among others.

Odissi gurus and performers[link]

Padma Vibushan Kelucharan Mohapatra, Guru Pankaj Charan Das, Guru Deba Prasad Das and Guru Raghunath Dutta were the four major gurus who revived Odissi in the late forties and early fifties. Sanjukta Panigrahi, the great exponent of Odissi, was a leading disciple of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra's and popularized Odissi by performing extensively, both in India and abroad. In the mid-sixties, two other disciples of Kelucharan Mohapatra, Kumkum Mohanty and Sonal Mansingh, were best known for their performances, both in India and abroad. Shrimati Laximipriya Mohapatra performed a piece of Odissi abhinaya in the Annapurna Theatre in Cuttack in 1948. This is widely upheld as the first ever performance of a classical Odissi dance item after its contemporary revival.^[14] Padma Shri Mayadhar Raut also played a major role in giving Odissi dance its classical status. He introduced Mudra Vinyoga in 1955 and Sancharibhava in the Odissi dance items, and presented on stage the enchanting Gita Govinda Ashthapadis, portraying Shringara Rasa. His notable compositions include Pashyati Dishi Dishi and Priya Charu Shile, composed in 1961.^[15][16]

Most of the present day gurus were Gotipua dancers themselves, and have trained dancers and teachers all over India and abroad. In the early fifties, the outside world began to take note of Odissi. Priyambada Mohanty Hejmadi and Dr. Susama Tej represented Orissa in the classical dance category at the Inter University Youth Festival, New Delhi, in 1954 and 1955. It was here that Dr. Charles Fabri witnessed their performances, hailed Odissi as a great classical dance form, and helped Indrani Rehman and Sonal Mansingh study it. Sadly, Priyambada Mohanty Hejmadi left for the US for 16 long years, where she hardly performed, barring a recital or two here and there. She returned to India only in the mid-nineteen seventies, by which time well known dancers had already occupied a permanent and prominent space on the Odissi horizon, and by which time Odissi had evolved considerably. The baton in India was wielded gloriously, and with outstanding success and public acclaim, by Sanjukta Panigrahi, Kumkum Mohanty and Sonal Mansingh, each of whom was a major and distinctive star.

Kelucharan Mohapatra, Pankaj Charan Das, Deba Prasad Das, Raghunath Dutta, Bandana Das, Cuckoo Meena Mohanty, Dr. Nandita Samuel, Kumkum Mohanty, Mayadhar Raut, Minati Misra, Oopali Operajita, Protima Bedi, Ritha Devi, Sanjukta Panigrahi, Sonal Mansingh and Surendranath Jena contributed notably to the propagation of Odissi, starting in the fifties, right up to the eighties and nineties: the golden years of the Odissi renaissance.

Eminent contemporary gurus and performers in alphabetic order include Aloka Kanungo, Alpana Nayak, Anandi Ramachandran, Aruna Mohanty, Bichitrananda Swain, Bijayini Satpathy, Chitralekha Patnaik, Daksha Mashruwala, Dibakar Khuntia, Dipanwita Roy, Dr. Bidisha Mohanty, Durga Charan Ranbir, Gangadhar Pradhan, Gita Mahalik, Harekrishna Behra, Ileana Citaristi, Jhelum Paranjape, Jyoti Rout, Kasturi Pattanaik, Kiran Segal, Kumkum Lal, Madhavi Mudgal, Madhumita Raut[2], Manoranjan Pradhan, Meera Das, Muralidhar Majhi, Nandita Behera, Natabar Maharana, Oopali Operajita, Poushali Mukherjee, Ramani Ranjan Jena, Ramli Ibrahim, Ranjana Gauhar, Ratikant Mohapatra, Ratna Roy, Sharmila Biswas, Sharmila Mukherjee, Sharon Lowen, Snehaprava Samantaray, Sonal Mansingh, Sri Mahdeva Raut, Srinath Raut, Sujata Mohapatra, Surupa Sen, Sutapa Talukdar, Trinath Maharana and several others around the world.

Some of the upcoming Odissi performers in alphabetic order are Aadya Kaktikar, Arushi Mudgal, Ayona Bhaduri, Bani Ray, Bijay Sahoo, Devraj Patnaik, Ellora Patnaik, Kaustavi Sarkar, Kavita Dwivedi, Lingaraj Pradhan, Madhusmita Mohanty, Masako Ono, Niharika Mohanty, Pabitra Kumar Pradhan, Priyadarshini Roy, Puspita Mishra, Rahul Acharya, Rajashree Chintak Behera, Rajashri Praharaj, Rajika Puri, Ramesh Chandra Jena, Rekha Tandon, Sandhyadipa Kar, Saswat Joshi, Saswati Garai-Ghosh, Shibani Patnaik, Shipra Avantica Mehrotra, Shreelina Ghosh, Sonali Mishra, Sreyashi Dey, Swapnokalpa Dasgupta, Vishnu Tattwa Das, Yudhistir Nayak and several others around the world.

Odissi in Popular & Mainstream Culture[link]

In Guinness World Records[link]

Guinness World Records - Participation certificate in the largest Odissi dance event

Guinness World Records has acknowledged the feat of the largest congregation of Odissi dancers in a single event. 555 Odissi dancers performed at the event hosted on 23^rd of Dec, 2011, in the Kalinga stadium, Bhubaneswar, Orissa. The dancers performed the Mangalacharan, Battu, Pallavi, Abhinay and Mokshya dance items from the Odissi repertoire. ^{[17][18][19][20]}

In India[link]

1993: Dressed in a resplendent orange sanyasin dhoti (probably inspired by the Mayurbhanj Chau costume worn in Shiva Tandava items), renowned bollywood actress Meenakshi Sheshadri danced a tandava item, composed chiefly in Odissi, in the film Damini – Lightning.

1996: Renowned bollywood actress Rekha was seen imparting Odissi dance lessons (Shikhandika pose) to a group of young learners, while Indira Varma was shown learning Odissi steps to the accompaniment of the mardala in Mira Nair's magnum opus film Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love.

2003: Renowned bollywood actress Rani Mukherjee performed a dance at the International Indian Film Academy Awards function dressed in Odissi costume and a number of celebrated Odissi gurus and performers expressed their disapproval for insulting the integrity of the dance and the costume.^[21]

2007: An entire sequence of dance in Odissi costume was featured near the end of the bollywood movie Bhool Bhulaiyaa and was performed by bollywood actress Vidya Balan and Malayalam actor Vineeth.

2009: Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, who took Odissi lessons for an India-China joint film venture, The Desire loosely based on the life of Odissi dancer Protima Gauri Bedi.

Outside India[link]

1991: A short (23 second) Odissi dance scene was featured in Michael Jackson's music video of Black or White. The legendary pop-singer and dancer from Sri Lanka named Jamuna, performs some Odissi, too.^[22] Jamuna was a disciple of Odissi exponent Gangadhar Pradhan. ^[23]

1998: Madonna danced along with Odissi dancers live on stage during the 1998 MTV Award ceremony. US-based Odissi performers, Patnaik Sisters, were chosen to choreograph and perform alongside the legendary pop artist.

Further reading[link]

• Odissi : What, Why and How… Evolution, Revival and Technique, by Madhumita Raut. Published by B. R. Rhythms, Delhi, 2007. ISBN 81-88827-10-X.
• Odissi Yaatra: The Journey of Guru Mayadhar Raut, by Aadya Kaktikar (ed. Madhumita Raut). Published by B. R. Rhythms, Delhi, 2010. ISBN 978-81-88827-21-3.
• Odissi Dance, by Dhirendranath Patnaik. Published by Orissa Sangeet Natak Akademi, 1971.
• Odissi - The Dance Divine, by Ranjana Gauhar and Dushyant Parasher. Published by Niyogi Books, 2007. ISBN 81-89738-17-8.
• Odissi, Indian Classical Dance Art: Odisi Nritya, by Sunil Kothari, Avinash Pasricha. Marg Publications, 1990. ISBN 81-85026-13-0.
• Perspectives on Odissi Theatre, by Ramesh Prasad Panigrahi, Orissa Sangeet Natak Akademi. Published by Orissa Sangeet Natak Akademi, 1998.
• Abhinaya-chandrika and Odissi dance, by Maheshwar Mahapatra, Alekha Chandra Sarangi, Sushama Kulshreshthaa, Maya Das. Published by Eastern Book Linkers, 2001. ISBN 81-7854-010-X.
• Rethinking Odissi, by Dinanath Pathy. Published by Harman Pub. House, 2007. ISBN 81-86622-88-8.

See also[link]

• Indian Classical Dance
• Ghungroo
• Odissi music
• Gotipua

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Odissi

• Odissi dance at the Open Directory
• Classical Indian Dance Portal: Odissi Page
• Classical Indian Dance Portal
• Mahari and Gotipua tradition
• History of Odissi
• Costume of Odissi dance
• Historical evidences on Odissi
• Odissi dance jewelry
• Gotipua Dance Gurukul
• Indraadhanush- Odissi Center of Excellence
• Mayadhar Raut School of Odissi Dancing

Sharon Lowen is a renowned Odissi dancer, trained since 1975 by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. She has performed and choreographed for film and television and presented hundreds of concerts throughout India, North America, Asia, Africa, the United Kingdom. and the Middle East. Sharon came to India in 1973 after degrees in Humanities, Fine Arts, Asian Studies and Dance from the University of Michigan as a Fulbright Scholar to study Manipuri and later Chhau and Odissi.

Early life[link]

Sharon Lowen grew up in Detroit, USA, where her father was a chemical engineer and her mother a clinical psychologist. She trained in modern dance, Cecchetti ballet and classes at the Detroit Institute of Arts in puppetry, mime and theater since childhood, was a member of the Detroit Puppetry Guild, Puppeteers of America and UNIMA, performed with George Latshaw’s puppets for the Detroit and Cleveland symphony orchestras and Jim Henson offered her an apprenticeship with the Muppets which was declined to accept a Fulbright scholarship to India.

Indian family friends introduced her to Indian culture at an early age and her academic career at Michigan gave an exposure to Asian arts that nudged her toward India. Through the U of Michigan Honors College she created a triple-major BA in Humanities, Fine arts and Asian Studies. Studies in ethnomusicology, Indian art history, Indian history and religion with Professors William Malm, Walter Spink, John Broomfield and Padmanabhan Jaini, respectively as well as Manipuri dance with Minati Basu Roy encouraged her pursuit of an opportunity for deeper study of classical traditions in India. Social activism led to becoming the first freshman elected to the U of M Student Government Council.

Following her Bachelors degree in Humanities, Fine Arts, Asian Studies and an M.A. in Education and Dance, Lowen arrived in India on a Fulbright scholarship in 1973 to continue Manipuri dance with Guru Singhajit Singh at Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi. With extension and renewal of the Fulbright to 1975, she also trained in Mayurbhanj Chhau under Guru Krushna Chandra Naik, Odissi under Guru kelucharan Mohapatra, Manipuri Pala Cholam under Guru Thangjam Chaoba Singh and Manipuri Maibi Jagoi under Gurus Ranjana Maibi, Kumar Maibi and R.K. Achoubi Sana Singh.

Career[link]

scholar, teacher, performing artist and cinema[link]

Sharon Lowen has dedicated her life to presenting and promoting excellence in Indian performing arts. Sharon is hailed today as one of the leading international performing artists of three forms of Indian dance: Odissi, Chhau and Manipuri. Sharon has made her home in India since 1973 to dedicate herself to her work as an artist and to promote education in the arts.

Her accomplishment in a place where foreign exponents of indigenous dance forms are rarely taken seriously. But once Lowen came to India 25 years ago and devoted herself to Indian classical dance, her tenacity and perfectionism have earned the respect of audiences and critics alike in her adopted country.

She portrayed a real life character in Indian Cinema, in a Telugu film - Swarnakamalam which means "Golden Lotus". The film was directed by K. Viswanath. In the film she over-looks the lead actress public dancing performance and gets disturbed by the way she looses her focus on dance and involved in other things like posing for a photographer, etc. and the next day Sharon Lowen performs an Odissi dance and mesmerizes the audience in the film.^[1]

Odissi[link]

The renowned Odissi dancer has assimilated and internalised Indian art and culture to the extent that she is more Indian than many of us. During the last 25 years, she has brought out the exquisite grace of Odissi through her performances in India and abroad. … Abhinaya is her strength, and she performs Odissi without altering even an iota of its form or style.Odissi is considered a sensuous style because of its emphasis upon rounded movements. Miss Lowen conveyed this sensuousness by her entrance in her opening solo of invocation.

Odissi dancer Sharon Lowen mesmerized (the)audience … Ludhiana Sanskritik Samagam. She has served as a visiting professor in various Indian and US universities and presented several lecture-demonstrations at universities, schools, museums and art centres. She not only teaches Odissi but also conducts workshops in Chhau and Manipuri dance. She is the first woman soloist of a previously all-male form, responsible for introducing Mayurbhanj Chhau to the United States at the 1978 Asian Dance Festival in Hawaii and later at the Olympic Arts Festival of Masks in Los Angeles and is singularly responsible for getting Chhau presented on Doordarshan' s National Broadcasts.

Seraikella Chhau[link]

Sharon Lowen… has had an immense impact on Chhau and has promoted its inclusion in arts education, both at national and international levels. She is responsible for introducing Mayurbhanj Chhau to the United States at the 1978 Asian Dance Festival in Hawaii and later at the Olympic Arts Festival of Masks in Los Angeles and also its presentation on Indian national television broadcasts. Sharon Lowen has been responsible in making Chhau popular in the West, which is making a difference in the awareness of the local history in the regions of Seraikela.

Mayurbhanj Chhau[link]

Guru Krushna Chandra Naik, Sharon Lowen, Guru Ramani Ranjan Mohanta are some of the big names associated with Mayurbhanj Chhau dance. They have made Chhau dance popular throughout the world.

Manipuri[link]

“Sharon has a mature technique and a fine understanding of the sort of physical and emotional restraint that characterizes Manipuri.” Ref 37: Shanta Serbjeet Singh, “Young American Dancers,” The Hindustan Times (April 22, 1978) from p. 157 The great encounter: a study of Indo-American literature and cultural relations,Raj Kumar Gupta - 1986 - History - 276 pages

She has also choreographed and performed Odissi dance in Telugu, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi as well as Sanskrit and Oriya for performances and festivals around India, Doordarshan National Indian Television, and internationally .

Filmography[link]

• Swarnakamalam - Telugu

References[link]

• http://www.nytimes.com/1985/12/18/arts/dance-sharon-lowen-s-india-style.html
• http://www.museindia.com/viewarticle.asp?myr=2006&issid=5&id=174
• http://michigantoday.umich.edu/99/Spr99/mt4s99a.html
• http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/05/10/stories/2005051000520100.htm
• http://etd.ohiolink.edu/send-pdf.cgi/Mehta%20Gouri%20Nilakantan.pdf?miami1091823201
• http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2057236
• http://www.bhutanstudies.org.bt/main/fullpaper.php
• www.jstor.org/stable/1124538
• http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080121/ldh1.htm
• http://international.zeenews.com/inner1.asp?aid=194158&sid=HEL
• http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99jan17/sunday/view.htm
• http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Borders-no-Bar/475804/
• www.sharonlowen.com/reviews.htm
• http://www.ns.umich.edu/MT/99/Spr99/mt4s99a.html
• www.sai.uni-heidelberg.de/pub/b101-150.php
• http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=sharon+lowen&x=17&y=18
• http://www.flipkart.com/performing-arts-india-sharon-lowen/8187226943-dw23fvm6ke
• http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/214158?lookfor=subject:%22India%20-%20History%20-%201947-%22&offset=7&max=129
• http://www.sharonlowen.com/profile.htm Official website
• The Dance of Discovery http://www.ns.umich.edu/MT/99/Spr99/mt4s99a.html
• http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/05/10/stories/2005051000520100.htm
• http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/borders-no-bar/476542/
• www.harmonyindia.org/hportal/VirtualPageView.jsp?page
• www.kavitachhibber.com/main/main.jsp?id=senders –

Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra (Oriya: ଗୁରୁ କେଳୁଚରଣ ମହାପାତ୍ର) (January 8, 1926 - April 7, 2004) was an Indian classical dancer, guru and proponent of Odissi dance, who is credited for the revival of the classical dance form in the 20th century.^[2] A Noted Sanskrit poet of India writes on this Guru 'that Saango-paanga-subhangi-laasa-madhuram samteerna-nrutyaarnavam' which means - Each fraction of his dancing body leads to paramount sweetness through the miraculous pose and postures. In fact, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra crossed the ocean of styles.^[3]

Awards[link]

• Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, 1966
• Padma Shri, 1972
• Padma Bhushan, 1989
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, 1991
• Padma Vibhushan, 2000
• Kalidas Samman from Madhya Pradesh government

Quotes[link]

• "Odissi is not a mere dance form to entertain people but to inspire and elevate. I don't actually dance but pray in compassion and the spectators say that this `form' is dancing." ^[4]
• ""The real dance must convey the feeling of undivided existence, that a spectator can feel that he is not different from the thing observed".^[4]

Further reading[link]

A temple dedicated to Kelucharan Mohapatra at Nrityagram Dance Community, near Bangalore.

• The Making of a Guru: Kelucharan Mohapatra, His Life and Times, by Ileana Citaristi. Published by Manohar, 2001. ISBN 81-7304-369-8.
• The Dancing Phenomenon: mad boy, by Sharon Lowen, Kelucharan Mohapatra, Avinash Pasricha. Lustre Press, Roli Books, 2001. ISBN 81-7436-179-0.

References[link]

1. ^ Remembering the maestro Leela Venkatraman, The Hindu, April 15, 2005.
2. ^ DANCE REVIEW; Sculptural And Sensual, It's Odissi by Anna Kisselgoff, New York Times, October 19, 2000.
3. ^ http://www.srjan.com/guruji.aspx
4. ^ ^{a b} "Glimpses of eternity". The Hindu (Chennai, India). April 7, 2006. http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/04/07/stories/2006040701270300.htm. 

External links[link]

• mad boy profile from www.odissidance.com
• [1]
• Homage to a Guru at Rediff.com

Video links

• mad boy - Orissi dance - Gita Govinda
• Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra - Geeta Govinda
• Dancer Madhavi Mudgal explains, a performance of Kelucharan Mohapatra
• [2]
• Kelucharan Mohapatra at the Internet Movie Database

Sujata Mohapatra
Background information
Birth name	Sujata Mohanty
Born	(1968-06-27) June 27, 1968 (age 44) Balasore
Origin	India
Genres	Odissi
Occupations	Indian classical dancerr, performer
Website	http://sujatamohapatra.com

Sujata Mohapatra (born June 27, 1968) is an eminent Indian classical dancer and teacher of Odissi dancing style.^[1][2]

Early life and background[link]

Sujata Mohapatra was born in Balasore in 1968.

She started learning Odissi at an early age from Guru Sudhakar Sahu.^[3]

She came to Bhubaneshwar, Orissa, in 1987^[4] to further her training under Padma Vibhushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra at Odissi Research Center in Bhubaneshwar. She married Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra's son Ratikant Mohapatra. Her daughter Preetisha Mohapatra is also an Odissi dancer.

Career[link]

Sujata started dancing Odissi classical and folk dance with Sudhakar Sahu's dance troupe in programs across Orissa. Under the tutelage of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, her dance style evolved and she was groomed to become one of the foremost Odissi dancers of her generation.^[5]

Sujata Mohapatra is also actively involved in teaching Odissi. Presently, she holds the designation as the Principal of 'Srjan' (Odissi Nrityabhasa),^[6] a prime Odissi dance institution founded by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. Sujata has obtained a Masters Degree in Oriya Literature from Utkal University and has also done research work at the Odissi Research Centre, Bhubaneshwar.^[7]

She has performs in India as well as all over the world as a soloist and a leading member of the Srjan Dance Troupe, founded by her father-in-law.^[8]

She opened an Odissi institute, Guru Keerti Srjan, in her hometown Balasore in July 2011.^[9][10]

Sujata Mohapatra

Sujata Mohapatra

Sujata Mohapatra

Awards[link]

• Mahari Award given by Pankaj Charan Foundation
• 2nd Sanjukta Panigrahi Award given by Chitra Krishnamurthi from Washington D.C.
• Aditya Birla Kala Kiran Award, Mumbai
• Raaza Foundation Award, Delhi
• Hope of India, 2001
• Nritya Ragini, Puri 2002
• Baisakhi Award
• Prana Natta Samman
• Abhi Nandika, Puri 2004
• Bheemeshwar Pratikha Samman, 2004
• Raaza Puruskar, 2008
• Top Grade Artist of Doordarshan Outstanding Category Artist in ICCR ^[11]

See also[link]

• Indian women in dance

References[link]

External links[link]

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