Odissi

Odissi performance
Genre Indian classical
Origin Odisha, India

Odissi dancer
 An Odissi dancer

A 4-year-old girl performing Abhinaya

Odissi, also known as Orissi (Odia: Oḍiśī), is one of the eight classical dance forms of
India.[1][2][3][4] It originates from the state of Odisha, in eastern India. It is the oldest surviving dance
form of India on the basis of archaeological evidences.[5][6] The classic treatise of Indian dance,
Natya Shastra, refers to it as Odra-Magadhi. 1st century BCE bas-reliefs in the hills of Udaygiri (near
Bhubaneswar) testify to its antiquity. It was suppressed under the British Rule, 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[7][8] and upon the basic square stance known as
Chauka or Chouka that symbolises Lord Jagannath. This dance is characterised 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.

Though a very old dance form, Odissi got recognition as a classical dance from the Central
government officially, after efforts by many scholars and performers in the 1950s, including a
powerful lec-dem in April 1958 by Kavichandra Kalicharan Pattanayak, an Oriya poet, dramatist and
researcher. Pattanayak is also credited with naming the dance form as "Odissi".[9]

Origin and history

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 in the first or second century BCE. 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 was attached to the temple culture of Odisha. Starting
with the rituals of Jagannath temple in Puri it was regularly performed in Shaivite, Vaishnavite and
Sakta temples in Odisha. 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 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
closely resembles sculptures of the Indian temples.[10]

The history of Odissi dance has been traced to early sculptures found in the Ranigumpha caves at
Udaygiri (Odisha), dating to the 2nd 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 Odisha.[11]

Temple history
In Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha, Udayagiri Caves, Khandagiri Caves and Jain Caves are
present which date back to the 2nd 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 Odisha, dating back to the 6th thru 9th
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 Odisha 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

Sage Bharata's Natya Shastra, written in the 2nd 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 Odia architecture and sculpture as well as the
figures of dance. In this, one finds an 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 Odia 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

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 to the king and ceased to be respected solely as servants to Lord Jagannath. 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
respected place in society, were forced into prostitution to survive in the changing climate of
political and cultural oppression by the British.

Tradition and dancers

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 6th 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 Odia 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.[12]

Mahari tradition

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 Odisha comes from a commemorative inscription by
Udyota Kesari, the last King of the dynasty. In the 10th 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 11th 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

In the Odia language Gotipua means single boy. Gotipua dance is performed only by boys who dress
up as girls. 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 girls.[13]

Dance vocabulary and repertoire

 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 Odisha. 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 Odisha.
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 Odia 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.[14]
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.

Odissi Dance Drama

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.

Languages

Odissi music is mainly accompanied by odia but also sometimes bengali or sanskrit verses.

Odissi terminology

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
The spoken drum mnemonics. During dance performances Banis 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
Bhagas. These are the measures.
Bhajan
It is any type of Indian devotional song and 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 taal, this would be how the divisions of the taal are made 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 Odisha.)
Khanda Ukutta
When bani and ukuttas are formed together to make phrases. e.g., Kititaka Gadigana.
Mana
 The ending sequence that is repeated to designate that the ending of the piece or of a section
that is typically in 3 repeats. People in Odisha interchangeably use Tihai and Mana, but they are
the same.
Maharis or Devadasis
The original temple dancers of Odisha, 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.[15]

Mudras

Mudras are hand gestures which are used to express the meaning of a given act. In a dance we
convey emotions, inner feelings or an incident by hand gestures. Mudras in Odissi dance are divided
into three parts,

Asamyukta Hasta – Single hand Mudras – 28 Prakar (gestures)

Samyukta Hasta – Joint hand Mudras – 24 Prakar (gestures)

Nrutya Hasta – “Pure Dance” Mudras (Select few out of the above categories).

The Mudra system is derived from the "Abhinaya Darpana" by Nandikeshavara.

List of Asmayukta Hasta (One hand gestures):

Pataka- Flag

Tripataka – Three parts of a flag

Ardhapataka – Half flag

Kartarimukha – Scissors face

Mayura – Peacock

Ardhachandra – Half moon

Arala – Crooked

Sukhatunda – Parrot’s Beak

Mushti – Fist

Shikhara – Spire
Kapittha – Wood apple

Kataka Mukha – Type of bird

Suchi – Needle

Chandrakala – Dark moon

Padmakosha – Half open lotus flower

Sarpashirsha – Serpent head

Mrigashirsha – Dear head

Simhamukha – Lion Face

Kangula – Bulb

Alapadma – Fully open lotus flower

Chatura – Smart /Square

Bramhara – Bee

Hamsasaya – Wild Goose or Swan

Hamsapakshya – Wild Goose or Swan’s wing

Samdamsa – Firefly

Mukula – flower bud

Tamrachuda – Rooster

Trishula – Trident (Emblem of Shiva)

List Samyukta Hasta Mudras (Joint hand gestures):

Anjali – Salutation

Kapota – Dove

Karkata – Crab

Swastika – Cross
Dola – Swing

Pushpaputa – Flower casket

Utsanga – Embrace

Shivalinga – Masculine principal

Katakavardhana – Link of increase

Kartariswastika – Crossed arrows

Shakata – Cart

Shankha – Conch shell

Chakra – Wheel

Samputa – Casket

Pasha – Noose

Kilaka – Bond

Matsya – Fish

Kurma – Turtle

Varaha – Wild boar

Garuda – Eagle

Nagabandha – Serpent tie

Khatva – Cot

Bherunda – Two-headed bird / pair of birds

Avahita – Holding things

Odissi music
Main article: Odissi music

Odissi dance is accompanied by Odissi music, a synthesis of four classes of music,[16][17] 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 Baladev 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[16][17] 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

See also: Tarakashi, Sambalpuri Saree and Bomkai Saree

The jewellery is made from intricate filigree silver jewellery 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 Odisha.[18] The process of creating
each piece takes the collaboration of many artisans each specialised in one step of the many that
turns a lump of raw silver into a handcrafted work of art.

The jewellery 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 jewellery 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 coloured 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 Odisha. 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 characterised by features of traditional prints of Odisha, 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.

In education

Odissi has been included in Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar's BTech syllabus since
2015 as the first Indian national technical institute to introduce any classical dance in
syllabus.[19][20][21]

Odissi maestros and performers

Kelucharan Mohapatra, Pankaj Charan Das, Deba Prasad Das and Raghunath Dutta were the four
major gurus who revived Odissi in the late forties and early fifties. Sanjukta Panigrahi was a leading
disciple of Kelucharan Mohapatra who popularized Odissi by performing in India and abroad. In the
mid-sixties, three other disciples of Kelucharan Mohapatra, Kumkum Mohanty and Sonal Mansingh,
were known for their performances in India and abroad. Laximipriya Mohapatra performed a piece
of Odissi abhinaya in the Annapurna Theatre in Cuttack in 1948, a show upheld as the first classical
Odissi dance performance after its contemporary revival.[22] Guru Mayadhar Raut played a pivotal
role in giving Odissi dance its classical status. He introduced Mudra Vinyoga in 1955 and
Sancharibhava in the Odissi dance items, and portrayed Shringara Rasa in Gita Govinda Ashthapadis.
His notable compositions include Pashyati Dishi Dishi and Priya Charu Shile, composed in
1961.[23][24]
 Rina Jana, Odissi exponent

Most of the present-day gurus were Gotipua dancers and trainers. In the early fifties, the outside
world began to take note of Odissi. Priyambada Mohanty Hejmadi and Susama Tej represented
Odisha in the classical dance category at the Inter University Youth Festival, New Delhi, in 1954 and
1955. It was here that Charles Fabri witnessed their performances, hailed Odissi as a great classical
dance form, and helped Indrani Rehman and Sonal Mansingh train. Hejmadi moved to the United
States for several years, rarely performing, and returned to India in the mid-seventies. Protima Gauri
Bedi has made a remarkable contribution to Odissi by setting up Nrityagram, a complete 10 acre
expanse of self-sufficient Gurukul where there is only dance in the air. Now headed by Surupa Sen
and Bijayini Satpata along with Pavithra Reddy, they have carried forward the revolutionary changes
which the founder Protima had commenced. Nrityagram, today, is a unique brand name in Odissi
winning accolades for this art form where ever they perform.

Eminent contemporary gurus and performers in alphabetic order include Aruna Mohanty,
Gangadhar Pradhan, Bijayini Satpathy of Nrityagram, Geeta Mahalik, Ileana Citaristi, Jhelum
Paranjape, Jyoti Srivastava Parwati Dutta, Kasturi Pattanaik, Kumkum Mohanty, Minati Mishra,
Nandita Behera, Niranjan Rout, Padma Charan Dehury, Durga Charan Ranbir, Oopali Operajita,
Ratikant Mohapatra, Ranjana Gauhar, Rina Jana, Sharmila Biswas, Sharmila Mukerjee, Sharon
Lowen, Sonal Mansingh, Surupa Sen of Nrityagram, Aloka Kanungo and Sujata Mohapatra.

Some of the upcoming Odissi performers in alphabetic order are Baisali Mohanty, Devraj Patnaik,
Dona Ganguly, Ellora Patnaik, Masako Ono, Puspita Mishra, Reela Hota, Saswat Joshi, Lucky
Mohanty, Madhumita Raut and Srinwanti Chakrabarti.

Odissi in popular and mainstream culture

In Guinness World records

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 December 2011, in the
Kalinga stadium, Bhubaneswar, Orissa. The dancers performed the Mangalacharan, Battu, Pallavi,
Abhinay and Mokshya dance items from the Odissi repertoire.[25][26][27][28]

More than 1000 Odissi dancers performed at the World Cultural Festival [29][30][31] March 12, 2016.
This is till date the largest congregation of Odissi dancers in a single event.

Odissi Centre at Oxford University

Baisali Mohanty announcing the

opening of Oxford Odissi Centre at
University of Oxford, United Kingdom

An Odissi dance centre has been opened from January, 2016, at the prestigious University of
Oxford.[32] Known as Oxford Odissi Centre, it is an initiative of Baisali Mohanty, a post-graduate
scholar at the University of Oxford and a promising dancer and choreographer of Odissi.[33] The
centre aims to promote and popularize Odissi dance at the global level.[34]

Beside holding regular Odissi dance classes for members of University of Oxford, the Oxford Odissi
Centre also conducts Odissi dance workshops at other world-renowned institutions including
University of Cambridge, London School of Economics, University College London (UCL), King’s
College London, University of Manchester and University of Edinburgh among others.[35][36]

In India

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.[37]

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.

2012: National Award-winning Bengali filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh used Odissi dance in his film
"Chitrangada: The Crowning Wish". Kolkata-based Odissi exponent and 2012 Sangeet Natak
Akademi Awardee Guru Sharmila Biswas taught Rituparno Ghosh Odissi for his film.[38]

Outside India

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.[39] Jamuna was a disciple of Odissi exponent Gangadhar Pradhan.[40]

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.

See also

Indian classical dance

Ghungroo

Odissi music

Gotipua

References

1. ^ http://ccrtindia.gov.in/classicaldances.php Centre for Cultural Resources and Training

(CCRT)
2. ^ http://sangeetnatak.gov.in/sna/guide-snaawards.htm Guidelines for Sangeet Natak Akademi
Ratna and Akademi Puraskar

3. ^ http://ccrtindia.gov.in/performingart.php Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT)-

Performing Arts

4. ^ http://knowindia.gov.in/knowindia/culture_heritage.php?id=101 India Ministry of Culture

5. ^ www.TheInfoIndia.com. "Odissi Classical Dance of India – Classical Odissi Dance

India,Classical Odissi Dance Vacations India,Classical Odissi Dances Tour in India" .
Dancesofindia.co.in. Retrieved 2012-05-19.

6. ^ "Odissi Kala Kendra" . Odissi.itgo.com. Retrieved 2012-05-19.

7. ^ Article by David Courtney retrieved July 2008

8. ^ Sehgal, Sunil (1999). Encyclopaedia of Hinduism: (H – Q). Sarup & Sons. p. 868. ISBN 81-7625-
064-3.

9. ^ David Dennen. "The Naming of Odissi: Changing Conceptions of Music in Odisha" .

10. ^ Odissi

11. ^ [1] Archived 15 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine.

12. ^ Alessandra Lopez y Royo, "The reinvention of odissi classical dance as a temple ritual,"
published in The Archaeology of Ritual ed. Evangelos Kyriakidis, Cotsen Institute of Archaeology,
UCLA 2007

13. ^ "Gotipua Dance" . Orissadiary.com. Retrieved 2012-05-19.

14. ^ "Odissi" . Nadanam.com. 12 July 1997. Retrieved 2012-05-19.

15. ^ John Merrell - [email protected]. "Odissi Mardala, Odissi music & Odissi dance" .
Mardala.com. Retrieved 2012-05-19.

16. ^ a b "Culture Department" . Orissaculture.gov.in. Retrieved 2012-05-19.

17. ^ a b http://www.orissatourism.net . "Dance Music Orissa,Orissa Dances,Odissi Dances,Music

of Orissa,Orissa Traditional Regional Music Dances,Local Dances of Orissa,Orissa Regional
Music" . Orissatourism.net. Retrieved 2012-05-19.

18. ^ "Odissi Costumes Jewelry" . Odissivilas.org. Retrieved 2012-05-19.

19. ^ Pradhan, Ashok (11 September 2015). "IIT Bhubaneswar becomes first IIT in country to
introduce dance as BTech subject" . Times of India. Retrieved 13 September 2015.

20. ^ Barik, Satyasundar (12 September 2015). "IIT-Bhubaneswar to train students in Odissi too" .
The Hindu. Retrieved 13 September 2015.

21. ^ "IIT-Bhubaneswar Becomes First IIT to Introduce Odissi as a Course" . New Indian Express.
12 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.

22. ^ "Steps to success" . The Telegraph (Calcutta, India). 9 August 2010.

23. ^ Kaktikar, A. Odissi Yaatra: The Journey of Guru Mayadhar Raut. Delhi: B. R. Rhythms. 2010.
ISBN 978-81-88827-21-3.

24. ^ Orissa Diary

25. ^ aajkikhabar.com: Odissi dancers pierce in the Guinness World Records

26. ^ The New Indian Express: Odissi dancers enter Guinness

27. ^ welcomeorissa.com: Odissi dancers enter Guinness

28. ^ thesundayindian.com: Guinness World Records enlists Odissi dance show

29. ^ Zee news report

30. ^ Odisha sun times report

31. ^ Odiha in your eyes report

32. ^ http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160113/jsp/odisha/story_63528.jsp

33. ^ http://odishasuntimes.com/2015/12/26/odissi-centre-to-open-at-oxford-university-from-jan/

34. ^ http://orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=63707

35. ^ http://www.dailypioneer.com/print.php?printFOR=storydetail&story_url_key=odishi-centre-to-
open-at-oxford-in-january&section_url_key=state-editions

36. ^ http://kalingatv.com/state-news/oxford-university-odissi-centre-jan/

37. ^ "Rani on wrong foot over Odissi number" . The Times of India. 23 May 2003.

38. ^ "Rituparno absorbed Odissi like a sponge: Sharmila - The Times of India" . The Times Of India.

39. ^ "michael jackson INDIAN Bharatanatyam (Odissi?)" . YouTube. 4 July 2009. Retrieved
2012-05-19.

40. ^ https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-
ash2/31108_389417875221_369345095221_4188638_1086892_n.jpg

Further reading

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.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Odissi.

The annotated Odissi Dance Archive on Pad.ma

Odissi dance at the Open Directory

Classical Indian Dance Portal

History of Odissi