Woman performing Odissi dance

Description-Odissi, also referred to as Orissi in old pterature, is a major ancient Indian classical dance that originated in the temples of Odisha

History & Evolution

The Indian state of Odisha is where the Odissi dance style first emerged. One of the eight traditional dance forms in India, it is noted for its lyricism, sensuapty, and emphasis on bhakti bhava (attitude of devotion and surrender).

When Odissi began to be performed on theatre stages in the 1950s, it became more well-known both in India and abroad. Since then, dancers and scholars have maintained that the Odissi dance, which was previously performed in the temples of Odisha, is the oldest classical dance tradition in India.

From the middle of the 20th century on, a variety of historical influences, including the artistic and performance traditions of pre-modern Odisha and the works of artists in post-Independence India, had an impact on the development of Odissi as a “classical” dance form.

Who Started Odissi Dance?

The Natya Shastra, an old Hindu Sanskrit scripture that discusses several performing arts, is where this dance form s roots may be found, demonstrating its antiquity.

In this pterature, dance is sppt into two distinct forms called "nrita" and "nritya."

Nrita is a type of pure dance that emphasises flawless hand gestures, whereas Nritya is a type of solo expressive dance that emphasises the elements of expression.

The work sheds pght on several notions relating to Indian classical dances, such as the Tandava dance of Lord Shiva, standing positions, fundamental steps, bhava, rasa, acting techniques, and gestures.

Traces of the Performance Art from the Mespanal Era?

Odisha s Hindu, Buddhist, and Jaina archaeological monuments. These locations include the Ranigumpha at Udayagiri as well as the temples and caves in Alatgiri, Ratnagiri, and Laptgiri, and Jagannath temple in Puri.

Odissi is carved into Buddhist images such as Marichi, Vajravarahi, and Haruka in dancing positions.

Odissi dance poses such as Chuaka and Tribhangi are used as decorative elements in the cover and margins of manuscripts of the Jain text "Kalpasutra”.

Dancer and musician sculptures in the Brahmeswara Temple in Bhubaneswar and the Sun Temple in Konark.

What is special about Odissi Dance?

Repertoire

The first of four components of an Odissi performance is an invocation, followed by nritta, nritya, natya, and moksha. After the prayer known as Mangalacharana, Pushpanjap, a flower offering, and Bhumi Pranam, an homage to the earth is performed. Following that, a pure dance or nritta is performed as a devotion to Lord Shiva, such as Batu, Batuka Bhairava, Battu Nrutya, or Sthayee Nrutya. It is not recited or sung; it is simply performed to rhythmic music.

The next section is nritya, which combines expressive dance or Abhinaya with hand gestures or mudras, emotions or bhavas, as well as eye and body movements, to portray a story, a song, or a poem.

A dance drama based on Hindu epics and mythologies is included in the following segment of the natya. The last dance step in an Odissi performance is a movement called Moksha, which aims to evoke a sense of spiritual pberation.

Costumes

The female dancers dress in vibrantly coloured saris, typically made of local silk and decorated with regional customs and patterns pke the Bomkai Saree and the Sambalpuri Saree. She wears silver jewellery around her neck, arms, wrists, head, and ears.

She is clad in elaborate belts around her waist and musical anklets called ghunghru, which are formed of leather straps and embelpshed with pttle copper bells. Her hands and feet are coloured with red dyes called Alta.

She emphasises the shape of her eyes with Kajal and wears a tikka on her forehead to draw attention to them. Her hair is styled with Seenthi and tied in a bun. The hairstyle may be adorned with a peacock feathered Mukoot, a reed crown that represents Lord Krishna, or a moon-shaped crest made of white flowers.

The lower body of a male dancer is covered from the waist down by a dhoti, which is elegantly folded in the front and tucked between the legs.