Odissi dance is the Indian classical dance form which originated in the temples of Orissa.
India has a long tradition of different classical dance forms which have flourished, declined (under foreign influences) & in modern times, been revitalized. Classical dance is understood to be the synthesis of body & mind becuase it merges physical energy with emotional & spiritual. Indian philosophy suggests that the realm of the 'living & the divine are one in essence' & one way to affirm the underlying unity of the two is through dance. Lord Shiva of the Hindu Trinity of Gods is also called Nataraja or the Lord of Dance.
As one of the more popular & esteemed classical dances, Odissi is a sensuous & graceful style, which combines story telling & pure dance in lyrical movements & sculpturesque poses. Many of the beautiful poses of Odissi can be seen in the cave sculptures & the embellishments of the Hindu, Jain & Buddhist temples dating back to 2nd Century B.C. Odissi is characterized by the 'triple-bend' pose called 'Tribhangi', requiring 3 bends at the neck, waist & knee reflecting exquisite charm & grace.
Odissi consists of 2 broad divisions: Nritta - which is pure dance without sentiments, story or characters, usually performed to music without poetry, & Nritya - the expressional dance in which the dancer, through symbolic gestures, poses & facial expressions, interprets the poem sung.
Vaishnavism has been the basic fabric & content of Orissa's culture & religious beliefs for more than a thousand years. Therefore, one of the most popular themes that is natural to Odissi dance is the love theme of Radha & Krishna.
Being a dance of gods, an Odissi dancer pays obeisance to the lord in all his myriad manifestations.
NaNal Damayanti : a story of love and courage of a young king and a princess falling in love and then how things turn gradually. This story highlights the victory of virtue over vice and is especially relevant to the troubled times.
Vasundhra: is a presentation about life – its origins, evolution, celebration, variation and continuity. It is a story of all creation – the cosmos, planets, star system and finally the earth. Vasundhra is a story of love, benevolence, creativity, exploitation, fear, prayer, harmony and co-existence.
Prerna : a journey of Indian womanhood from mythology to modern history. Prerna not only reveres custom but also goes a step further and celebrates the values, heritage, ideals and strength of women, which are the inherent qualities of Indian womanhood.
Ram ki Shakti Puja : an episode from Rama's war against Ravana to save his wife Sita from his confinement. It is based on the masterpiece of Hindi literature by India 's most celebrated modern Hindi poet – Nirala.
Shri Geet Govindam : a love song of the dark lord is an exploration of love at various levels. The poem is dedicated to the intense and passionate love of lord Krishna and Radha . It celebrates the perennial love in union, separation and reunion Krishna and Radha.
Choreographic compositions with fusion of various classical dance forms
Joining Hands: Synthesis of 3 different Indian classical dances: Manipuri, Mohini Attam, and Odissi.
Radhaspati: Fusion of Mohini Attam and Odissi depicting the varied moods of the Ashtnayikas (8 heroines).
Krishna O Krishna: Depiction of various aspects and episodes of Krishna 's life in 3 different brilliantly gelled together classical dance forms: Odissi, Mohini Attam and Kathak.
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