Odissi, one of India's most famous classical dance styles, has its roots in the Hindu temples of the state of Odisha, which is located on the country's eastern coast. Its theoretical foundations can be found in the ancient Sanskrit Hindu literature "Natya Shastra," which discusses performing arts. Odisha Hindu temples and other historically significant locations connected to Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism are the source of the age-old Odissi tradition, the sculptures of which embellish the dancing postures of this art form.
Odissi's performance repertoire includes invocation, nrita, nritya, natya, and moksha.
It is an illustrated story of legendary and religious stories, devotional poems, and spiritual ideas emoted by dancers with great body movements, expressions, impressive gestures, and sign language. Themes from Vaishnavism as well as those connected to Hindu gods and goddesses like Shiva, Surya, and Shakti are used in the Odissi dance style.
beenhereOdissi at a GlanceWhere it comes from: Odisha, eastern India. Its heartland is Puri, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Konark.
Ancient roots: Dance carvings in the Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves (around the 2nd century BCE) and in temples built between the 6th and 13th centuries CE.
Temple traditions: Maharis (female temple dancers) and Gotipuas (boy dancers).
Modern classical form: Shaped and standardised from the 1940s to the 1960s and accepted as a classical dance in the late 1950s.
Music and themes: Jayadeva's Gita Govinda, Odia devotional poetry and the mardala (drum).
Father of Odissi dance: Guru Pankaj Charan Das, known as the Adi Guru (first guru).
Learn about the history of Bharatnatyam.
Learn about the evolution of the Kathak dance style.
History of Odissi Dance Form
Elegant body language, expressive facial emotions, vivid costumes, and cosmetics are characteristics of Odissi dance. The dancer depicts different characters, tells stories, and emotes with complex hand gestures. The fluidity and expressiveness of the dance style are enhanced by the adaptable footwork that harmonizes with the beat and melody.
Originally, it was only women who performed Odissi, telling tales in the form of dance dramas to honor Lord Vishnu. Over the course of countless ups and downs, this art form moved from temples to dance institutes run by devoted enthusiasts, instructors, and practitioners who prepared the next generation to carry on this art form's legacy, and ultimately to the international scene as a symbol of India's rich cultural legacy.
According to legend, Lord Jagannatha cherished hearing the beautiful lyrics from Jaidev's Gita Govindam. To satisfy him, these lyrics were chanted in front of him at the Jagannatha Temple in Puri. The Odissi dance's musical foundation was thus derived from the same verses. The Odissi dance dramas also benefited greatly from the rich source material that was Odisha's classical literature.
Become an Odissi dancer with dance classes in Delhi, at-home or online classes taken by 1000s of passionate dance teachers from all over New Delhi
The origins of Odissi dance may be traced back to the temples of Odisha during the second century BCE, making it one of the oldest classical dance styles still in existence in the nation. Similar to all other Indian classical dance styles, Odissi performances were a component of temple adoration. The vibrant sculptures of different dancing postures etched on the walls of Konark's temples bear witness to this.
Odissi's history is identical to that of other ancient Indian dance genres. It is thought that the old dance forms left the heavenly orb behind. The Tandav Nritya by Lord Shiva and the dance done by Lord Vishnu in his Mohini Avatar greatly influenced the dancers' postures, expressions, and dance routines. Indian traditional dancers have primarily been trained in temples and royal courtrooms. This also applies to Odissi. This assertion is supported by archeological evidence discovered in the Manchapuri caves at Udayagiri, Hathigumpha, which contains inscriptions dating back to the first or second century BCE, as well as in the temples of Bhubaneswar, Konark, and Puri.
beenhereFun facts about OdissiThe name is younger than the art. "Odissi" only came into use in the late 1950s, and before that the dance was spoken of as Odia dance. One of the first stage performances of Odissi was in 1946, when Laxmipriya Mohapatra danced in the Mahari style at the opening of a play in Odisha. When the dance was shown in Delhi in 1954, the art critic Charles Fabri called it one of India's lost classical forms.
Learn about the origins of the Kathakali dance style.
Odissi was performed in this era by female Maharis, temple dancers who devoted their lives to serving the gods. They performed Odissi as a means of expressing their devotion and were an essential component of the temple rites. The repertoire, methods, and traditions of the old Odissi were preserved by the Maharis. They ensured the survival of the dance form by passing down the wisdom and techniques of the Odissi through the centuries. Their distinct style, which was defined by sensuality, elegance, and fluidity, was incorporated into Odissi and gave the dance form an aesthetic touch.
It is impossible to discuss the Maharis without mentioning the Gotipuas, the male dancers who performed on festival grounds or in the streets outside the temples. Gotipuas was quite important in the mid-20th century rebirth of Odissi. Gotipuas were trained and shaped by a number of well-known gurus, including Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, who helped Odissi become a popular and respected classical dance style again.
Get more information on Odissi dance with professional dance classes in Mumbai.
With the beginning of a new era following independence, all Indian classical dance traditions, including Odissi, began to resurrect. The revitalization effort gained significant impetus in the middle of the 20th century. Reviving Odissi was made possible in large part by trailblazing individuals like Kavichandra Kalicharan Pattanayak, Guru Pankaj Charan Das, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, and Guru Debaprasad Das. Based on historical records, sculptures, and oral traditions, they investigated, recorded, and recreated the ancient repertory, methods, and aesthetics of the Odissi.
Explore the myriad hues of Manipuri dance style.
Odissi Dancing Style
Odissi looks like a moving sculpture, and many of its poses closely match the carvings on Odisha's temples. Its key elements are:
- Footwork and music: rhythmic footwork set to the beat of the mardala, in a soft, graceful (lasya) and devotional mood.
- Stances: the chowk, a balanced square stance believed to reflect the image of Lord Jagannath, and the tribhangi, an S-shaped curve made by bending at the knee, torso and neck.
- Torso and hips: a graceful deflection of the hip and a flowing upper body, with the head and neck moving in step.
- Hands, eyes and expression: mudras (hand gestures) and bhavas (emotions) that carry the story.
Immerse yourself in the wonderful history of Kuchipudi.
A classical Odissi recital usually follows five parts:
- Mangalacharan: the opening invocation, with the dancer's entry, a flower offering (pushpanjali) and a bow to Mother Earth (bhumi pranam).
- Batu (Sthayi): pure dance (nritta) that shows the basic postures and footwork, without any story.
- Pallavi: another pure dance piece in which rhythm, melody and movement are slowly built up and decorated.
- Abhinaya: storytelling through expressions and mudras, often to verses from Jayadeva's Gita Govinda and Odia poets.
- Moksha: the fast, drum-led finale that expresses spiritual freedom.
Longer dance dramas (natya) based on Hindu epics and mythology are also performed as separate productions.
Learn classical or modern styles through online dance classes.
Costumes for Odissi
Female Odissi dancers don vibrantly colored saris, such as the Bomkai and Sambalpuri, which are typically made of local silk and embellished with traditional and regional motifs. To allow for flexibility in the dancer's moves and to highlight their impeccable footwork, the front portion of the sari is worn with pleats or a separate pleated material stitched in front. Her arms, wrists, neck, head, and ears are all adorned with silver jewelry.
Dancers wear ornate belts around their waist, and around their ankles are musical anklets known as ghunghru, which are constructed of leather straps with tiny metallic bells connected to them. Red dyes known as alta are used to brighten her palms and feet. To draw attention to her eye movements, she draws a tika on her forehead and uses kajal to accentuate her eyes. Seenthi is used to adorn her hair, which is secured in a bun. The hairstyle may be adorned with a moon-shaped crest of white flowers or a mukoot, which is a reed crown with peacock feathers that represent Lord Krishna.
Unravel the origins of Mohiniyattam, a classic among classics.
Famous Odissi Dancers
Pankaj Charan Das
Pankaj Charan Das, who hailed from a family of Gotipua dancers, first learned the art from his father, Shri Khetrabasi Das, and then studied under well-known gurus, including Mahadev Rout and Balaram Das. He took on the mantle of bringing Odissi back to life when it was about to go extinct in the middle of the 20th century. He was accompanied on this mission by Kelucharan Mohapatra, his student. Together, they conducted a great deal of study, recreated dance compositions that had been forgotten, and created a repertory and defined technique for Odissi. One of India's greatest civilian honors, the Padma Shri, was conferred on him in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the dance industry.
Lose yourself in the unique history of the Sattriya dance form.
Kelucharan Mohapatra
The legacy of dancer, choreographer, and master Kelucharan Mohapatra is well honoured both domestically and abroad. His talents have made Odissi one of the world's most revered and admired classical dance styles. Dancers and fans of Odissi are still motivated by his dedication and aesthetic vision. In Bhubaneswar, Odisha, he founded the Odissi Research Centre, where he trained and developed numerous generations of dancers. His approach to teaching and pedagogy still has an impact on modern-day Odissi practice and instruction. Notable exponents that he has trained include Kumkum Mohanty, Sujata Mohapatra, Sonal Mansingh, Sanjukta Panigrahi, and Madhavi Mudgal.
Deba Prasad Das
Deba Prasad Das, a further descendant of the Gotipuas, studied under Pankaj Charan Das and played a vital role in restoring the dance form to its former splendour. Das was inspired by the sculptures seen in Odisha's temples to produce pieces that were technically precise, lyrically complex, and everlasting. Among his well-known choreographies are "Geet Govinda," which is based on the epic poem by Jayadeva, and "Krishna Karnamrita," a dance drama that narrates the life and adventures of Lord Krishna.
Blend into the living art tradition of the Chhau dance form.
Mayadhar Raut
Guru Mayadhar Raut trained under Pankaj Charan Das and studied Bharatanatyam and Kathakali at Kalakshetra from 1955 to 1959. He brought back mudra viniyoga (the formal use of hand gestures) and the use of transitory emotions to build a mood, both of which enriched Odissi teaching and choreography. He moved to Delhi in 1968 to teach at the Bharatiya Kala Kendra, and his students include Aloka Panikar, Kiran Segal and Ranjana Gauhar. He was awarded the Padma Shri.
Sanjukta Panigrahi
Sanjukta Panigrahi was a student of Kelucharan Mohapatra who first won acclaim as a nine-year-old performer in Calcutta in 1953. She also trained in Bharatanatyam at Kalakshetra and, with her musician husband Raghunath Panigrahi, became one of Odissi's best-loved performers in India and abroad. She received the Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, and remains among the most highly regarded Odissi dancers despite her early death in 1997.
Laxmipriya Mohapatra
Laxmipriya Mohapatra, wife of Kelucharan Mohapatra, was among the first women to dance Odissi on stage in the 1940s. She later taught several early Odissi dancers, including Minati Mishra, Priyambada Mohanty and Kumkum Mohanty.
Contemporary Odissi Dancers
Today's Odissi is carried forward by the students of these gurus and by a new generation of performers, teachers and companies.
Ramli Ibrahim: a Malaysian dancer trained by Deba Prasad Das, who has helped spread Odissi across Southeast Asia.
Sonal Mansingh: a student of Kelucharan Mohapatra who also dances Bharatanatyam, and a recipient of the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.
Madhavi Mudgal: a Delhi-based disciple of Kelucharan Mohapatra, known for her precise technique and choreography, who also teaches at the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya.
Kumkum Mohanty: one of Kelucharan Mohapatra's earliest students, praised for her abhinaya. She led the Odissi Research Centre in the 1980s and runs the Geeta Govinda school in Bhubaneswar.
Sujata Mohapatra: a leading dancer and teacher of the Kelucharan Mohapatra style, and a lead member of the Srjan troupe.
Sharmila Biswas: a Kolkata-based disciple of Kelucharan Mohapatra and a Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee (2012), known for new ideas in content, technique and costume.
Surupa Sen and Bijayini Satpathy: Surupa Sen leads Nrityagram, the dance village near Bengaluru founded in 1990, where Bijayini Satpathy was principal dancer until she began a solo career in 2019. Their work has taken Odissi to audiences worldwide.
Become an expert dancer with a dance class near me found on Superprof.
Summarise with AI:
Did you like this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
My two Photographs have been used in this article without giving credit . This can never happen elsewhere.
Hello!
Thank you for informing us. We can add the credits if you could tell us the source of the images.
The images were taken from Wikipedia commons by our team.