ODISSI DANCE

Subject : Culture

Context : Noted odissi dancer LaxmipriyaMohapatra dies at 86 ; Naveen patnaik condoles.

Concept :

Odissi dance is one of the classical dances of India.
It is indigenous to Orissa, eastern India, and follows the principles of the Natya-shastra.

Evolution

The dance has its origin in the temples.
The carvings found at the Udayagiri Monastery denote that Odissi was patronised as early as the 2nd Century BCE and the trend continued unabated until about the 16th Century AD.
After surviving the tumultuous years from 16th century AD till independence, Odissi underwent a renaissance of sorts which helped it become the global phenomenon it is today.
The classical music and dance form of Odisha was prefixed with “Odissi” by noted Odia poet KabichandraKalicharanPattanayak, who was the centre of the cultural revival of Odisha post-independence, to retain its distinct identity.

Dance Techniques

Odissi dance form can be broken down to the movement of the head, bust and torso and the accompanying gestures and expressions.
The techniques of movement are built around the two basic postures of the Chowk and the Tribhanga. The chowk is a position imitating a square – a very masculine stance with the weight of the body equally balanced. The tribhanga is a very feminine stance where the body is deflected at the neck, torso and the knees.
Odissi dance deals largely with the love theme of Radha and Krishna.