Odissi Dance defined

Odissi is one of the classical dance forms of India. It originates from the state of Orissa in eastern India.

(FYI: India is composed of 28 states and has 25 official languages. This often makes it difficult for Indians to communicate. Someone from Orissa speaks Oriya. Where I am currently in Bangalore is in the state of Karnataka they speak Kannada. This just adds to the massive confusion that it is India.)

There are three schools of Odissi dance: Mahari, Nartaki and Gotipau. The school I visited is Gotipau. This style is characterized by the use of young boys dressed in female clothing. Mahari and Nartaki have female and male dancers. Odissi dance deals largely with the theme of love between Krishna and Rhada.

Odissi dates back 2000 year s but was nearly extinct during the colonial period. Dancers were highly esteemed and danced at Temples until the British crown arrived and started a movement called anti-nautch. At that time, the social position of dancers was on decline especially female dancers. Under anti-nautch, female dancer’s virtues were at question and as dancers were considered prostitutes. Because Gotipau had only male dancers it was able to continue. Since Independence and a way of re-establishing an Indian national identity Indian dance has been increasing.

Boys begin at age 6 and practice until they are 16. They remain under the supervision of the dance institute. When the boy is six, the parents worship Lord Balunkeswar Dev and smash a coconut before Lord Ganesh. It is a tremendous honor to be a dancer. It is seen as a service of god to perform.

At the performance I went to, there is actually one girl who performs with them.