Move with grace

Updated on: 28 July,2011 09:33 AM IST |
The Guide Team |

Odissi, the classical Indian dance form, began as a ritual with the Devdasi, a select set of female dancers performing in temples before Lord Jagannath

Move with grace

Odissi, the classical Indian dance form, began as a ritual with the Devdasi, a select set of female dancers performing in temples before Lord Jagannath. However, with time, the form was performed by both male and female dancers at recitals.

But Madhulita Mohapatra, the artistic director of Nrityantar Academy of Performing Arts, believes that it is important to educate youngsters about the nuances attached to Odissi to keep the dance form alive. And Naman 2011, the Odissi festival is her effort to popularise the dance form.

"The performance will showcase three styles of Odissi to give the audience a detailed idea about the history of the form. The dancers will follow the gharanas of late gurus Pankaj Charan Das, Debaprasad Das and Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra," says Madhulika. The three gharanas will show the differences in torso movements and gracefulness of each style. Namna 2011 is also dedicated to her Guru Gangadhar Pradhan, who passed away last year.

Naman 2011 will begin with Debasish Pattnaik performing Mangalacharan, a shloka to invoke the Almighty and will be followed by Rajashri Praharaj and Aruna Mohanty's presentation of various chronicles of Lord Jagannath, Krishna and Radha through the dance style Abhinaya. The performance will end with Mokshya, a dance piece through which danseuse Devjani Sen will dedicate her art to various gods and goddesses.