Odissi (An Indian Classical Dance)

Odissi has been revived in the past fifty years and can be considered the oldest classical Indian dance on the basis of archival evidence. Odissi has a close association with the temples and its striking feature in its intimate relationship with temple sculpture. Tribhangi, the three-body bend characterizes this dance form. It has a vast range of sculptural body movements which gives one the illusion of the sculptures coming to life.  In Odissi, the numbers consist of Batu nritya, Pallavi, and Mokhya. In Batu nritya the dancer strikes pose holding various instruments like veena, flute, cymbals and drums and the choreography of this number reveals the imagination of the choreographer-gurus. Pallavi means to elaborate, and a dancer performs a pure dance to a chosen time cycle and a musical raga (melody). Various body postures similar to temple sculptures are woven in this number. In Mokhya, before the dance concludes, a dancer employs various dance units creating arresting visuals. In recent years, group choreographic presentations and dance dramas are also attempted in order to bring out the full glory and sculptural wealth of Odissi which is truly a visually fascinating performance style.  
  

Odissi Documentary Videos