We are happy to announce that the Center for World Music‘s Odissi Dance School has been invited to perform at the Indian Fine Arts Academy’s SoCal Dance Fest.
This special event will feature some of the finest Southern California Indian classical dance schools, teachers, and students, presenting various Indian classical dance forms like Kathak, Bharatanatyam, and Odissi.
It will also showcase a margam, a traditional sequence of Bharatanatyam dance pieces by Pavitra Bhatt, a renowned Indian dancer.
The Odissi Dance School will present a pure dance piece, emphasizing movement over narrative, called Angahara. The dance starts with a shloka, a recited prayer, praising Lord Shiva. In the movements, Shiva is depicted as the omnipotent Lord of Dance whose body and movements encompass the universe, including the space around us and beyond.
The remainder of the Angahara, “a garland of sculptural poses,” is a dance piece in the nritta category. This style focuses on the dancer’s technical and virtuosic skill through rhythmic movements, highlighting the beauty of form, speed, and pattern without any elements that interpret a narrative.
About Odissi Dance
Odissi is one of the eight recognized forms of Indian classical dance. The word “Odissi” is derived from odiya-nritya, identifying the dance with the region of its origin in Eastern India. The earliest mention of this dance style can be found in the Natyashastra written around the 2nd century BC. Sculptural evidence found on temples in India shows this dance style to be the most ancient of the surviving classical styles.
Odissi is known for its graceful, fluid movements and sensual expressions. The dance form uses intricate footwork, torso movements, and hand gestures (mudras) to create a visually stunning performance. The dancer may incorporate up to 63 hand gestures throughout the recital to convey various meanings and emotions.
Performance Credits
Dance Choreography: Guru Aruna Mohanty
Music: Guru Gopala Chandra Panda & Sangeeta Panda
Raga: Nagobali
Taala: Taala Malika
Group Choreography: Rajesh Kumar Palai and Shibani Patnaik
Performers
Nishka Adappa, Siyona Manjunath, Sanjana Nambiar, Meera Pant, Meghana Sridhar, and Sohini Zaveri
For questions and information, please visit the website of the Indian Fine Arts Academy, San Diego.
