Odissi Indian Classical Dance
Odissi Indian Classical Dance arises from the temples in the eastern state of Odisha more than 2,000 years ago. It is a dance of devotion, with its origins as an offering to Lord Jagannath by women who were considered to be devadasis, or “servants of God.”
Its ultimate purpose is union with the divine through the alchemical merging of matter with spirit, to ignite personal transformation within the dancer and those who behold its beauty, grace, and power. It is a yogic dance, with its postures, movements, and mudras that work with various pathways of energy throughout the body including the chakra system. The body/mind and masculine/feminine energies become harmonized through focused attention on strong patterns of footwork that combine with flowing, graceful upper body movements. Indian mythology becomes embodied by the dancer through the vast expression of gods and goddesses found in the Hindu pantheon.
From a somatic or body-centered psychotherapeutic perspective, Odissi captures the essence of dance as therapeutic or healing, as it works on various levels of the human experience through the physical, emotional, and spiritual planes. Like yoga, Odissi is a sadhana, or spiritual discipline with its goal of moksha, or liberation from all individual limitation. Odissi cultivates values of discipline, concentration and focus, surrendering one’s ego, humility, strength, courage, devotion, and community. Odissi is differentiated from western dance forms that emphasize the personal “I” or self in how it exudes its profound clarity and depth through being traditionally passed on through lineage in the guru-shishya parampara tradition.
Jovahna began her studies with Odissi dance at Shakti School of Dance in 2013. She has been a student of Amanda Geroy, disciple of Sujata Mohapatra since 2014 and currently studies with Guru Sujata Mohapatra in the lineage of Padma Vibhushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. She combines extensive study and practice of Hatha yoga and Dance Movement Therapy/Body Psychotherapy into her understanding of Odissi. She shares in the spirit of cultivating a personal practice of Odissi to merge mind, body, and spirit on the path of growth, healing, and transformation.
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