ODISSI DANCE

The Artist Miss Chandrika         
          Mohapatra

  GURU KELU CHARAN      
      MOHAPATRA

.............Whose eyes lashes constitute the essence of captivation , whose movements bring about a complete stillness.........whose bangles bejeweled with precious stones serve as flickering candles ........these doe-eyed maidens offer their dance in devotion ........   

                 Ancient cultures of Puri have the most expressive forms of music and dance . These two highly evolved art forms  have manifested themselves in some of the most evocative and celebrated performances from and not only the professional classical exponents but also from the various folk and tribal  groups.

                 Much of  Puri's ancient activities revolved around the beautiful temples that were abundant in the rural areas and the commercial centers . In the big temples , the role of dance and music in temple rituals was important enough to accord them a separate enclosure - the Nata mandira - for their full development . The famous Nata mandiras, beautifully embellished with figures in various poses of dance and musicians handling a variety of instruments are witness to this integral role in temple life .

                    What also comes to light is the important revelation that the cult of the "Devadasi " or female temple dancers was not only pre-valent to the temples in central and south India , but also existed in Orissa in a highly sophisticated form . The more talented devadasi are selected for training in the secret arts of the temple dance - odissi - which today has become a highly stylized and elegant dance form . The annual  Puri - Beach festival held in the amphitheater with the spectacular  Golden beach at the back drop is one of the superb expositions of this graceful Odissi Dance .

                          The Gurus (master teachers) who were responsible for the resurgence of the form have been willing to accept talented  American and European , as well as Indian dancers as students , resulting in an international group of accomplished performers .Occasionally , Odissi is still performed in its classical setting in an Puri's  temple and the experience of such a performance will never be forgotten .

        GURU KELU CHARAN MOHAPATRA A LEGENDARY IN THE FIELD OF ODISSI DANCE

Guru Kelu Charan Mahapatra is undoubtedly the most important figure in Odissi dance today and has been the guru at some time of nearly every important Odissi dancer and teacher in India and throughout the world. Born in Raghuraipur, a village in Puri District of Orissa in 1926, he belongs to a family of Patachitra painters who used to paint patachitras of Lord Jeganath. He started learning Gotipua Nritya and Pakhawaj under the great gurus, Mohan Sundar Deva Gaswami and Pankaj Charan Das at an early age. He performed with a Rasleela troupe before joining the theatre. After Indian independence, he started to work to popularise Gotipua Nritya and the Mahari dance, and has subsequently received many awards for his contribution. He is one of the main architects of the contemporary Odissi repertoire and vocabulary. His creative ability is very evident in his choreography, while it is also informed by his study of ancient scriptures and sculpture in the temples of Orissa. Guru Kelu Charan Mahapatra's attitude towards dance is, in essence, devotional; to him dance is not so much a vocation as it is an expression of life.

Odissi Song

       Own   its origin from Puri.It is a separate form of its own  quite different from Hindusthani and Karnataki music. 

…

The Mahari  Dance

Limb linking service of the Lord Jagannath, Who is very much fanned of music

And song is the action and pride of ‘Mahari’ tradi;tion. What is today words and dialogue  had made tomorrow   living to the culture of the nations at the   touch of Bashachandan’. Mahari Tradition of the  Sri Mandira is the beautiful Parijata  flower of art an history of Utkal. It also  makes living by its fragrance and the touch of nationl. It has been doing so far from the time immoral. It has  made the art of Utkala  glorious Mahari tradition is the same and one union  of Lord Jagannath  and  great Nari Mahari.  Mahari Dance  coming from  the Nata temple of the temple has reached and extended to the stage and  shastriya  Odissi  dance art. Now a days common man having seen the round eye  of Lord Jagannath l has become wholeness of Karatali under this  remains purity action  whollyness of Mahari. It is a  prensial emotion of life and heart and sloving. Amongst  all who made this mahari dance living  and has  given to the people in general for publicity and its pride Guru Pankaja  Charana Das  comes to the foremast  rank. L He has made the dream ‘fruitful’ . This  Mahari awarded is  opened for all   who take it as a tradi;tion witrh whole heartedness. Now  Odissi has climbed the pick lof culture everelst of the world  but  the  proponents of this art , that is the  Mahari are numbered  and along with them will go this age old tradition of Orissa. We all specially the  Oriyas should not forget the  contributions  made by  this great lordies,.  We  have  introduced this awarded in memory  of the Mahari  and  with a view to bring up more and more oriya girls as dancers in the national and  international level. This awarded certainly  will help them to promote this rich  heritage. It will act as an impetus and help them to dedicate their lives to promote, prolduct and preserve the traditional style, originality and classical future of Odissi dance.

 The artist……………….

 Rupashree Mohapatra patra

Miss Rupashree Mohanpatra  is an upcomingm, bright and a promising professionalo Dancer. She had her initial training under the noted Guru Padmashree Pankaja Charana Das and shree Rabinarayan  Panada. Exceptionally  talented Rupashree has  during the  last 18 years grown as a professional  dance in the field of Odissi. With her amazing stage  presence and expressive Abhinaya, she had already received many awards including the ‘1  Mahari ;awarded’ by adya Guru Pankaja charaqna Das  for the style Mahari in which she is  specialized. Besides staging solo performances, she  has performed in a number of dance  completed ‘Nrutya  Alankara’ frodaban ,

 Mahari dance

FOLK DANCES

   c)Gotipua dance

       Gotipua is a fascinating folk dance of Puri Where boys below14 years clad  in female dress dance to the tune at the music.The  acrobatic poses attached to the dance enthralls the audience.This dance is becoming very popular.The Gotipua team of Raghurajpur has earned much reputation.

d) Naga and Medha dance   
    
        Here the dancer put a mask on his head and dance to the rhythm of the enchanting music.The medhas of Ravan,Trisira,Navasira etc and Naga dance one very popular in Puri town.during Rama Navami days this dance is enacted at the streets of Puri town for seven days.
 

                             
e)Other folk dances 

       Ghoda nacha, Dhudki, Pala, Daskathia Bhalunach and Navrang are some other folk dances prevalent in the district. 

    Gotipua Dance of Puri

    NAGA DANCE OF PURI

      MEDHA DANCE OF PURI