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Odissi is one of the eight classical dance forms of India. It originates
 from the state of Orissa, in eastern India. It is the oldest surviving 
dance form of India on the basis of archaeological evidences.The classic
 treatise of Indian dance, Natya Shastra, refers to it as Odra-Magadhi. 
First century BCE bas-reliefs in the hills of Udaygiri (near 
Bhubaneshwar) testify to its antiquity.
Traditional Odissi repertoire consists of:
Mangalacharan-
 An invocational piece. After paying homage to Lord Jagganath a sloka 
(hymn) in praise of some God or Goddess is sung, the meaning of which is
 brought out through dance. Mangalacharan also includes the 'bhumi 
pranam', begging forgiveness of mother earth for stamping on her, and 
the 'trikhandi pranam' or threefold salutation - above the head to the 
Gods, in front of the face to the gurus and in front of the chest to the
 audience.
Battu Nrutya- A dance piece offered to the Lord of 
dance - God Shiva in his 'Batuka Bhairava' form. This piece brings out 
the essence of Odissi. The interrelationship between temple sculptural 
art and Odissi dance is established with an array of sculpturesque poses
 taken directly from the innumerable dancing sculptures adorning the 
temples of Orissa. These poses are stringed together with steps in 
different rhythms.
Pallavi- A pure dance item in which a raga is 
elaborated through eye movements, body postures & intricate 
footwork. Pallavi literally means "blossoming". This is applicable not 
only to the dance, but also to the music, which accompanies it. Pallavi 
starts with slow, graceful & lyrical movements of the eyes, neck, 
torso & feet & slowly builds in a crescendo to climax in a fast 
tempo at the end. Both the dance and the music evolve in complexity as 
the dancer traces multiple patterns in space, interpreting the music 
dexterously in the multilayered dimensions of taal (rhythm) and laya 
(speed).
Abhinaya- An expressional dance where a story conveyed 
to the audience through mudra or hand gestures (the language of Indian 
classical dance), facial expression and body movement. Abhinaya can be 
performed on verses in Sanskrit or Oriya. Most common are Abhinayas on 
Oriya songs or Sanskrit Ashthapadis or Sanskrit stutis like Dasavatar 
Stotram (depicting the ten incarnations of Lord Vishu) or Ardhanari 
Stotram. Most of the abhinaya compositions are based on the 
Radha-Krishna theme. The Astapadis of the kãvya 'Gita Govinda' written 
by the Saint Jayadev are an integral part of its repertoire . The 
beginning pieces are dedicated to God of Orissa, Lord Jagannatha - an 
incarnation of God Vishnu.
Dance drama- Usually longer than 
Abhinaya and typically performed by more than one dancers. Some of the 
much appreciated dance dramas composed by Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra are:
 Sudama Dharitra Bhanjana, Mathamani Pradhana, Balya Leela, Rutu 
Samhara, Krishna Sudama, Dushmanta Sakuntala, Utkala Mauda Mani, 
Yagnaseni, Meghadoot, Kumara Sambhava, Sapan Nayaka. Usually Hindu 
mythologies are chosen as themes, but experimenting with the theme and 
form in recent years have led to extremely unique creations. Some 
worth-mentioning themes in recent years are Panchakanya, Ganga yamuna, 
Shrita kamalam, Mrutyuh and Tantra.
Moksha- The concluding item 
of a recital. Moksha means "spiritual liberation". This dance represents
 a spiritual culmination for the dancer who soars into the realm of pure
 aesthetic delight. Movement and pose merge to create ever new patterns,
 ever new designs in space and time. The dance moves onto a crescendo 
that is thrilling to both, the eye and the ear. With the cosmic sound of
 the "Om", the dance dissolves into nothingness — just like Moksha or 
the deliverance of the soul in real life.
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