Odissi

Odissi (or Orissi) is the traditional style of dance that originated in the state of Orissa in Eastern India, where it was performed by the maharis (temple dancers). It is one of the oldest surviving forms of dance, with evidence dating back to 2200 BC to be found in the caves of Khandagiri and Udayagiri in Orissa. Today, there are three distinct styles of Odissi, including the Gotipua style of Guru Deba Prasad Das, the Mahari style of Guru Pankaj Charan Das, and the repertoire of Odissi as formulated under the aegis of Jayantika in 1957, which is the style of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra.

Odissi is characterised by its curvaceous movements, sculpturesque poses full of languid grace and an imposing demeanour at the same time.

Gotipua dancers are originally pre-pubescent boys who were trained in Odissi and used to perform in public during the conservative Vaishnavite period when it was not considered right for women to do so. Their style of Odissi has many acrobatic elements and concentrates more on the chouka, a half-sit posture which is one of the two pivotal stances in Odissi.

Maharis were originally the temple dancers who dpanchkanya dances. Jayantika was a movement to revive Odissi and give it a proper format, after it almost died out due to lack of patronage by the oyal kingdoms and when the image of temple dancers was sullied by many accusations. Thanks to the efforts of this organisation, in 1958, Odissi was given the status of a classical dance by the government of India.

From: Wikipedia