Odissi Indian Classical Dance is the daughter to a very ancient system of Temple Dance from India’s East Coast state of Orissa / Odisha. For 100’s (or most likely 1000’s) of years, society looked upon and entrusted Temple Dancers as the embodiment of fertility, abundance, sensuality, and the life-giving energy called Shakti. From my perspective and research, they were advanced yoginis, along with intensively trained dancers, starting at a very young age. Their life was single focused on their training and ritual duties. They were literally married to the God, thus were wives of the God, and appropriately given their own matriarchal caste at the highest level of society, next to the Deity, considered the “God King.” 

Unfortunately, due to the rise of global patriarchy, foreign invasions, disrespect to the Feminine, etc. this rich and essential tradition crumbled, much of it lost to dust and legend.

After India gained their independence from England in 1947, a great cultural revolution began. Odissi, the regional dance of Odisha, was a result of this renaissance, born from a few dedicated men piecing together the remains of a nearly forgotten Temple Dance tradition. Through studying ancient texts along with temple carvings and art, they organized and classified their findings to create one of India’s premier Indian Classical Dance forms.

Ancient Temple Dance included rhythm of the feet with bells – Odissi has continued this practice. Feet slapping with ankle bells act as musical instruments. Yet also, since Temple Dancers were the ambassadors of Shakti to society, they also learned various methods to cultivate and channel Shakti. Feet slapping earth and stone of ancient Temples calls forth the bountiful and powerful Shakti of the Earth, directly into the Dancer’s body, igniting the physical, energetic, spiritual system, and beyond. Hand gesture “mudras,” richly woven throughout this dance, are sourced from this Shakti, as are the facial expressions, and this dance in general.

Odissi Indian Classical Dance creates an alchemy of these unique ancient elements to bend time, energy, and environment that is not only experienced by the dancer, but also the viewers… opening into a timeless realm of divinity, mystery, beauty, and devotion.