{"id":4693,"date":"2022-05-02T16:26:28","date_gmt":"2022-05-02T16:26:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/?p=4693"},"modified":"2022-05-31T06:54:31","modified_gmt":"2022-05-31T06:54:31","slug":"abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-odissi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-odissi\/","title":{"rendered":"Abhinaya a dance form of Odissi"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Odisi classical dance of Odisha 1\" width=\"840\" height=\"473\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GTdcj-OqTho?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4694\" srcset=\"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi-107x60.jpg 107w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi-840x473.jpg 840w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi.jpg 1593w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>CO-CREATION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The audience simultaneously co-creates the story while watching an abhinaya, filling in the gaps between symbols with their innermost imagination, grasping at clues suggested by the dancer, the music, and the larger arcs in the performance context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"700\" height=\"465\" src=\"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4695\" srcset=\"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi1.jpg 700w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi1-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi1-90x60.jpg 90w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi1-420x280.jpg 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Everyone present is involved in the act of creation collaboratively. Some audience members are referred to be rasika (one who savours rasa: aesthetic experience), implying that people who enter the aesthetic field (as performer or audience) must have prerequisite knowledge and, more significantly, a willingness to engage. Because Indian arts rely on significant engagement and creative skill in the audience, which qualifies them as rasika, it has been normal practise in India since time immemorial to honour and appreciate the audience with respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"712\" src=\"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi3-1024x712.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4696\" srcset=\"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi3-1024x712.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi3-300x209.jpg 300w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi3-768x534.jpg 768w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi3-1536x1069.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi3-2048x1425.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi3-86x60.jpg 86w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>THEME AND EXPERIMENTATIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Indian Classical dance choreography is based on abstract themes such as spiritual poetry (as in Abhinaya) or musical raga (as in Odissi&#8217;s Pallavi choreographies), and then layers and layers of symbolism are added to create dimension and depth. This is theorised in a significant chapter of Natya Shastra on bhava and rasa, which defines the term&#8217;staiye bhava&#8217; for a piece&#8217;s broader and more concrete topic, such as rati (the romantic) for a love narrative. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"819\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4703\" srcset=\"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi4.jpg 819w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi4-300x220.jpg 300w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi4-768x563.jpg 768w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi4-82x60.jpg 82w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Drawing forth the rich and delightful essence (rasa) of love, variations and complexities are woven into a choreography by sachr (elaborations typically through metaphor), which are thought to deepen the staiye bhava (theme).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>LOVE IS OUR FAVORITE THEME!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi2-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4697\" srcset=\"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi2-90x60.jpg 90w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi2-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi2.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the love truisms honoured by the Indian Aesthetic is Love cannot exist in the absence of longing. Separation and togetherness are just two sides of the same river of love. As a result, separation profoundly intensifies the sensation of love. This is exemplified in the 12th century poem Gita Govinda about Shree Radha and Lord Krishna&#8217;s immortal loving bygone times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8216;Kisalaya Shayana&#8217; is one of the most exquisite examples of romantic abhinaya choreography I&#8217;ve recently seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"700\" height=\"466\" src=\"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi8.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4698\" srcset=\"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi8.jpg 700w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi8-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi8-90x60.jpg 90w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi8-420x280.jpg 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>LET&#8217;S TAKE A LOOK AT THE ELEMENTS OF THIS CHOREOGRAPHY&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The bansuri flute sets the unmistakable tone of love from the first note. The flute&#8217;s soft wafting air fills the area with tenderness, and the blue light begins to show a nighttime closeness that isolates the lovers from all other worldly cares. The duet appears, facing opposing directions and at opposite ends. Their glance describes the gap between the two and the sorrow it causes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the lyrics coalesce, the dancers begin to move \u2014 writhing and wringing in swirling gestures that evoke sweet torment. The staging of the dancers far apart, initially moving individually, then synced, visualises the two&#8217;s physical separation while demonstrating their total inner synchronicity as &#8216;the lover and the beloved.&#8217;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi9-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4699\" srcset=\"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi9-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi9-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi9-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi9-107x60.jpg 107w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi9-840x473.jpg 840w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi9.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The dancers continue to move in unison, yet totally separate, with heaving chests, undulations, and curvy stances. They appear to be chatting with their bodies, yet their gazes are tightly concentrated far apart. They adopt a stance in perfect synchrony. I&#8217;m holding my breath, waiting for them to act, for them to finally unify&#8230; Bijayani (playing Krishna) gently turns her head to look behind at Radha (Sarupa), <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi5-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4702\" srcset=\"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi5-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi5-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi5-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi5-40x60.jpg 40w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi5.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>but is unable to complete the move since the gaze would be too powerful, so &#8216;Krishna&#8217; extends a leg behind while Radha extends her leg forward. The feet at the ends of the graceful legs almost make contact&#8230; they take a step closer together and heave with a sigh and release of tension, sliding into tribhangi synced together, yet separated in look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"552\" src=\"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi11-1024x552.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi11-1024x552.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi11-300x162.jpg 300w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi11-768x414.jpg 768w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi11-111x60.jpg 111w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi11.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The conversation continues, but in an oddly opposed way. Krishna (Bijayani) greets Radha with a distinctly regulated mudra and clear facial and body expression: &#8220;Come rest your lotus-like feet on this comfortable bed of leaves&#8230;&#8221; She&#8217;s pleading with an imaginary Radha downstage right, and her hands are spinning. with lotus forms, while the&#8217;real&#8217; Radha (Sarupa) reacts personally to every word Krishna speaks from upstage, behind him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"736\" height=\"496\" src=\"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi7.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4701\" srcset=\"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi7.jpg 736w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi7-300x202.jpg 300w, https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Abhinaya-a-dance-form-of-Odissi7-89x60.jpg 89w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 736px) 100vw, 736px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The fact that the two actors are facing the audience rather than each other in an intimate exchange immediately draws us into the drama and heightens the inner thrill of the characters about to unite (but still separate). We enter the &#8216;about to join&#8217; (a peak of separateness) and are urged to consider the personalities \u2013 separately and simultaneously.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>CO-CREATION The audience simultaneously co-creates the story while watching an abhinaya, filling in the gaps between symbols with their innermost imagination, grasping at clues suggested &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4700,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[450],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4693"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4693"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4693\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4746,"href":"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4693\/revisions\/4746"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4693"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4693"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/selectvenue.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4693"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}