The roots of Indian dance, music and theatre are found in Natyashastra – the treatise from III AC, believed to be written by the famous prophet Bharata. The myth depicting the origin of Natyashastra says that all the gods asked Brahma – the mightiest among them all – to create some amusement, something nice to look at and pleasant to listen to. Therefore, Brahma took the four most important things from four Veda’s (the oldest scriptures of Hinduism, thought to be “not of human agency”): that which could be read – the intellectual content; that which could be sung – the music; the abhinaya - mimetic art and the rasas - the emotional content. Out of these four aspects Brahma compiled the fifth Veda – Natyaveda, Natyashastra.
Odissi
This graceful and elegant dance originated in Orissa, a North-East state of India. It is particularly known for its feminine grace, unique fluent movement, sublime form, exceptional precision and a great dose of bhakti – devotion. Originally performed in the temples by maharis (temple dancers), its history underwent many turbulences – until the end of the 19th century, when after a campaign led by the British and the Indian social and political reformers, dancing in the temple was banned.
In its past performed as a religious temple dance, the contemporary Odissi combines two dance styles: the delicate and exquisite dance of mahari and vigorous, acrobatic dance of gotipua (performed by boys). Some people say that in Odissi dance one can see the Orissa temple sculptures come alive.
