Four-day Odissi camp offers immersive learning experience

Dancers from Kerala and Karnataka took part in a four-day residential Odissi workshop that concluded with a performance at Parakkattukaavu Sree Bhagavathy Temple, Kavassery, near Palakkad on Sunday evening.

The workshop titled ‘Odissi immersive: season 2’ was held at Oneness Living, a village retreat near the peacock sanctuary at Chulanur. It gave participants an opportunity to stay together and learn the classical dance form through an intensive residential programme.

Bengaluru-based Odissi exponent Madhulita Mohapatra led the workshop. The daily schedule began with dance practice in the morning and continued until late night. Sessions covered basic stances, postures, steps, mudras, rhythm, tala, music and abhinaya. Participants also learnt a pallavi and a mangalacharan according to their level of training.

“The residential format allowed participants to live, learn and practise together for four days,” said Ms. Mohapatra. Afternoons included walks through paddy fields, hills and forest trails, along with visits to nearby temples, before dance sessions resumed in the evening. She said the programme gave students uninterrupted time to practise, interact and deepen their understanding of Odissi.

Experiencing the discipline

According to Ms. Mohapatra, residential workshops help dancers step away from their daily routines and experience the discipline and philosophy of Odissi in a more focused way.

Dancers from different professional backgrounds attended the workshop. They included Mini Somakumar, Brunda Ganesh, Garima Balhara, Swapna Sarita Mishra, Leavina N., Mouli Nandi Dutta, Deepa Sasidharan, Seetal K.J., Ashini Mahapatra, Tanishi Barpanda, Radhika Mundra and Srudhi Ratheesh.

“The workshop gave us an opportunity to experience dance through continuous practice, shared learning and interaction with fellow dancers in a natural setting,” said Ms. Somakumar. She said staying together in the peaceful surroundings made the learning experience more meaningful.

The concluding programme at Kavassery temple featured performances by the participants and Ms. Mohapatra. A recipient of the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar and the Kempegowda Award, Ms. Mohapatra has been promoting Odissi in Kerala and Karnataka.

She teaches the dance form at several centres in Kerala and has been working to expand its reach in the State. Two years ago, she approached former Education Minister V. Sivankutty seeking the inclusion of Odissi in the Kerala State school arts festival.