Today the Fynch flies to the South of Asia, specifically towards India. When one talks about dance in South Asia, India has some really old dances that have been carried from generation to generation and are still taught to maintain that very legacy. Amongst the many dances is the classical dance Odissi that originated from the Eastern state of Orissa in India. Based on archaeological evidences, this particular dance is the oldest surviving dance forms of India.
It is also referred as Odra-Magadhi in Natya Shastra- a detailed written piece of work that formally and systematically revolves around dramatic art with all the aspects of the Sanskrit theatre included. It was originally performed as a religious offering in the temples by the temple girls which were also known as Maharis. These girls dedicated their entire lives in the service of God. This dance form has the closest resemblance with sculptures present in the Indian temples. Odissi is characterized by various stances called Bhangas. This movement involves the body bending in one direction at the knees, the other at the hips and the other at the shoulder and neck. The posture that this dance form creates can be observed in the Indian sculptures. The most common Bhangas include Bhanga, Abanga, Atibhanga and Tribhanga. This dance form has the closest resemblance with sculptures present in the Indian temples. There are many distinguishing features about this dance which include the Tribhangi, which is the movement of the head, torso and chest as well as the Chauka (Hindi for square) that is the basic square position symbolizing lord Jagannath. Comparing the poses in many classical dances, Odissi stands out as the poses are more curved. Another key component of this specific dance is Mudra. This term means stamp with a hand position suggesting a wide array of emotion and symbolism. This dance is directed towards the religious themes in Hinduism such as the stories that revolve around Lord Krishna.
If one takes a look at the attire of the performers, they are draped in silks with vibrant colours and adorned in beautiful and unique head gear, adding the visual appeal of the dance. With such an appearance and steps in the dance Odissi catches the attention of the audience and keeps them there as the performers indulge in the art of visual story telling through body movements and facial expressions.
