Hi everyone!
Can I still say happy new year? I'll take what is probably my last chance of saying it - happy new year! 🙂
This month's newsletter will share some of my thoughts about the beauty of Odiya culture, and details on a new term of odissi classes (starting next week!). Let's get to it!
The beauty and sweetness of Odiya culture
Last year, I discovered a YouTube video that really had an impact on me. It was full of so much sweetness and pure devotion, and also just quite epic in its glimpse into some of the culture of Odisha. Odisha is the eastern state of India where odissi dance is from -
Across India, different parts of the country have different deities they predominantly worship. And in Odisha, Jagannath is the absolute focal point. The name can be translated as 'Lord of the universe', with Jagan meaning universe and nath meaning lord.
We'll get to the video in just a moment, but just to set a bit more context first! Jagannath is often presented with his siblings, Subhadra and Balabhadra. Jagannath is on the right, Subahdra in the middle and Balabhadra on the left.
And as a trio they are quite unique in the material used for their 'bodies' when positioned in temples or on alters (murti is the term used for the altar figure). Rather than being formed out of brass or stone, as is the more usual practice for murtis in Hindu temples, they are instead carved out of wood and then painted. The worship of Jagannath is said to have tribal origins, and it is suggested to be pre-Vedic - so prior to the development of a lot of what we recognise as 'Hinduism' today.
And a lot of what we see today links back to tribal practices. Nature features constantly. A connection with the earth is almost palpable.
So I guess that is one component that I find so compelling in this video.
Another is the sweetness that emerges from the devotion to this presiding deity. We see and experience it all the time in odissi dance. In odissi, it is often seen and experienced with strongly feminine attributes - the curves of the body, the longing to unite with the beloved, the sense of awe. This video I love features a couple of priests and I just love to see the love and devotion in their eyes as they sing to their beloved.
And finally it is just incredible to see all the clips of the worship of Jagannath and his siblings in one of the main annual celebrations in Puri, Odisha. The thousands upon thousands of people coming together purely for the worship of their most beloved. Even if you are not a religious person, it is really incredible to watch.
And the whole editing of the video is just perfect it's such good vibes!!!!
The first 2 minutes or so is some serious chanting, and then we enter a blissful 25 minutes. I hope you can take the time to put it on, either just in the background, or to watch it as a way to connect with and understand a culture that has so much depth and sweetness, that might be quite different to your own.
Odissi Classes!
A new term of odissi technique classes is starting this Wednesday 19th January! The classes are with Bhumi Dance Academy and I am continuing to cover Elena Catalano's classes.
Level wise - it will be suitable for complete beginners as well as improvers or anyone looking to focus in on their odissi technique and embodiment. We will be starting working through each of the standard drilling exercises week by week, as well as excerpts of choreographies to feel how the technique translates into dance. I think one of the things I love most about odissi is its technique component, so I'm really happy to be able to focus in on that, and help people really feel the dance form alive in their bodies.
As I put it in my recent social media posts -
Embodying elegance, strength and presence. Would you like to learn how to embody those qualities in your deepest self through dance?
I always feel like dance, in any form, provides us with endless metaphors for life. In life as in dance. In dance as in life. And in learning how to integrate the teachings of odissi in our dancing body, we also learn how to integrate them into our broader lives.
It's pretty ultimate. Good for the soul.
If you have ever been interested in learning, the time is now!
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The classes are hybrid, so we will have both in-person and online options. The classes will also be recorded if you are not able to join live - or also if you just want to review the class again afterwards!
Details:
In-person location: Studio 9, The Place, 16 Flaxman Terrace, London, WC1H 9AT
Date: Wednesday evenings from 19/01/22 for 10 weeks
Time: 1830-2000 GMT
Fore more details please visit: http://www.bhumidance.com/danceclasses
Finally...
And as a final note if you made it this far, here is a lovely image captured by Simon Richardson from my performance at Kadam's Songs of the Heart, in November last year.
📷: Simon Richardson
Till next time...
Maryam Shakiba
🌺🌺🌺