The peacock mudra is as ornamental as the bird's own display.

Student Reconnects to Culture Through Dance

by Anne Christensen
photos by Tom Kimmell

Odissi is perhaps the most lyrical and graceful form of traditional Indian dance, dating from the second century B.C., says dancer Namrita Singh '05. Odissi was part of temple liturgy, and dancers, called devadasis, were consecrated to God. Their dances and costumes reflect that spiritual devotion and bridal symbolism.

During British colonization, dance traditions declined but did not die out. When India fought for her independence, Odissi was revived and regenerated through research on temple sculptures. Now it's mostly secular, says Singh, yet a dancer's repertoire usually begins with an offering to Ganesh, remover of obstacles; includes a pallavi that showcases dance technique and style; and ends with a moksha, a dance of liberation from the endless cycle of reincarnation.

"For me and many other young South Asian dancers in America, classical Indian dance is a way to connect to our traditions and culture, but one needs discipline and introspection," says Singh. "I'm not Hindu, but I feel a sense of rejuvenation when I dance ­ not just because it¹s exercise, but because you are offering yourself, making some connection to a being higher than yourself."

Hand Gestures
Odissi includes hundreds of graceful mudras, or hand gestures. Some have specific meanings no matter where they're seen; others have no independent meaning outside a particular dance. It's like sign language, says Namrita Singh: "When you put them together, it makes a story"