Raks Kheperu Odissi - Traditional Temple Dance

Raks Kheperu Odissi - Traditional Temple Dance 

The Essence of Indian Odissi Temple Dance. 

History and Cultural Significance: The dance form of Odissi is one of the worlds oldest dances from the temples of Orissa India. It is one of the oldest surviving devotional temple dances of India and we will explore it through reverence infused movement. Raks Kheperu dance references the serpentine undulating hip movements of folk dances from northern Egypt, and in modern times referenced as bellydance.

Core Techniques: Learn graceful lines and the feminine/masculine poses of the Devi/Deva. Apply synchronised expressive eye and hand mudras that tell story, and evoke emotion. Dance a devotional artpiece/pranam that fuses traditional temple dance. Learn traditional temple style dance sequences and postures. Develop self awareness with hip movements, precise dance lines and spatial attentiveness. 

This practice is a developing 

 art form of devotion. And requires the dancer to be focused, willing…