What is Odissi training?

Training for a traditional art form is based on perseverance, regularity, sincerity, and heart felt earnestness to learn. It requires an understanding that the relationship with the Teacher /Acharya/ Guru is a long-term relationship. The progress is directly proportional to patience, trust and discipline that becomes a part of your lifestyle.  

Our training follows the theoretical and pedagogical syllabus that has been set by the Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Board, India, for Odissi Dance. We follow the Late Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra and his Disciple Guru Madhavi Mudgal as our path keepers stylistically. Monica Singh Sangwan has added her own unique approach to the training module which brings in values imbibed from years of observing the dancing body. We understand that though the traditional training is ideally started at a young age, it is not always the case, as most dancers arrive at our doors as young adults. Out of the need to keep the authenticity of the style and yet give the maximum dancing ability to the dancers, we have created a pedagogical style that tries to embrace all that a student brings to us in their body from a life that has lived and probably experienced other physical, visual creative forms. 

How do we train at the Sohamasmi Centre?

Our main training module has the traditional Odissi training with Beginners starting with simple toning of the body and calming the mind with Hatha Yoga. 

The basics of learning and mastering of Chowk and Tribhanga postures through learning and practice of the steps with these basic postures. 

Learning of putting the basic positions in to Arasas along with understanding the Taal or rhythmic patterns that revolve around these short compositions. 

The intermediate and advanced levels progress through learning all the choreographic compositions that are part of the Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra style and the ability to independently learn to choreograph and create their own unique compositions.

We have Kalarippayattu (Ancient Indian martial art) from the Vallabhatta Gurukul from Kerala   as part of a compulsory training for all our dancers. Nidhin Gurukkal a prime disciple of this Gurukul has been training our dancers since 2020. This training has been one of our core modules as the training has been found to compliment the dancers odissi training without leaving any stylistic mark on Odissi dance. The training has helped many of our dancers to address issues of body confidence, strength, mental and physical and finding the ability to combat issues of body dysmorphia.

Our group has been extremely lucky to now have our own local music orchestra with whom we practice and create compositions for a full live presentation of Odissi Dance and Music. Training in Odissi dance also requires a consistent approach to understanding and learning music be it in instrumental form or Vocal. 

 Our students also train with experts from Odisha via zoom and have regular Mardala (Percussion) classes with Shri Buddhanath Swain and Odissi Music training Vocal with Shri Achyuta Maharana. 

The training is based upon creating Soloists of Odissi dance who can perform and continue the tradition by adding their own values and vision to the next group of upcoming dancers.