The research papers contained in this publication are important documents in the history of the evolution of Odissi dance in the last century. The Odissi dance style has witnessed an incredibly fast development and expansion in the course of only two decades from the middle of the last century. The spectacular growth and increase in popularity of this dance style calls for an assessment of its course and directions from time to time.
The scholars and practitioners whom the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi had invited to participate in the seminar held for two consecutive days in July 1975 were the major architects in the revival and reconstruction of the style after Independence both as far as the theoretical and practical aspects are concerned.
Among the most important events which had already happened in the Nineteen Fifties in relation to the establishment of Odissi dance one needs to mention the First Inter University Youth Festival held in Delhi in November 1954 where for the first time Odissi dance was presented outside the state by Priyambada Mohanty and Dhirendranath Patnaik and had received huge appreciation by dance critics and dance practitioners alike.
Another important event was the All India Dance Seminar organised at Delhi in April 1958 by the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi where Kalicharan Patnaik read his paper on the classical foundation of Odissi dance while Jayanti Ghosh and Deva Prasad Das gave a practical demonstration of the basic tenets of the style.
Following these two events notable dance critics such as Mohan Kokhar and Charles Fabri among others started to research and write articles on the newly discovered dance style from Odisha and Odissi came to be accepted as the 5th style of classical dance by the Central Akademi.
Another important event was the formation of the association called Jayantika whose first meeting took place in June 1958 but which became more active from July 1959 onwards. The purpose of the association was to define a common style of presentation for the dance based on the traditional experience of the participants and on the directions laid down in the classical texts. The gurus, dancers and scholars who participated in the discussions were able to arrive at a consensus in defining the margam or basic course of presentation of the dance divided into five segments that is mangala charan, batu, pallavi, abhinaya and mokshya.
Still much more remained to be done in term of classification and definition of several practical and theoretic aspects of the style. However one has to give full credits to the dedication and perseverance of those who participated in the Jayantika meetings for laying a solid foundation for the future expansion of the repertoire.
On the theoretical side the publication of the book on Odissi dance in Odia by Dhirendranath Patnaik in 1958 and the translation of Abhinaya Chandrika into Odia done by the same author in 1960 were also two important contributions in the same direction.
Unfortunately the association could not last long since from the early Sixties the dance gurus started getting engaged in different assignments both in and outside the state and differences in interpretation and stylistic representation crept in giving rise to what came to be known as the three gharana of Odissi dance headed by the three major pioneers of the revival, guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, guru Deva Prasad Das and guru Pankaj Charan Das.
Odissi dance is a veritable treasure of Orissan art. Its fame is not limited to Odisha or India only. It has already gained reputation as a highly developed dance form in the entire world. However, in discussion and performance, one problem has remained persistent. It is the difference of opinion between the dance gurus. How the different sections of the dance can be presented conforming to the classical tenets while sustaining the refined flavor and has the approval of all the gurus is now the need of the hour. Hence it was felt that there is a need for a symposium. In the history of Odissi dance, for the first time, the symposium was organized for two days on July 28th and 29th 1975 under the joint aegis of State Govt and Central Sangeet Natak Akademi at Kala Mandap in Bhubaneswar. It was inaugurated by the-then Deputy Minister Sheikh Matlub Ali while the Chief Guest was Minister Shri Jadunath Das Mahapatra. On both the days the Vice President of the Central Akademi Kabichandra Dr Kalicharan Patnaik presided.
In this symposium all the dance researchers, gurus and artists were invited to participate in the discussion. Twenty seven hours of discussion that took place over two days were tape recorded under the supervision of the Special Officer of the Akademi, Shri Dhiren Das. Later on it was transcribed and the editing work was entrusted to Dr Kalicharan Patnaik. Now it is being published as a book. Besides the discussions, the papers read out in the symposium have also been included in the book.
No decision was taken in the symposium as regards to the standard or the method of the dance. Our aim was to bring together all the practitioners of the art and facilitate a heart to heart discussion among them. Whatever has been transcribed must be containing a lot of vital truths. What is vital is true, eternal and acceptable. I hope that whatever has emerged from these brainstorming sessions will be accepted by the dance gurus and dance artists and help them in their mission for progress in Odissi dance.
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