Productions
Dhara | Odissi Mandala  
 
In the Indian tradition, dance was designed to provide moments of connectivity between body and spirit to which the audience was invited to be part of. The primary objective of a Dance Routes production therefore is to explore spirituality in contemporary terms using structures of the Odissi dance form. The work is based on yogic techniques that create the separation between the ‘self’ and ‘Self’ as required by classical Indian dance, facilitating focused communication with divinity.
 
Contact
 
Dhara (2007)

 

Dhara dissolves the conventional demarcations between folk and classical dance in the Orissan performing arts.  

It weaves together contemporary choreography with the
gotipua, sahi yatra and odissi dance traditions, while exploring the process of embodying dance as a means of union with inner divinity, a purpose that historically linked all these forms. 


 

Dhara has an original soundtrack drawing from folk and classical devotional Orissan music and Hindu tantric chants and prayers. It is accompanied by projected images of pattachitra painting (also traditionally a ritual art) with English subtext, illustrating the themes being danced.

 
Dhara's sponsors in UK :
 

 
Artistic Direction
Music Director
Photography

Dr. Rekha Tandon
Michael Weston
Robyn Beeche
Size of troupe
5-7 dancers
1 technical supervisor/stage manager
Technical requirements
DVD video projection facilities
Duration
1 Hour Approx.
   
Dhara (2006)  

Dhara emerged from a five-month workshop, ‘The Raghurajpur LilaProject, Phase I’ with one young gurukul from the village of Raghurajpur, located 15 kms. from the pilgrimage town of Puri in Orissa.

The workshop ended with much acclaimed performances in Kolkata and New Delhi.

One of the prime objectives of the Raghurajpur Lila Project was to provide employment to talented gotipua dancers who wished to continue a career in dancing, once their life as part of a gurukul drew to a close. 


 

Dhara | Odissi Mandala