Odissi dance performance by Sonali Mishra on October 22, 2009 from 6:30pm to 8pm

Tamarind Art Council is pleased to announce the performance of Odissi Dancer Sonali Mishra. The performance will be on October 22, 2009 from 6:30pm to 8pm. The event is free and open to the public.

To attend RSVP to rsvp@tamarindarts.org or call 212-200-8000 press “0” for the operator.

Odissi is an ancient traditional dance originating in the 1st century BC in Eastern India. It is primarily religious in nature and has lately undergone a revival. Odissi was originally performed as a daily temple ritual by a group of women or Maharis who performed this art as part of the daily temple ritual service for Lord Jagannath in His temple in Puri. Dances performed by these women were purely devotional and ritualistic by nature. Odissi dance as we know it today is a result of the tireless efforts of Gurus, scholars, and
critics including: Kalichandra Kalicharan Patnaik, Singhari Shyam Sundar Kar, Durlav Chandra Singh, Pandit Chandrasekhar Patnaik, Dhirendra Nath Patnaik, Pankaj Charan Das, Kelucharan Mohapatra, Mayadhar Rout, and Deba Prasad Das. These pioneers have set forth to revive this ancient art form by conducting extensive research on temple sculptures, ancient treatises on dance and music, palm leaf manuscripts, traditional paintings and literature, as well as the Gotipua and Mahari traditions. This vast and expansive study informed the codification and systemization of Odissi as a classical style. Odissi has a very distinct style and presentation.

Using a series of “bhangis” or poses, and rounded, circular movements which are enhanced by the use of the torso in a series of specified isolations, Odissi is known for its grace and lyricism. The two distinguishing features of Odissi dance are the Tribhangi, a pose formed by the deflection of the torso, hip, and head, as well s the Chauka, a squarelike stance representing Lord Jagannath, the presiding deity of Orissa.

About Sonali Mishra
A talented dancer with an incessant flow of energy, Sonali is in constant pursuit of perfection. By her sheer dedication and sincerity, she has emerged as one of the most promising young dancers of her generation. Sonali has performed as a soloist at various festivals and programs in India, Canada, Malaysia, the US and the UK. Sonali began her dancing career at the age of five. She was initiated into Odissi dance at the age of fourteen. Throughout her career Sonali has received training with several renowned gurus. Sonali is currently continuing her training under the guidance of Smt. Sujata Mohapatra and divides her time between New York, Detroit, and Bhubaneswar.