Gotipua Dance by by Dancers of the Nakshyatra Guruku May 22, 2009

Gotipua Dance by by Dancers of the Nakshyatra Gurukul. In collaboration with Nakshyatra Gurukul. The Gotipua dance performed by boy dancers in female costume is a well-known devotional movement tradition from Orissa. It is in this tradition that the present-day Odissi dance form has its origins. In spite of centuries of political change, foreign invasion, loss of patronage and changing taste, Gotipua has survived, evolved and found ways to keep pace with the changing times. This traditional dance form is performed by young boys from ages 3 to 12 - who dress in female attire and sing and dance to poetry from the Gita Govindam, traditional Oriya bhajans and Sanskrit shlokas. They are also famous for their Bhand Nrutya, acrobatic dance, in which dance is interspersed with acrobatic movements and striking group formations. Nakshyatra Gurukul, one of the young organizations working in the field of Gotipua dance, was established in 2001 by its Founder-Director Guru Bijay Kumar Sahoo. It is currently based in Bhubaneswar. At present, it comprises 16 young boys who are in the process of being rigorously trained in the Gotipua tradition. The training regimen includes yoga, massages, acrobatic exercises, formal schoolwork, and hours of strenuous practice. This programme will offer city viewers the rare opportunity to witness the vigorous and acrobatic Gotipua dance style, presented by the young dancers of Nakshyatra Gurukul. There will be a CHAURAHA discussion with the dancers after the programme, moderated by Odissi dancer Priya Singh.

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