” In 1995, our destination was very clear: the land of Orissa and the residence of one of the most impressive Odissi dancers and one the most enchanting voices of Odissi music, Sanjukta and Raghunath Panigrahi.
Many years after, having had the opportunity to meet all the legendary gurus and famous dancers, and to witness to the changing process of the tradition, a crucial question raised in our minds, what is the essence of Odissi dance?
Between 2011 and 2012, we got the answer to this question.
The video documentary narrates the evolution of the Odissi dance, its technique, costume, make up… from the perspective of contemporary masters and dancers”.

Luisa Spagna Paolo Pacciolla

ESSENCE OF ODISSI DANCE
The making of a tradition

A video research on the evolution of the Odissi dance and its many aspects through the words of some of the most important contemporary representatives of the style, such as Mayadhar Rout, Kum Kum Mohanty, Durga Charan Ranbir, Madhavi Mudgal, Ileana Citaristi, Ratikant and Sujata Mohapatra, Sharon Lowen, Bichitrananda Swain, Mira Das…..

Video research by Luisa Spagna and Paolo Pacciolla

Directed by Paolo Pacciolla

Video optimization by Emiliano Buffo

Produced by Sutra Arti Performative

sutraartiperformative.com