FROM TEMPLE TO STAGE
Odissi dance originated in the temples of Odisha, India over 2000 years ago. Dance was traditionally practiced as a sacred ritual to ignite transformation in the dancer and audience. Considered both a classical and devotional dance form, Odissi is graceful and sensuous, expressive and sophisticated. Odissi exquisitely portrays the beauty of the sacred feminine, and reflects the ancient spiritual motifs of India’s great tantric temples.
Odissi has undergone major transformations throughout the centuries. In recent times, it has made a quantum leap from the temples and courts of India to the stages and theaters of the world. In its modern incarnation, Odissi Dance is highly technical, featuring rhythmical footwork, intricate hand gestures, and captivating expressions.
Amid the changes and evolution of Odissi, the Dance has preserved its devotional roots and maintained its spiritual depth. To witness a performance of Odissi Dance is to enter the place where heaven and earth touch, where sensuality and the spirituality are one in the depths of the human heart.
“Watching Revital’s performance awakened something in me that had been sleeping. She embodies the sacred feminine, and reminds all who watch her of the power, grace, and beauty of the divine. She makes me believe those qualities are in me, too. She engages with the audience and draws them into her moving meditation. Her performances are timeless gifts. ”
