Charukeshi Pallavi (Chowk Show 2024)

Charukeshi Pallavi (Chowk Show 2024), held at Goodman Arts Center, Singapore on 7th September,2024. Chowk Show is an annual showcase event of Chowk Productions, Singapore. This is my debut performance with Chowk and in Odissi.
Odissi is a traditional dance-drama genre of performance art, where the artist(s) and musicians play out a story, a spiritual message or devotional poem from the Hindu texts, using symbolic costumes, body movement, abhinaya (expressions) and mudras (gestures and sign language) set out in ancient Sanskrit literature.
A classical Odissi performance consists of five different types of items: (1) "Mangalacharan", a praise to a particular Divinity, to the stage and to the audience; (2) "Sthayee" or "Batu" that introduces the techniques of Odissi Dance; (3) "Pallavi" that creates a particular sentiment through abstract forms; (4) "Abhinaya" that enacts a traditional story about the deeds of a specific God/ Goddess; (5) "Mokshya" that transcends all the participants to a higher spiritual level. The piece I performed was Charukeshi (Awakening in the moonlight) Pallavi. The steps are based on Chauka (or Chowk) literally means ‘square’ and it is one of the most distinctive basic stances used in Odissi. In its static form, chauka is perfectly symmetrical with the weight equally distributed among the two legs. Both arms and legs form a square shape. Eyes and head are in sama. The stance take inspiration from the representation of ‘Lord Jagannath'.

[@michellestalimeros1086]

What a beautiful and mesmerising performance! Love it!