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" Odissi ", one of the classical dance forms of India.It originates from the state of
Orissa, in eastern
India. It is the oldest surviving dance form of
India on the basis of archaeological evidences.
The classic treatise of Indian dance,
Natya Shastra, refers to it as
Odra-Magadhi. 1
st century BCE
bas-reliefs in the hills of
Udaygiri (near
Bhubaneshwar) testify to its antiquity. It was suppressed under the
British Raj, but has been reconstructed since
India gained independence. It is particularly distinguished from other
classical Indian dance forms by the importance it places upon the
Tribhangi (literally: three parts break), the independent movement of head, chest and pelvis
and upon the basic square stance known as
Chauka or
Chouka that symbolizes
Lord Jagannath. This dance is characterized by various
Bhangas (Stance), which involves stamping of the foot and striking various postures as seen in Indian sculptures. The common
Bhangas are
Bhanga,
Abanga,
Atibhanga and
Tribhanga.