Going places

Bhubaneswar, March 25: Odisha Dance Academy, a city-based organisation, is on a tour of the US to present their latest production Gatha Odissi. The dance ballet is on the evolution of Odissi.

Odissi danseuse Aruna Mohanty is leading the 12-member troupe on the tour, which began on March 18. During the two-month long trip, they will present various facets of Odissi, which include the birth of the dance form as Mahari in temples across the state and influences of gotipua dance, rasalila, sakhi nata and other folk theatre and art forms.

“Gatha Odissi is the enriching tale of Odissi dance’s journey from its initial stages in temples to today’s form as we see it on the stage. Our production includes the different allied art forms that have influenced its current form and the story of how the gurus defined its grammar and compositions around 60 years ago.

“We will perform in 30 cities across the US during the tour that has been organised for our institute by Center for World Music, San Diego,” said Mohanty.

The troupe performed in Washington DC and Virginia during the weekend.

Among other venues, they will perform in Dallas, Miami, St Louis, Seattle (Washington), California, Chicago, Boston, New York, New Jersey, Austin and Houston.