Ayesha Ghosh ‘27

Winter Term 2024

Odissi in India

Ayesha deeply immersed herself in the ancient Indian classical dance form of Odissi. Throughout January, she took rigorous Odissi classes in Kolkata, India, under renowned dancer Nandini Ghosal, as well as created and performed an hour-long solo repertoire to perform for family members. She visited sacred dance sites in Orissa, such as the Konark Sun Temple, participated in a practice with live-musicians, and attended an Odissi performance, to deepen her understanding and connection to the art form. This project was a hands-on artistic exploration of the ancient Indian dance form, exploring how it feels to embody the spiritual and physical teachings of Odissi. Embarking on this project in Kolkata allowed her to practice this art form in its geographical origin, explore the spiritual and cultural history and present practice of Odissi in the region, and inspire her own choreographies and creative ideas with the cultural influences around her.