Gotipua Dance

About Gotipua Dance:

• It is the majestic folk dance of Orissa which is the precursor to the classical Odissi dance form.
• In the Odisha language, “Goti” means “single” and “Pua” means “boy”.
• In this children are trained in singing, dancing, yoga, and acrobatics within gurukuls or akhadas .
• They dress as girls and perform at temple festivals, social gatherings, and religious ceremonies.
• Origin:
  • In ancient times, the temples of Orissa had female dancers called “Devadasi or Mahari (in Orissa)” who were devoted to Lord Jagannath.
  • During the time of Bhoi king Rama Chandra Dev with the decline of the Mahari dancers, the class of these boy dancers came into existence in Orissa, to carry out the tradition.
• In its present form, the Gotipua Dance is more precise and systematic in its conception.
  • Its performance includes Vandana (prayer to God, or a guru), Abhinaya (the enactment of a song) and Bandha Nritya (rhythms of acrobatic postures)
  • Bandha Nritya is a demonstration of physical prowess requiring great agility and flexibility. Preferably performed in adolescence, with age, this dance form becomes increasingly difficult to execute.
  • The dancers make extensive use of their hands and feet.
  • Musical accompaniment to the Gotipua Dance is provided by the mardala (a pakhawaj), gini (small cymbals), harmonium, violin and flute.

Q1: What is Folk arts?

It reflects the cultural life of a community. The art form encompasses the expressive culture associated with the fields of folklore and cultural heritage. Tangible folk art can include objects which historically are crafted and used within a traditional community.

Source: The dancers who stumble from boyhood stardom to adulthood anonymity

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