#temple dance

Odissi Performance - 2014 (dancer)

On the 12th of April 2014, I had the honour of making my Odissi debut at Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Bukit Beruang, Malacca. I performed one solo item, and was accompanied by my teacher, Vathana Chandrasegaran, and fellow student Rhivakshini for the closing piece. 

For my solo piece I performed Vasantha Pallavi, a beautiful pure dance item which challenged my mental and physical strength to its limits, and therefore made it all the more rewarding to perform for the Goddess in her temple. 

For the closing piece we performed a short Moksha, a piece which represents the spiritual liberation and joy of the dancer. 

Apsara's Dance - A Journey Through Time

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and so we dance

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spilling over abundance h

s a s

Felt blessed to see this amazing gesture by great Swapna Sundari ji seeking blessings from Smt Jaganmohini Devdasi of Srikurman Temple Andhra Pradesh. Telugu

Hello friends!

After a much needed two-week hiatus, Journey to the Goddess is back with a new interview series on feminine power and “Temple Dance”, featuring classical Indian dancer and teacher, Daniela Riva.

Classical Indian dance and Hindu mythology and culture hold a special place in my heart. In 2012, I was fortunate enough to participate in an immersive classical Indian dance training with NYC-based Theater Mitu in Bangalore, India. It was there that I first had a direct and meaningful experience of the Goddess. The Goddess forever changed my life and my art, and connected me with my life purpose.

I believe that dance is a sacred portal with which anyone, but women especially, can find meaning and empowerment through direct experience of the Goddess. That is why I am thrilled to share my interview with my dear friend and maestra (master teacher), Daniela Riva.

In this series, Daniela and I dive deep into the history of Classical Indian dance and the Devadasi, the original women who danced in the temples. We explore the meaning of the Goddess in Hinduism as Shakti, and most important, how to access and embody Shakti’s feminine power through the practice and knowledge of “Temple Dance”.

This week’s Journey to the Goddess begins on Friday, May 1st.

Gotipua Dance is a traditional dance form in the state of Orissa, India, and the precursor of Odissi classical dance. The boys begin to learn the dance at an early age until adolescence, when their androgynous appearance changes. In the Oriya language Gotipua, means “single boy” (goti-pua). Raghurajpur, Orissa (near Puri) is an historic village known for its Gotipua dance troupes.