Art Featured: Odissi Dance
Introduction To Odissi:
Odissi is an age-old classical dance form that delivers a story through expressions and moves. It is graceful and has inherent beauty to it. It includes various gestures and expressions and a certain type of body language to convey a tale.
Classical Inspiration :
According to Madhur, Guru Sharon Lowen and his parents are his true inspiration behind his art form. His mother has been his guru and she was always supportive of him in every stance of life. Odissi’s grace and poise attracted Madhur towards it and he had the resilience to extract the best out of it. As he states that a certain level of Tapasya is required to become a classical dancer and he devoted himself to it completely. He learned Kathak from a renowned artist Pandit Birju Maharaj Ji but Odissi happened to him by sheer serendipity. In the beginning years of Kathak, he soon realized that his body frame and psyche were better suited for Odissi and that’s how he started practicing it. He loves conveying stories through his dance form and he surely delivers it with precision and grace. In his whole journey, his parents’ relentless support kept him going and helped him reach the pinnacle he is at today.
Behind The Stories:
Madhur shares that it requires years and years of practice, training, and dedication to deliver the performance beautifully. To achieve solid prowess in classical dance, you require powerful observation and continuous introspection to improve and to let your body imbibe the moves and emotions. According to him, hours of regular practice and discipline are the key to learn this art elegantly. He further adds that dance is not just about the physicality or the style, one also needs to understand the art of music, textiles, lighting, stage direction, and arts management.
About Madhur:
Madhur Gupta is a leading Odissi dancer. His journey into the transcendental world of classical dance began at an early age. He initially learned kathak from the maestro Pt. Birju Maharaj Ji but later got fascinated by the lyrical art that is Odissi. Several incidents in his life happened which changed his course of life but also introduced him to this art. The journey is continuing, albeit with all struggles, but in the end, he is happy.
Credentials:
Madhur has won several credentials. He has got published in big newspapers such as The Hindu, The Indian Express, The Hindustan Times, and so on. He is also a graded artist of Doordarshan. But out of everything, to Madhur, his biggest achievements are blessings from his Gurus.
A Message:
Our artist emphasizes the fact that classical arts are not a career but a way of living. One should not pursue it for the sake of fame or money. He says that glamour will eventually come but the performer needs to stay devoted to his dance from the heart. He advises everyone to rethink and introspect as to what they love and if they are madly in love with dance.
If yes, then there’s no stopping you.
Lastly, Madhur quotes, “One step at a time and it’ll lead you to wherever you wish to.”
AVAILABLE ON: Instagram ( @Madhur_gupta04)
