CONSTRUCTING THE ODISSI DANCE
REFLECTIONS ON THE CREATION OF THE ODIA IDENTITY AND THE REPRESENTATION OF DANCERS
Dr Rukshana Zaman is the current holder of the Charles Wallace Scholarship at the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics.
In India, Rukshana works as Assistant Professor in Anthropology at the School of Social Sciences, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi.
The construction of the Odissi dance owes its origin to the Mahari (female dancers attached to the temple of Lord Jagannath) and the Gotipua (male acolytes dressed as females) dance form of Odisha. The gestures and postures in Odissi dance owe much to the relief carvings on the Sun Temple of Konark. The lecture explores the role of the Jayantika group in giving a concrete structure and shape to the art form, examines the recognition of Odissi as classical Indian dance form and investigates its role as the flagbearer of Odia identity, while juxtaposing the representation and marginalization of dancers.
Location: Senate Room, Queen's University Belfast
Time: 5.00pm - 7.00pm
Public lecture followed by drinks and snacks