Odissi Dance

Odissi is a highly sculpturesque and devotional form of classical dance

A B O U T O D I S S I D A N C E

Odissi Dance is a highly sculpturesque and devotional classical dance from the state of Odissa, East India.

Originally performed only inside temples, Odissi expresses the emotions of the heart and the stories of the Hindu Gods and Goddesses through mudras, facial expressions, and a wide variety of body movements. Odissi is divided into two aspects: Nritta (pure dance) or dance that expresses movement and rhythm and Nritya (storytelling) based on the choreographer’s interpretation of a sacred text. Odissi dance is a spiritual path and a Sacred Art form.

“Today, though Odissi dance has stepped out of the temple into mainstream society, it continues to inspire and awaken beauty and grace in the hearts of artists and spectators alike. In increasing numbers it is brought to life through dedication and devoted work, allowing it to evolve and thrive as it passes from teacher to student, building a future with ancient history and culture into the new millennium.”

— Sri Vishnu Tattva Das (Nubia’s dance guru)

P R A C T I C E W I T H N U B I A

Discover Odissi Dance

Become a Patron and learn the strong warm-ups, beautiful hand positions (Hastas), the empowering stances (Padas)  of Odissi Dance, the basic steps of Chowka (masculine) and Tribanga (feminine), and the many short, heartful and prayerful dances that Nubia brings to you every month.

Classical Odissi Dance to Shiva (Nagendra Haraya)

WITH NUBIA TEIXEIRA & BARBARA FRAMM

From Shiva Shakti's Dark Night of the Soul, performance of Nov 2, 2008

  • “Nubia Teixeira imbues her movements with beauty, devotion and grace in her Bhakti-Nova style Odissi dance. Nubia transforms a simple space into a temple, and brings her students with her on a journey into the joy and love of this ancient dance. Her unique, accessible approach makes learning Odissi possible and the experience rich in connection and meaning.”

    — Lynn Wallace, Author of Dance Me Home, A Moving Journey

P R O F E S S I O N A L O D I S S I B I O

Nubia started studying sacred art of Odissi dance in 1997, in Sao Paulo-Brazil, with Sonia Galvao. She lived in IIndia for 3 months in 2000 to study with her teacher’s teacher, Madhavi Mudgal’s and to travel to Bhubaneshwar to do a pilgrimage to the place where Odissi originated. In 2001, Nubia moved to California and since then, she has been a devoted student of Sri Vishnu Tattwa Das of Odissi Vilas.