Odissi is one of India's oldest classical dance forms, built on sculptural poses and rhythms tapped out by ankle bells, and Nrityagram performs it with a precision that Western critics tend to run out of adjectives describing. The live score puts the musicians in the same frame as the dancers rather than in a pit. If you want to see a tradition performed at the level it deserves rather than as a cultural sampler, this is the week.
What to expect
Six performances in an intimate Chelsea house with live musicians onstage alongside the dancers. Costumes, jewellery and footwork detail read clearly from anywhere in the room. A Curtain Chat follows one midweek performance, and the production uses theatrical haze.
Good to know
- 14 St/Eighth Ave (A C E L) leaves you two blocks away
- The performance uses haze effects, worth knowing if you are sensitive to them
- Sit close enough to see footwork; the ankle bells are half the choreography
- A free Curtain Chat with the artists follows one midweek show
- Accessible to newcomers with no background in Indian classical dance
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Common questions
What does KHAṄKHAṆĀ mean?
The company translates it as the sound of dancing feet, a reference to the ankle bells central to Odissi rhythm.
Is the music recorded?
No. The program is performed to an original score played live.
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