Published: 2019-12-16

Cultural Transfer in the Indian Classical Dance Odissi

Sabina Sweta Sen-Podstawska Logo ORCID
Section: studies and essays
https://doi.org/10.31261/errgo.7656

Abstract

This text explores changes taking place in the Indian classical dance Odissi under the influence of western concepts, ideas and practices in dance and theatre. Taking in view the aspects of cultural transfer defined by Dominik Pick, I undertake an analysis of cultural transfer in the teaching methodology and the practice of contemporary Odissi dancers in India. I base the analysis on the example of the dance institute Nrityagram and the dancer Sharmila Mukherjee. In both these cases, I take in view the socio-cultural context in India, economic liberalisation which opened the access to the global market, and generated a mobility, specifically of the migrating dancers. Thus, I consider the cultural actors who are the „migrating dancers” learning new practices for body conditioning, dance techniques and easily carry in and incorporate these into their “home” practices. Amongst them are also dancers who draw inspirations from European dance styles. Further, I describe and analyse the western ideas, concepts and practices as the objects of the transfer. Finally, I investigate the process of assimilating these objects, what is the effect of applying those practices in Odissi dance and what are the transformations taking place.

Citation rules

Sen-Podstawska, S. S. (2019). Cultural Transfer in the Indian Classical Dance Odissi. Er(r)go. Theory - Literature - Culture, (39), 179–199. https://doi.org/10.31261/errgo.7656

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ER(R)GO 39 2 2019 COVER

No. 39 (2019)
Published: 2019-12-15


ISSN: 1508-6305
eISSN: 2544-3186
Ikona DOI 10.31261/errgo

Publisher
University of Silesia Press | Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego i Wydawnictwo Naukowe "Śląsk"

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