Classical
Odissi
Odissi or Orissi is one of the pre-eminent classical dance forms of India which originated in the Hindu temples of the eastern coastal state of Odisha in India.
A form of illustrative anecdote of mythical and religious stories, devotional poems and spiritual ideas emoted by dancers with excellent body movements, expressions, impressive gestures and sign languages, its performance repertoire includes invocation, nrita, nritya, natya, and moksha. This dance form includes themes from Vaishnavism and others associated with Hindu gods and goddesses like Shiva, Surya and Shakti.
Mahari
Mahari has originated from the devadasi tradition where women who were attached to deities in the Lord Jagannath temple used to dance. Mahari dance is no longer performed at the Jagannath Temple but has now reached and extended to the stage and shashtriya Odissi dance art.
Chhau Dance
An ancient semi-classical dance form showcasing folk, martial, mock war, and tribal stories. It originated from the Mayurbhanj district and plays a vital role in the celebrations primarily during Chaitra Parva and Durga Puja. It was discovered during the mock fights of Odia paikas (warriors) who fought rhythmically according to the flow of indigenous musical instruments. Nowadays, female dancers have also mastered this dance form. Face masks, an essential part of this dance, enables the performers to express the emotions and essence of the character.