Odissi Festival 2026

Emerging from the ancient temples of Odisha, the Odissi dance form is sheer poetry in motion. Its breathtaking symphony of movement, fluid grace, sculpturesque poses, and sinuous torso sways, weave a tapestry of elegance.

Odissi Festival 2026 is the first of its kind festival in Singapore, and hopes to spark the coming together of the Odissi community toward a collective aim of preserving, promoting, and celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Odissi through performances, workshops and masterclasses.

This inaugural festival brings you:
ODISSI MANCHA - The Performance Platform
International Artists | Drama Centre Black Box | 8pm
8 May: Eka Prashna
by Padma Shri Guru Aruna Mohanty and her troupe from Orissa Dance Academy
We are all contrasting characters in the canvas of life - Yasoda, Radha, Hidimba and Draupadi set apart by different colours, feelings, emotions and actions. We are all traversing the Universe as moving question marks. Like every one, we are continuously seeking answers from ourselves, and from the divinity (Eshwar) within us. We have questions for you Krishna.
Why life demands so much sacrifice?
Why there is incompleteness?
Why there is betrayal?
Why there is humiliation?

9 May: Konark – A Glimpse into Eternity
by Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar Awardee, Shri Rahul Acharya
Constructed in the 13th Century, the Surya Mandir at Konark stands testimony to eternal artistry - an amalgamation of dance and sculpturing, poetry in motion, frozen into the abysses of time. Bearing witness to Odissi are the walls of the Nata Mandapa or the four-pillared dancing hall, with the Natyacharya, standing on one of the walls, holding the Manjira as the Tala-Dharaka.
This work pays homage to this magnificent temple that boasts of being one of the seven wonders of the world, because of its grandeur, magnificence, and sheer beauty in stone. Its exquisite carvings form the technique of Odissi, when a dancer emulates these postures and sets it into movement.

Local Artists | Nrityalaya Black Box | 7.30pm
23 May: Performances by Bhaskar’s Arts Academy, Chitrakala Arts, Chowk & Global Indian Cultural Centre
24 May: Performances by Bhaskar’s Arts Academy, Apsaras Arts Academy, Parampara Music Academy & Temple of Fine Arts

PRASHIKSHANA - The Learning Platform
Workshop | Nrityalaya Studios | 7pm - 9.30pm
4-7 May: Conducted by Shri Rahul Acharya
Participants will learn Arabi Pallavi, choreographed by AdiGuru Shri Pankaj Charan Das, which they will have the opportunity to perform as the Opening Act on 9 May 2026 at Drama Centre Black Box.

Masterclasses | 10 May | #01-01 Stamford Arts Centre
10am-12pm: The Song of Lyricism by Padma Shri Guru Aruna Mohanty
Tracing the seamless flow of movement in Odissi, through the many facets of its expressive vocabulary.

1pm-2.30pm: Texts of Odissi Dance by Shri Rahul Acharya
A guided study of a selection of both well-known and lesser-known texts that inform and enrich the Odissi tradition.

3pm-5pm: Sanchari: Creating a Frame Within a Frame by Padma Shri Guru Aruna Mohanty
(Open to dancers of all genres)
With reference to the Gita Govinda, the session will guide participants through an immersive exploration of Sancharis in Odissi, offering insights in relation to other dance traditions.

More and more reasons for you to experience it all at Bhaskar's Arts Academy's inaugural Odissi Festival!

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