Nirmal Jena
Photos by Chinmoy Mukerjee, Melvyn Knipe & Chitrita Mukerjee
Photos by Chinmoy Mukerjee, Melvyn Knipe & Chitrita Mukerjee
Born in the village of Utchapur in Odisha India, Nirmal Chandra Jena is the son of Kumudini Jena and the Late Guru Surendra Nath Jena. Following intensive training under the guidance of his father in the Jena style of Odissi and in traditional teaching methodologies, Nirmal also pursued comprehensive training from other gurus in a number of related artforms – North Indian vocal, Odiya vocal, Chhau dance, instrumental music (pakhawaj and mridang). Nirmal performed in various cities in India and presented workshops and lecture-demonstration in schools, tertiary institutions, arts and community organisations. Later, he commenced co-teaching at Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi, alongside his father.
During an Australian tour, funded by the Australia Council for the Arts, Nirmal presented a series of performances and dance education programs in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. Encouraged by the enthusiasm of those who wanted to learn this unique dance form, Nirmal returned to Australia and established the Odissi Dance Company in Sydney, with his wife and associate director, Chitrita Mukerjee. The Company offers quality and classical arts practice and education at universities, schools, galleries, museums, conferences, workplaces, public venues and festivals, in Australia and overseas.
Guru Surendra Nath Jena's Odissi requires intense fitness of the body and the mind. It is designed to promote ‘inner’ ascendancy through dance, particularly by combining the two foundations of Indian philosophy, Tantra and Vedanta. The Jena style of Odissi challenges conventional arts practice and rests on the notion of:
Nirmal is committed to the Jena form of Odissi, an intangible cultural asset, through presentations as well as comprehensive teaching for inner growth and resilience, vital in modern societies mired by isolation, individualism, mental illness and the ego - products of our lesser material mind. To realize the whole living world as one unit, one colossal expression of nature linked to the same reality, we need to seek the path to the universal soul.
Nirmal Jena’s performance of Odissi dance was one of those rare delights when a solo performer gives so generously and vividly of his talents that it’s often hard to remember that there is only one person out there. .....This was painting, sculpture - a whole culture - coming to life. Sydney Morning Herald
I have been honoured to have engaged Guru Nirmal Jena in the training of the actors at NIDA this year. I will continue to weave his masterful teaching into the fabric of our training here, as there are so many gifts and principles of movement for the contemporary actor. The transformational nature of the performer is deeply investigated along with detailed study of archetypal forms and theatrical rhythms creating a wonderful foundation for the modern performer....Gavin Robins, Head of Movement, National Institute of Dramatic Art, Sydney, Australia
During an Australian tour, funded by the Australia Council for the Arts, Nirmal presented a series of performances and dance education programs in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. Encouraged by the enthusiasm of those who wanted to learn this unique dance form, Nirmal returned to Australia and established the Odissi Dance Company in Sydney, with his wife and associate director, Chitrita Mukerjee. The Company offers quality and classical arts practice and education at universities, schools, galleries, museums, conferences, workplaces, public venues and festivals, in Australia and overseas.
Guru Surendra Nath Jena's Odissi requires intense fitness of the body and the mind. It is designed to promote ‘inner’ ascendancy through dance, particularly by combining the two foundations of Indian philosophy, Tantra and Vedanta. The Jena style of Odissi challenges conventional arts practice and rests on the notion of:
- Self inquiry leading to self discovery, the driving force of India, its philosophy, practices and the arts. The realisation of this can direct us towards greater karma to shape a better society. Self inquiry is the foundation of life, a journey that can ease conflict and friction in our world.
- Dance as a creative force, a daily practice, a way of life, balanced on a distinctive technique, content and philosophy; transcending the physical form and professional performance standards.
- A meditative focus where the body, the mind, emotions and breath intertwine with creativity leading a practitioner from the gross to the subtle and continuing to the higher realm of the sub-conscious, beyond the memory of the past or aspirations for the future, remaining present in the moment.
- Intense harvesting of the senses and tensions, psychic, sexual and emotional, to embark on Abhinaya, a unique blend of creativity combining feminine and masculine sensitivity to create rasa, an intoxicating elixir for the practitioner and the onlooker.
- Mobilising the sub-conscious to allow dance to push the limits of the body and the mind for psychic growth
- Symbolic form and content using ritual symbols from Vedanta and Tantra - the square represents the gross body and mind, the triangle at the centre of the square represents the energy or kundalini and the circle within the triangle is the spirit or the soul. These are expressed repeatedly through the dance of Odissi, walking the center line, drawing in space and time. The purpose is to reach the soul, the timeless within us but by using the time bound body and mind.
Nirmal is committed to the Jena form of Odissi, an intangible cultural asset, through presentations as well as comprehensive teaching for inner growth and resilience, vital in modern societies mired by isolation, individualism, mental illness and the ego - products of our lesser material mind. To realize the whole living world as one unit, one colossal expression of nature linked to the same reality, we need to seek the path to the universal soul.
Nirmal Jena’s performance of Odissi dance was one of those rare delights when a solo performer gives so generously and vividly of his talents that it’s often hard to remember that there is only one person out there. .....This was painting, sculpture - a whole culture - coming to life. Sydney Morning Herald
I have been honoured to have engaged Guru Nirmal Jena in the training of the actors at NIDA this year. I will continue to weave his masterful teaching into the fabric of our training here, as there are so many gifts and principles of movement for the contemporary actor. The transformational nature of the performer is deeply investigated along with detailed study of archetypal forms and theatrical rhythms creating a wonderful foundation for the modern performer....Gavin Robins, Head of Movement, National Institute of Dramatic Art, Sydney, Australia