| sharing_their_dance_of_life_with_young_people_in_hardship_-_media_release_6_sept_2021.pdf |
| quintessence_of_odissi_guru_surendra_nath_jenas_courage_to_lead.pdf |
Dance education
Learning Odissi from Nirmal/Guruji has taught me that dance can be personal devotional practice which helps gain a deep understanding of oneself and how we navigate through our life and society with this awareness.
Practising this ancient dance form has many positive health benefits and it harmonise the mind and body so that the individual can excel in life.
Australia boasts a multi-cultural society. The input from such an ancient form, taught by a master, can only enrich our cultural life. The creative possibilities for dancers and choreographers are infinite and the deepening of the inner life that supports this creativity is provided via the philosophy and spirit of the dance.
For me, Guruji's dance is a universe where all the disparate elements of my world make beautiful meaning together; it is precious and timeless.
All my understanding has come from my own Guru Nirmal Jena. His Odissi is unique in that the basis is truly from the sculptures themselves. The composition and choreography is done in such a way to be able to challenge the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual abilities of the dancer...in this style, the connections become so much more meaningful and real - the connection not just within one’s self but to nature, to the spirit and to the world.
We live in an extremely fragmented world, where we cannot understand things in totality. The kaleidoscopic nature of Guruji's dance - where life talks to art, the sublime to the everyday, the arts mirror each other whether painting, architecture, literature, music or dance - is a balm for our modern souls. More than anything else, it creates this beautiful totality with a lightness of being, with humour and humanity. It is a precious universe.
Arts and artists are viewed as the repository of ancient wisdom and practice as well as the creators of new meanings through higher order media – dance, music, poetry, painting, theatre…………One of the most important roles of artists, performers, musicians, writers, and other creative makers in society has always been to redefine in contemporary ways who we are as individuals and communities and who we must become, if our communities are to flourish and be strong.[1]
Diversity is the characteristic of nature and the basis of ecological stability. Diverse ecosystems give rise to diverse life forms, and to diverse cultures. The co-evolution of cultures, life forms and habitats has conserved the biological diversity on this planet. Cultural diversity and biological diversity go hand in hand…..Diversity is an alternative to monoculture, homogeneity and uniformity. Living diversity in nature corresponds to a living diversity of cultures. The natural and cultural diversity is a source of wealth and source of alternatives.[2]
[1] Pamille Berg Consulting (2005) Toward a new cultural plan: the arts and cultural strategy consultancy report Coffs Harbour City Council
[2] Vandana Shiva (1997) Monocultures of the Mind, Zed Books, NY
Presentations/performances, workshops and lecture-demonstrations are also offered by invitation.
- Public and private classes are currently offered only in our Chifley garden dance studio in Sydney's east. All welcome. Come and learn a daily practice that will energise, transform and build resilience like no other.
- Music Education
- Training in Odiya and North Indian classical vocal music
- Training in harmonium and percussion/drums – pakhawaj
Learning Odissi from Nirmal/Guruji has taught me that dance can be personal devotional practice which helps gain a deep understanding of oneself and how we navigate through our life and society with this awareness.
Practising this ancient dance form has many positive health benefits and it harmonise the mind and body so that the individual can excel in life.
Australia boasts a multi-cultural society. The input from such an ancient form, taught by a master, can only enrich our cultural life. The creative possibilities for dancers and choreographers are infinite and the deepening of the inner life that supports this creativity is provided via the philosophy and spirit of the dance.
For me, Guruji's dance is a universe where all the disparate elements of my world make beautiful meaning together; it is precious and timeless.
All my understanding has come from my own Guru Nirmal Jena. His Odissi is unique in that the basis is truly from the sculptures themselves. The composition and choreography is done in such a way to be able to challenge the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual abilities of the dancer...in this style, the connections become so much more meaningful and real - the connection not just within one’s self but to nature, to the spirit and to the world.
We live in an extremely fragmented world, where we cannot understand things in totality. The kaleidoscopic nature of Guruji's dance - where life talks to art, the sublime to the everyday, the arts mirror each other whether painting, architecture, literature, music or dance - is a balm for our modern souls. More than anything else, it creates this beautiful totality with a lightness of being, with humour and humanity. It is a precious universe.
Arts and artists are viewed as the repository of ancient wisdom and practice as well as the creators of new meanings through higher order media – dance, music, poetry, painting, theatre…………One of the most important roles of artists, performers, musicians, writers, and other creative makers in society has always been to redefine in contemporary ways who we are as individuals and communities and who we must become, if our communities are to flourish and be strong.[1]
Diversity is the characteristic of nature and the basis of ecological stability. Diverse ecosystems give rise to diverse life forms, and to diverse cultures. The co-evolution of cultures, life forms and habitats has conserved the biological diversity on this planet. Cultural diversity and biological diversity go hand in hand…..Diversity is an alternative to monoculture, homogeneity and uniformity. Living diversity in nature corresponds to a living diversity of cultures. The natural and cultural diversity is a source of wealth and source of alternatives.[2]
[1] Pamille Berg Consulting (2005) Toward a new cultural plan: the arts and cultural strategy consultancy report Coffs Harbour City Council
[2] Vandana Shiva (1997) Monocultures of the Mind, Zed Books, NY
Presentations/performances, workshops and lecture-demonstrations are also offered by invitation.
Nirmal Jena in NIDA
Photo: Rudolf Rindler
Dance-in-education
Offering Odissi dance training within primary, secondary and tertiary education is vital, particularly as it requires intensive training and deep learning. It is both scientific and artistic. Situating such training within formal education gives learners a genuine opportunity to study this artform and pursue it to professional standards and beyond.
Nirmal has presented and taught his Odissi in many schools, universities, colleges, training and coaching centres, juvenile justice centres and specialist institutions, including yoga and meditation centres.
The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney regularly invites Nirmal to teach Odissi.
Educational institutions and other organisations interested in offering the Jena style of Odissi to prospective learners should contact the Odissi Dance Company. For reaching professional and teaching standards, the learning needs to be full time and over three to five years, ideally as an accredited degree program.
The Quintessence of Odissi: Guru Surendra Nath Jena’s Courage to Lead
by his son, Nirmal Chandra Jena
My father was a maverick, a fearless pioneer with every reason to be frightened of the world that imposed on him, but he was not. He had a vision steeped in philosophy, values and rituals and his vehicle was Odissi dance, a timeless, ageless expression borne out of the depth of consciousness and worship. He embellished this with a commanding scientific base consisting of theory, technique, music, poetry and illustrations.
He invested his life in the arts and created dance and music masterpieces. Eka eka mala deli gunthita jatane kebala pindhi paribe kala sebi janee (an excerpt from his poetry) - I have created this garland of jewels with great care, and only the chosen can be adorned with it.
Odisara shilpa chitra jete dina thiba aei kalara satyata je banchiki rahiba: for as long as the sculptures and the paintings of Odisha are visible, the truth of Odissi will remain; for as long as there is deep inquiry, the truth will be revealed again and again; and, for as long as the rituals in the temples are practised, the journey will continue to inspire. Guruji went on his sacred journey to reach Sattwika, the pinnacle of creativity which eludes most. My mother, Kumudini’s support throughout this journey gave my father the courage and the confidence.
I live in a distant land, in Sydney Australia, a land with a compelling history spanning 40,000 years. It has nurtured my spirit and awakened me to the universal relevance, power and resilience of my father’s art and philosophy. It is my life and I have presented, performed and taught many across Australia and other countries. There are many worthy ambassadors of my father’s Odissi across several countries and each brings to this genre unique capabilities. And there are those who have fervently supported and patronised my practice. My wife, Chitrita, and I have enjoyed an enduring partnership, without which I could not have invested in my artistic journey............
Complete article in the pdf above. A version of this was published in 2019 in Nartanam, an Indian dance journal. It was included in the special edition on Guru Surendra Nath Jena's Odissi.
MEDIA RELEASE (pdf above with photos embedded)
Sharing their Dance of Life with young people in hardship
06 September 2021
Nirmal Jena and Chitrita Mukerjee, founders of the Odissi Dance Company, in Australia, are passionate about creativity, diversity, humanity and sustainability. These four pillars have sustained the two dance artists and educators from the time they met in Delhi, India, almost thirty years ago. They practise their unique family style of Odissi Indian classical dance daily, including with their children. During the COVID lockdown, their home studio in Sydney’s east comes alive with the dance and music, powerful tools for maintaining health, wellbeing and focus. They are now poised to share their art with young people experiencing hardship.
After years of performing and teaching, Nirmal says I have done everything in the conventional arts industry, but my artistic practice is a lot more than that; it’s a way of life, a living philosophy that can build resilience like no other. Teaching the dance and music to the next generation is an urgent priority for Nirmal and Chitrita. And they want to do this in a Gurukul, a place of deep learning and eco-living, set in nature, and where the guru or the teacher guides and inspires every aspect of the learning process. Under their Odissi: Dance for Humanity initiative, they want to offer scholarships to young people who have experienced difficulties in life and have a passion for the arts. The students will live in the Gurukul and train intensively in the dance and music, and in essential life skills. Nirmal and Chitrita hope the training will be conferred as an accredited or honorary university degree. After completing their initial training, the young dancers will tour Australia and the world before returning to their respective communities to set up arts-based social enterprises and tourism hubs. In India, two not-for-profit partners are ready – Calcutta Rescue in Kolkata (https://calcuttarescue.org/) and Dream a Dream in Bengaluru (https://dreamadream.org/).
Nirmal and Chitrita’s Gurukul concept is based on the notion of Vasundhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family in Sanskrit), thus relevant to anyone who shares their passion, philosophy and commitment to the arts. Ideally, they would like the Gurukul to be in New South Wales, Australia, in the Blue Mountains or the Illawarra coastal strip, south of the Royal National Park. It needs to be near a railway station and other essential amenities. The Gurukul will offer a unique and powerful suite of arts and educational services for learners, practitioners, observers and anyone in the global community. They need partners, funding and resources. Nirmal and Chitrita invite collaborators, philanthropists, professionals and anyone interested to join them on this journey. They are excited about their Gurukul project, a valuable gift for the local and global community, at a time when the world really needs hope.
If they can embark on this ambitious project, it will be a first for Australia. Ausdance NSW strongly supports their initiative, claiming If there was ever a time when this was necessary, it is now, when the world is rife with uncertainty and chaos. COVID-19 has forced a reset in an unprecedented way and ‘Odissi: Dance for Humanity’ has much to offer in this period of collective reflection and search for new avenues of creative exploration that redefines creative practice in contemporary, intercultural and international ways.
Gavin Robins, Head of Movement in Australia’s National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), regularly invites Nirmal Jena to teach NIDA’s first year acting students. In support of Odissi: Dance for Humanity, he says In a time when diversity and intercultural connections within our communities are increasingly important, the support for this project will have far reaching effects on the performing arts industry and importantly the lives and potential of the young individuals engaged in this rigorous learning.
All funds/donations to Nirmal Jena and the Odissi Dance Company will be auspiced by Horizon Theatre Co. Ltd, a registered not-for-profit endorsed by the Australian Government as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR), Australian Business Number: 62 076 847 697 Email: horizonall@ozemail.com.au
Sharing their Dance of Life with young people in hardship
06 September 2021
Nirmal Jena and Chitrita Mukerjee, founders of the Odissi Dance Company, in Australia, are passionate about creativity, diversity, humanity and sustainability. These four pillars have sustained the two dance artists and educators from the time they met in Delhi, India, almost thirty years ago. They practise their unique family style of Odissi Indian classical dance daily, including with their children. During the COVID lockdown, their home studio in Sydney’s east comes alive with the dance and music, powerful tools for maintaining health, wellbeing and focus. They are now poised to share their art with young people experiencing hardship.
After years of performing and teaching, Nirmal says I have done everything in the conventional arts industry, but my artistic practice is a lot more than that; it’s a way of life, a living philosophy that can build resilience like no other. Teaching the dance and music to the next generation is an urgent priority for Nirmal and Chitrita. And they want to do this in a Gurukul, a place of deep learning and eco-living, set in nature, and where the guru or the teacher guides and inspires every aspect of the learning process. Under their Odissi: Dance for Humanity initiative, they want to offer scholarships to young people who have experienced difficulties in life and have a passion for the arts. The students will live in the Gurukul and train intensively in the dance and music, and in essential life skills. Nirmal and Chitrita hope the training will be conferred as an accredited or honorary university degree. After completing their initial training, the young dancers will tour Australia and the world before returning to their respective communities to set up arts-based social enterprises and tourism hubs. In India, two not-for-profit partners are ready – Calcutta Rescue in Kolkata (https://calcuttarescue.org/) and Dream a Dream in Bengaluru (https://dreamadream.org/).
Nirmal and Chitrita’s Gurukul concept is based on the notion of Vasundhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family in Sanskrit), thus relevant to anyone who shares their passion, philosophy and commitment to the arts. Ideally, they would like the Gurukul to be in New South Wales, Australia, in the Blue Mountains or the Illawarra coastal strip, south of the Royal National Park. It needs to be near a railway station and other essential amenities. The Gurukul will offer a unique and powerful suite of arts and educational services for learners, practitioners, observers and anyone in the global community. They need partners, funding and resources. Nirmal and Chitrita invite collaborators, philanthropists, professionals and anyone interested to join them on this journey. They are excited about their Gurukul project, a valuable gift for the local and global community, at a time when the world really needs hope.
If they can embark on this ambitious project, it will be a first for Australia. Ausdance NSW strongly supports their initiative, claiming If there was ever a time when this was necessary, it is now, when the world is rife with uncertainty and chaos. COVID-19 has forced a reset in an unprecedented way and ‘Odissi: Dance for Humanity’ has much to offer in this period of collective reflection and search for new avenues of creative exploration that redefines creative practice in contemporary, intercultural and international ways.
Gavin Robins, Head of Movement in Australia’s National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), regularly invites Nirmal Jena to teach NIDA’s first year acting students. In support of Odissi: Dance for Humanity, he says In a time when diversity and intercultural connections within our communities are increasingly important, the support for this project will have far reaching effects on the performing arts industry and importantly the lives and potential of the young individuals engaged in this rigorous learning.
All funds/donations to Nirmal Jena and the Odissi Dance Company will be auspiced by Horizon Theatre Co. Ltd, a registered not-for-profit endorsed by the Australian Government as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR), Australian Business Number: 62 076 847 697 Email: horizonall@ozemail.com.au
