11 September 2025
Experience the joy of Odissi - inviting more men to learn, share and practise daily
Experience the joy of Odissi - inviting more men to learn, share and practise daily
21 July 2025
When the search is over………
Our world urgently and desperately needs us to live sustainably, a term understood in many different ways. For me, it is about unconditional love, focussing on others before yourself, as well as the planet, and paying it forward, if and when you can. A yogic and universal practice, beyond religion and institutionalised value systems, a daily ritual that can enable this and lift you, is critical. For me, Odissi dance and music is that practice, a form of dynamic meditation that stills the mind, churns the body and beckons the soul. My search began quite early in my life when I travelled from Sydney, Australia, to Delhi, India, in search of an arts practice with depth and integrity. After learning Guru Surendra Nath Jena’s Odissi in Delhi, India, I realised my search was over.
Nirmal and I brought the practice to Australia many years ago. To have shared the journey with so many learners and practitioners has been rewarding and inspiring. They include:
Chitrita
When the search is over………
Our world urgently and desperately needs us to live sustainably, a term understood in many different ways. For me, it is about unconditional love, focussing on others before yourself, as well as the planet, and paying it forward, if and when you can. A yogic and universal practice, beyond religion and institutionalised value systems, a daily ritual that can enable this and lift you, is critical. For me, Odissi dance and music is that practice, a form of dynamic meditation that stills the mind, churns the body and beckons the soul. My search began quite early in my life when I travelled from Sydney, Australia, to Delhi, India, in search of an arts practice with depth and integrity. After learning Guru Surendra Nath Jena’s Odissi in Delhi, India, I realised my search was over.
Nirmal and I brought the practice to Australia many years ago. To have shared the journey with so many learners and practitioners has been rewarding and inspiring. They include:
- an international student of dance from Hong Kong who found our Odissi soulful
- a paediatrician with Bharatnatyam training who came to explore the beauty of Odissi
- a business executive who regained strength to face the future by learning our Odissi as integrated and dynamic meditation
- a train guard with prior training in classical Indian dance styles came in search of a teacher in Sydney who offers holistic and deep training in Odissi
- a contemporary dancer who learnt our Odissi for its spirituality
- a nurse who found deep comfort and energy from learning our Odissi
- a teacher who came to our offering to recover from personal trauma
- a university student who regained their focus and purpose in life through our Odissi
- a yoga and meditation practitioner drawn to the dynamism of our practice
- a community artist who wanted to learn our Odissi dance and music for recovery and wellbeing, and
- an Odissi dancer who wanted to enrich her practice by learning our authentic and powerful style of Odissi.
Chitrita
6 December 2024
The philosopher's soul dwells in their head, the poet's soul in their heart, the singer's soul lingers about their throat, but the soul of the dancer abides in all their body.........Kahlil Gibran
The philosopher's soul dwells in their head, the poet's soul in their heart, the singer's soul lingers about their throat, but the soul of the dancer abides in all their body.........Kahlil Gibran
15 August 2024
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.....
Narthanam- Special Issue: Guru Surendra Nath Jena, a quarterly journal of Indian dance, Vol XVIII, No 4, Oct-Dec 2018
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.....
Narthanam- Special Issue: Guru Surendra Nath Jena, a quarterly journal of Indian dance, Vol XVIII, No 4, Oct-Dec 2018
