Giving Gotipua a Chance

One of our key activities at Grass Routes is to draw much needed attention and appreciation to neglected folk art and marginalised artisans. Perfect case in point is our support of a Gotipua troupe that continues daily practice despite waning patronage.

Gotipua is a traditional folk art preceding the more acclaimed classical dance form ‘Odissi’. A little known fact is that Odissi’s origins lie in Gotipua, infact many of Odissi’s greatest maestros (namely Guru Pankaj Charan Das, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and Guru Deba Prasad Das) began their training in the Gotipua style of dance.

Today Odissi is a thriving dance culture attracting international attention and acclaim. However Gotipua remains largely forgotten. In this context Grass Routes steps into a not so typical rural village where Gotipua dance is part ritual, part marvel.

Students here are initiated in Gotipua firstly by being dedicated to the village temple. During childhood all the dance students would have suffered a life-threatening illness. Their parents would entrust the temple to nurse them to good health and in return the children remain with the temple until adolescence and trained in the art of Gotipua dance.

A unique blend of hand gestures, facial expressions, acrobatic moves and mythological narrative, Gotipua is a dynamic dance form infused with the rigor and innocence of youth. A typical feature of Gotipua is the physical contortions that are only possible pre-adolesence. Not to mention the playful gender bending of boys dressed in female costumes.

Traditional patronage for Gotipua originally came from rich benefaction of the temple. Gotipua’s origins are closely linked with the flourishing temple culture of the 15th century. Today such a system has deteriorated and the maestro and his troupe struggle to continue their daily practice surviving on merge village funds and humble donations.

Grass Routes has a long association with this particular Gotipua village and has seen first-hand the difference a pinch of self-esteem can make.

Gotipua dancers remain on the fringe of mainstream society. Their dedication to the temple sets them apart from their peers with whom they do not mix freely. This distance and the declining socio-economic temple culture contribute to the dancers marginalisation.

During our visits, Grass Routes has witnessed a significant change in the stature of the Gotipua troupe. While the dancers remain for the most part shy boys, they are emboldened by the appreciation they receive from travellers. Their steps take on a significant spring and their dedication a privilege not a curse.

The greatest challenge facing the survival of this ancient dance form is placing it in a modern context. Gotipua troupes training in small hamlets in Orissa need to step out of their villages and participate in the programs outside the traditional realm. No longer can they survive on traditional sources or sadly on local support.

Grass Routes is helping this Gotipua troupe explore alternate avenues for greater exposure. Any suggestions or ideas most welcome at info@grassroutesjourneys.com