For Dali Basu, there was never really any doubt about what she would be when she grew up. 鈥淎s a child I could never sit still,鈥� the 27-year-old says. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I ever walked鈥擨 was always dancing.鈥� What is perhaps surprising is that Basu channeled her abundant energy into Odissi, a classical Indian dance marked by graceful movements and studied poses.
Odissi traces its routes back some 2,000 years to ancient texts and the sculptures found in temples in Orissa, a state on India鈥檚 east coast. These historical facts made one thing clear for Basu: 鈥淏eing an Odissi dancer, one should really visit Orissa and see the old temples and temple structures.鈥�
In 2004, with the help of a 柏客娛樂城 arts scholarship, she left her home in Ottawa and made that trip. Besides seeing the temples, Basu also tracked down one of the two living temple dancers鈥攖he Maharis. These dancers were a crucial source of information when Orissi was reinvigorated about 50 years ago after falling into disfavour. 鈥淚t was really interesting because you could see the Odissi in her,鈥� Basu recalls. 鈥淪he had white hair and was very, very, wrinkly鈥攕he must have been in her 80s鈥攂ut she got up and danced a little.鈥�
That visit proves the value of studying Odissi in India, but there are other benefits. Basu returned (on another scholarship) this year to study with a guru in Delhi. 鈥淚n Canada you don鈥檛 get the opportunity to throw yourself into the dance, to let yourself go,鈥� she says. 鈥淚n India you鈥檙e constantly working鈥攁nd with a very, very accomplished guru.鈥�
Given the rigorous nature of Odissi, this kind of immersion is essential. 鈥淓very inch of every movement is defined鈥攈ead movements, eye movements,鈥� Basu says. 鈥淭here are 28 single-hand gestures and 23 double-hand gestures.鈥� These movements are known by Sanskrit names, so Basu is studying that language as well as Hindi.
It is a lot of information to assimilate, but Basu, who has a degree in computer science from the University of Ottawa, has always been a good student. She is also proving to be something of a teacher. 鈥淲hen I perform in Canada, I try to include some of the history of Odissi,鈥� she says. 鈥淟ast April I danced a sold-out show in Ottawa, so 500 more people know about it now.鈥�