Gotipua Nritya

Gotipua, an oriya etymon means a single boy. A dance which is performed by a single boy dancer in woman's costume is known as Gotipua dance. It is largely from these boy dancers that the present form of Odissi dance evolved. It is acknowledged that most of the present Odissi gurus were Gotipua dancers in their early days.

The dance form originates from the Vaishnavite tradition of attaining God through dance and music added to which was the sakhi bhava (offering oneself as an attendant in female form) preached by Ray Ramachandra (the Vasihnava minister of King Prataparudra Deva who ruled over Orissa in the 16th century). The dance forms an essential part of the rituals of worshipping Lord Jagannath by performing Krishna leela episodes.

The dance form originates from the Vaishnavite tradition of attaining God through dance and music added to which was the sakhi bhava (offering oneself as an attendant in female form) preached by Ray Ramachandra (the Vasihnava minister of King Prataparudra Deva who ruled over Orissa in the 16th century). The dance forms an essential part of the rituals of worshipping Lord Jagannath by performing Krishna leela episodes.

A Gotipua party consists of four or five members with the guru in charge of the group. The guru also sings & plays on the harmonium. Other members are two accompanists i.e., a madala player & a ginni player, and one or two boy dancers. The songs are generally compositions of Vaisnava poets of Orissa on the alliance of Radha & Krishna. Gotipuas also perform a few dance numbers called the Bandha Nritya. These are acrobatic in nature and involve difficult physical exercises which can be mastered only at a very early age.