Odissi dance Netherlands

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Nederland
Rotterdam
Odissi dance Netherlands

About Odissi Dans Mind & Body flow
Odissi Dans Mind & Body flow was founded by Namita Mathura in 1998. She has received a
lot of praise.

ta received a scholarship from the Indian Councel for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the NUFFIC (Netherlands Organization for Internationalization in Education) to study dance in New Delhi at the Guru Mayadhar Raut School of Odissi under the famous guru Mayadhar Raut himself and his daughter Madhumita Raut. Guru Mayadhar Raut is one of the five founders of odissi who
revived odissi after the alien dominations of the past century. In December 2016 Namita was the first Dutch odissi dancer to represent the Netherlands in India during the Odissi International Dance Festival 2016 in Bhubaneshwar in Odisha. Her gurus Monalisa Ghosh, Aasha Rambaran and her relatives joined her on this special occasion. In 2021 Namita had been invited as a speaker at the first CID Teleconference. Since 2021 Namita is a member of CID, the highest body for dance; the United Nations of Dance, as CID is usually called. About Odissi Dance
Odissi is one of the famous classical Indian dances from the state Orissa in the east of India. The history of Odissi dance is almost two thousand years old. Odissi is a highly inspired, passionate and ecstatic form of dance. Like most of the South Indian classical dances of India Odissi too had its origin in the Devadasi tradition. The state of Orissa has a great cultural history. The rulers of this region built magnificent temples. It was around these temples that Odissi was born. Odissi Dance in the present
In its present form Odissi is a well established and codified classical dance form of India. Odissi is considered a dance of love, joy and intense passion, pure, divine and human. Over a period of time three schools of Odissi dance developed, they are- Mahari, Nartaki, and Gotipau. The Mahari system traces its roots in the Devadasi tradition. The dance form of Odissi that developed in royal courts is called the Nartaki tradition. In the Gotipau tradition of Odissi dance young boys dress up in female attires and enact female roles. The popularization of Odissi
With India gaining independence there began great efforts to revive the classical Indian dances. The government came to realize the role of cultural heritage in creating a national identity. A number of people and experts took initiatives for the reconstruction and popularization of Odissi dance. Some of the notable are Guru Deba Prasad Das, Guru Mayadhar Raut, Guru Pankaj Charan Das, Guru Mahadev Rout, Guru Raghu Dutta and Guru Kelu Charan Mahapatra. The components of Odissi Dance
One of the most distinguishing features of Odissi dance is the Tribhangi. The notion of Tribhang divides the body into three parts, head, bust and torso. The postures dealing with these three elements are called Tribhangi. This concept has created the very characteristic poses which are more twisted than found in other classical Indian dances. Mudra is also an important component of Odissi dance. The term Mudra means "stamp" and is a hand position which suggests things. Odissi themes are almost religious in nature and mostly revolve around Krishna. For more information, visit our website www.odissi.nl.

21/05/2026

Earlier this month, I shared that I have been feeling a deepening need for personal connection. On social media, so much of what we do is broadcasting. While there is immense value in that, I have come to realize that sharing beneath the surface is so much more powerful in a small, personal setting. It is within that intimacy that the most beautiful energy and meaningful exchanges truly flourish.

This is why I have created something new: a personal update via email. This is not a standard newsletter, but rather an honest glimpse into what stirs my soul and the lessons I have learned. It is a space where I can dive deeper into what occupies my mind and perhaps yours, too.

I would like to share my journey, what drives me, and the path I have walked so far: the life lessons and insights I have gathered along the way that often make me think, 'what a revelation.'

It is my heart, poured directly onto the page, or in this case, into your inbox. Would you like to receive this? Send me a DM and I will add you to the list!

Keep in mind that we have the event on June 13th with limited spots available. It is going to be a lot of fun with a lot of in-depth information and conversation. We would love for you to be part of it. Please sign up via: https://boldandgracious.nl/en/event-l-aparte/.

12/05/2026

Lately, I have been feeling a much stronger need for live connection. Even though I receive wonderful responses offline on what I share online, I do miss a sense of connection. A lot of connection is just through a screen. My preference is a space where you can see and speak to each other, and really connect.

That is why I have created something new. Small-scaled, personal, honest, and without judgment. A place where there is room for conversation, growth, and connection. Not only with me, but also with each other.

In addition to this “get together,” I have been wanting to share more of my world in other ways. A place where my audience truly chooses to read my knowledge and expertises. A place with room for depth, knowledge, and another side of the story that you do not always see here.

We have the lovely event scheduled for the 13th of June. There are limited spots available, so please reach out quickly if you are interested

29/04/2026

Happy International Dance Day

What if dance was not something to prove, but something to experience?
This is why we are having a sacred space in my Odissi community: Kindness.

As a member of the International Dance Council (CID) I would like to share the official message for the International Dance Day 2026 by CID:

Competition is the heartbeat of sports, but in the arts it is very marginal, which is normal. While athletic excellence is easily measured, artistic merit is notoriously difficult to quantify.

As young dancers increasingly seek titles to distinguish themselves, competitions have proliferated, but unlike strictly regulated sports championships, dance competitions remain unchecked.

Our priority is protecting dancers and the teachers who prepare them. To ensure a "winner" title carries genuine weight, organizers must adhere to universal standards.

The International Dance Council has issued these essential guidelines
- Liability: Full insurance coverage and a legally responsible person must be identified.
- Transparency: Jury members, competitors, and winners must be listed publicly.
- Integrity: Rules must guarantee neutrality and fair play; the organizer should not appoint the jury.
- Fairness: Categories should be based on length of training, not age.
- Validation: No winner should be declared in categories with fewer than 10 competitors.

When competitions are over saturated and titles are handed out too freely, winning loses its value and competing becomes a trap.

As much as performing, teaching, or creating dance should remain totally free, competing should be effectively regulated. This year, Dance Day is dedicated to the urgent regulation of competitions.

16/04/2026

Odissi - yoga

Yoga and meditation seem to be “suddenly” everywhere. Popular, marketable, wrapped in aesthetics and sold as tools for self care. As awareness and self reflection become more important in the West, these practices are increasingly commercialised.

But in (ancient) Indian culture and its diaspora, yoga and meditation have always been part of daily life. They are not trends, but traditions. Embedded in culture, philosophy and spirituality. Practices passed down for centuries to cultivate presence, discipline and inner awareness.

Odissi comes from the same source. This classical dance form is often described as meditation in motion. Through rhythm, breath and devotion, the dancer connects body, mind and spirit.

What feels new to some, has always existed.

02/04/2026

Key persons in your life

Two weeks ago I received the unexpected and untimely news that one of the key persons of my early path in Odissi, guru and teacher Madhumita Raut, had passed away.

In 1997 I received a scholarship to study Odissi in New Delhi under late guru Mayadhar Raut and his daughter Madhumita Raut. I received intense training three times a day in different groups. Besides the classes, we shared some great moments. Later in life our paths continued in different directions.

But that absence did not erase the past. The memories, the impact she had on a certain period of my life, they are still there, perfectly preserved. She has been a part of my story, a person who taught me about Odissi and art, who gave me many opportunities, who made me laugh, who helped shape the person I became. The lessons and the moments that shaped the trajectory of my early path in Odissi are still vivid. They are a part of my foundation, and that influence remains, even if unseen.

The shocking news of the passing away is the jolt of realizing that every connection carries weight on every path of your life.

My thoughts are with the family and those who held her close. Om Sadgati 🙏🏼

Picture 1: Receiving my Odissi advanced diploma in New Delhi at the Guru Mayadhar Raut School of Odissi Dance in 1998

Picture 2: Guru Madhumita Raut in the Netherlands at the opening of my Odissi Dance School in 1998

19/03/2026

And suddenly yoga and meditation is cool

Yoga is everywhere these days. In studios, on Instagram, in workout programs. It is hot, visible, and almost mainstream. But that was not always the case.

Yoga used to be seen in the West as vague, strange, or too spiritual. Something from another culture, difficult to place and therefore easily dismissed. What you do not understand, you keep at a distance. Only when the focus shifted to health, stress reduction, and physical well-being yoga did slowly gain acceptance. Especially with the use of social media and the amount of information we need to process everyday.

Now we are looking for exactly what yoga has always offered: a connection with the body. Peace of mind. Meaning beyond performance.

In Odissi and yoga, tradition and contemporary life cross each other. What was once taboo turns out to be timeless. Not because it is trendy, but because we need it.

Sometimes the world is simply a few centuries behind ;)

17/02/2026

Act of Kindness Day.
Today, February 17th, is also known as Act of Kindness Day. It might not ring a bell, as this day originated in America in 1995. The thought was to be consciously being kind to others.The idea was simple yet powerful: great change starts with small actions. A small (extra) gesture to others. For example, sending someone a text to ask how they are doing, or giving a stranger a glimpse of a smile. An act of kindness does not have to cost a lot. Precisely because it is small, it feels achievable. And that is precisely why it works.

Kindness is one of the most important values in yoga. It is a concept with depth, reaching far beyond simple generosity. Kindness is a form of respect, self-control, and balance. It requires emotional alignment, self-awareness, and inner calmness, qualities that many people do not immediately recognize. Kindness is often mistaken for easy access or even for weakness.

In my yoga and odissi classes, as well as in my masterclasses and talks, I explore this theme in depth.

For me in Odissi, kindness comes back in the beauty of lasya: softness, fluidity, feminine grace.

Lasya is strength without aggression. Power without hardness. Expression without domination. And this is kindness in motion.

05/02/2026

Sometimes you just have to trust your soul and follow along with your body

23/01/2026

Practice what you preach.

If you encourage others to keep developing, you have to do it yourself too. That is why I am always taking classes myself. Not because I have to, but because it helps. When the foundation is solid, everything else flows more easily.

Dance is never finished. Technique fades, your body changes, your perspective shifts. By staying a curious student, you keep being sharp, curious and honest with yourself. This even has an effect on everything you do, including Odissi. Continuous learning keeps your work alive.

Sharpening your technique can also be by picking up other dance classes completely out of your well trained style. Because different perspectives guide you towards perfection.

Growth does not stop when you start teaching. That is where it begins again.

01/01/2026

Happy New Year ✨

A new year, a new canvas.

Sprinkle the new year with loving kindness, compassion, joy for the good, and balance.

May 2026 be a year of equanimity and compassion.

Adres

Rotterdam

Website

http://www.odissi.nl/

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