Hejje – Beginner’s Winter Dance Retreat 2020
Hejje – Winter Dance Retreat 2020 was a residential workshop organised by Deepam Odissi Academy that took place in Mangalore, India. ‘Hejje’ meaning footsteps marks the auspicious beginning of every dancer’s journey. This retreat was the first step for dancers trained in any dance style to explore the world of Odissi dance.
Hejje was a unique opportunity for dancers to spend time secluded from the hustle-bustle of daily life and dive deep into the ocean of dance. The retreat was conducted at The Estate Resort located amidst the western ghats in Moodbidri, Karnataka. The course was designed for dancers to experience dance through theoretical, physical and spiritual learning. It was a one-of-a kind opportunity to acquire a thorough and multifaceted understanding of the subject.
Traditionally, dance was taught in Gurukuls where students lived, ate, studied and practiced with their Gurus. This proximity with their Gurus not only chiselled their art form but enabled them to adopt dance as a way of life.
This residential course offered a small number of students the opportunity to experience the Gurukul life and to spend a focused period of study acquiring practical skills and theoretical understanding of Odissi. The course provided technical training, alongside an introduction to the history, culture and aesthetics of this dance form.
A day at the retreat included Kallaripayattu, yoga, dance, lecture demonstrations and opportunities to experience different local art forms. Odissi training was be led by Guru Deepak Roy (founder, Deepam Odissi Academy) and Aishwarya Hegde (Artistic Director at Deepam). Kallaripayattu and Yoga, warm-up sessions and lecture demonstrations were conducted by Sudharshan Sampath.
