Nrutyadhara Foundation

Chau Dance

Origin of Chhau Dance

Chhau dance of late has attracted wide attention of critics and scholars. This dance form was originated in the ex-princely States of Mayurbhanj (Odisha), Seraikella (Jharkhand) and Purulia (West Bengal). Out and out a martial dance form, Chhau, has been enriched by multiple variations based on the regional and cultural traditions of those areas. In Chhau dance, subtle body movements play an important role to display the bhava of the characters. The use of mask in this dance -form in Seraikella or Purulia might be explicated as an innovation while performing in order to transmit the bhava to the audience. But in the Mayurbhanj Chhau, the dancers do not use any mask. The purity and pristine glory of this dance form is diligently maintained. In this school of Chhau, artistes are trained to express the bhavas through the
required artistic body movement. The Chhau of Seraikella is poetic and reminiscent, while that of Mayurbhanj earthy and vibrant. However, the style and presentation of Purulia school is robust and chivalrous.

Opinions differ as regards the origin of the word “Chhau” and also as to the
christening of the dance form as Chhau dance. Some believe the word came from the Odia ord “Chhauni” which means military barracks. It perhaps originated from the “Pari Khanda Khela “(playing with sword and shield). Usually the paikas (warriors) practiced this dance during
the battle at nights to commemorate their victories or simply to relax. Thus, it was named as “Chhauni Nrutya”. And some believe Chhau word came from the Sanskrit word “Chaya” or “Chadma” which means shadow or disguise.

Chhau is a paramparika (traditional) dance form, a rarest one, with a brilliant
past. It has acquired a distinct position in cultural history of Odisha because of its special features with regard to bhangis, mudras, music and rhythm. There are few books or published work throwing light on the origin, music and composition of this dance form. The technique or style of the dance is composed by the ustads (masters). And the dance continues from the past
through the instructions of the teachers who works on hereditary basis

There are different types of movements used in Chau dance like Chauka, Dharan, Chali, Topka and Ufli. Chalis are stylized gaits of human beings, animals and birds in single, double and quadruple tempo. Most of the chalis are named after the manner in which the steps are taken;
thus, arhichali, crosswise steps, and teenparhichali, three steps at a time. But there are also chalis which are based on actual gaits, such as bagachali which means crane walk. The chalis are followed by upalayas or combined steps and movements which are suggestive of various actions. Example of upalayas are gutti-koorha, lifting a pebble with the toes, gobar-goola,
mixing cow-dung with water, kula-pachra, husking paddy etc.

Chhau dance is generally staged during the spring festival or Chaitra Parva in Odisha, which marks the odia new year i.e. 14 th April. The Purulia Chhau dance of west Bengal is celebrated during the Makar Sankranti (Sun Festival). The dancers mainly enact the episodes from the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. The style of dance has, of course, been modified
in course of time. The present Chhau dance is a blend of many dance styles. We can find elements of folk, martial, tribal and classical dance forms in it. Dhol, Mahuri, Chadchadi, Dhumsa are the main musical instruments used in Chhau. The tunes used in Chhau are in many cases based on the ragas of Hindustani music; in some cases, they are borrowed from the
compositions of outstanding Odia poets of the past, such as Upendra Bhanja, Kabi etc.
Presently there are also some Chhau items which use folk melodies.
In Seraikella Chhau and Purulia Chhau, main attraction or the focal point is the mask. They use it while dancing. The mask represents a particular mood or theme. But, when the mask is worn, the dancer loses the advantage of transmitting the most delicate and potent element of expression on the face. Therefore, the onus of creating and projecting the moods and emotions is transferred to the body movements. The dancer delicately communicates the
emotions and the theme through cadence of body flexion which contributes to create a form of mime that adds a new dimension to the concept of abhinaya.

Chhau Mask

Mayurbhanj school has adopted this dance without using masks. This gives scope for transformation of the erstwhile tribal dance to a semi-classical dance form. In Mayurbhanj Chhau, they use Hindustani, Odissi, Chaupadi, Chhanda, Champu, Jhumar and tribal music. They use musical instruments like Mahuri, Chadachadi, Dhumsa etc. Odissi dance and Chau dance
are many similarities. The posture of tribhanga (“S” Curve) and chauka (square) of Odissi dance is extensively used in Chau dance.
Now national and international attentions have been drawn to this art form. It is heartening that now Chhau is being appreciated by one and all. In 2010 the Chhau dance was inscribed in the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Government of Odisha have established a Government Chhau Dance Centre in 1960 in
Seraikella and the Mayurbhanj Chhau Nritya Pratisthana at Baripada in 1962. These institutions obtain the help and cooperation of the local gurus, artists, patrons and representatives of Chhau institutions. The Sangeeta Nataka Academy has also established a National Centre for
Chhau Dance at Baripada.

Reference:
“Nrutya Parichaya” Book, written by Guru “Ashis Kumar Das”
“Chhau Dance of Orissa and its Revival” by “Basanta Kumar Mohanta”
The Seraikella Chhau Dance by “Mohan Khokar”
“Chhau Dance of Mayurbhanj” by “Rabindra Kumar Behuria”

Prajna Mishra,
Odissi Practitioner and teacher
Creative Director @Nrutyadhara Foundation
Bangalore
Mob No – 9741088996