Odisha CHSE +2 Vocational Chhow Dance flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Chhow

A martial-derived masked or semi-masked dance tradition of eastern India, performed in Odisha, West Bengal and Jharkhand, combining dance, mime, music and acrobatics.

Chaitra Parva

Spring festival period, especially in Mayurbhanj, when Chhow performances are traditionally held in honour of Shiva and local deities.

UNESCO 2010 inscription

Year Chhow dance was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, recognising its Odisha, Purulia and Seraikela forms.

Paika akhada

Traditional Odisha martial training gymnasium whose exercises and weapons drill contributed the vigorous movement base of Chhow dance.

Mayurbhanj Chhow

Odisha Chhow style performed without masks, relying on facial expression, body makeup and strong akhada-based movement.

Purulia Chhow

Mask-based Chhow style of West Bengal known for large papier-mache masks, acrobatic feats and Ramayana or Mahabharata episodes.

Seraikela Chhow

Masked Chhow style of Jharkhand patronised by the Seraikela royal family, marked by softer, more lyrical movement than Purulia.

Keonjhar Chhow

Odisha Chhow variant that is mask-free like Mayurbhanj but has distinct rhythmic patterns and emphasis on solo nrutya items.

Chauka posture

Square, grounded stance with bent knees and wide feet that forms the foundational position of Chhow technique.

Ufli

Jumping movement in Chhow derived from martial training, executed from a low stance and often ending in a held pose.

Padabhana

Rhythmic footwork in Chhow, executed in precise synchronisation with spoken and played mardala syllables.

Bhaunri

Spinning movement used in Chhow entrances and battle sequences, often accelerating with the percussion tempo.

Nrutya versus natya

Nrutya denotes pure rhythmic dance showcasing technique, while natya denotes dance-drama carrying character, dialogue and narrative.

Mahishasura Mardini theme

Popular Shakti narrative enacted in Chhow, depicting the goddess Durga defeating the buffalo demon in a climactic battle.

Vandana

Invocation item opening a Chhow performance, usually addressed to Ganesha or Shiva to seek blessing before the narrative begins.

Vidushaka

Comic character type in Chhow dance-dramas, providing relief through exaggerated movement and humorous interaction with principal characters.

Mardala

Two-faced barrel drum that is the principal percussion instrument of Odisha Chhow, played by the mardalika to cue dancers.

Mahuri

Double-reed wind instrument used in Odisha Chhow ensembles to carry melodic lines accompanying the sung text.

Bol

Spoken rhythmic syllables of the drum, used as mnemonic cues that dancers reproduce through footwork and body movement.

Layakari

Deliberate manipulation of tempo in Chhow, with acceleration typically accompanying battle scenes, spins and climaxes.

Papier-mache mask

Lightweight mask built from layered paper and cloth, painted in strong flat colours, used in Purulia and Seraikela Chhow.

Character colour coding

Costume convention assigning dark and red shades to demons, lighter shades to deities and heroes, and yellow to sages.

Tahia headgear

Decorated turban or crown worn in mask-free Mayurbhanj Chhow, replacing the mask as the principal head ornament.

Akhada venue

Traditional open-ground performance space of Chhow, requiring larger gestures and louder percussion than proscenium staging.

Pravesh entrance

Dramatic character entrance in Chhow using jumps, spins and a held pose to establish identity before the action proceeds.

Proscenium adaptation

Modern staging of Chhow with controlled lighting and framing, allowing subtler facial expression and adjusted movement scale.

Guru-shishya transmission

Traditional mode of Chhow training in which a guru transmits repertoire orally to disciples within the akhada setting.

Bol-based notation

Documentation approach recording Chhow movement through drum syllables and tala counts rather than a written movement script.

Dhenkanal Chhow

Odisha Chhow variant noted for masked dance-drama and themes drawn from the Bhagavata and local legends.

Sundargarh Chhow

Odisha Chhow variant blending tribal dance elements of the Sundargarh region with standard Chhow movement vocabulary.

Dhol and dhumsa

Large drums used in Purulia Chhow ensembles, producing the high-volume outdoor sound profile of that style.

Chhow makeup

Stylised facial painting with bold eye and lip outlines, used in mask-free styles to remain readable at a distance.