CHSE Odisha Vocational Odissi Dance study plan

Sequence the major periods of Odissi's evolution from temple ritual (mahari) through Gotipua, the decline phase, and the 20th-century revival, and write a dated timeline from memory

Define and correctly distinguish the terms mahari, gotipua, bandha nritta, and nritta/nritya/natya in your own words

Name the archaeological and textual anchors (Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves, the Natyashastra, Abhinaya Chandrika) and state what each contributes

Label the core stances and body positions (chowk, tribhangi, abhanga) on a self-drawn body diagram with correct joint angles described verbally

Drill the basic steps of the standing repertoire (sthai, chali, and the elementary leg patterns) until you can execute each for one full avartana without losing posture

Match each of the nine head movements (shiro bheda) and eight eye movements (drishti bheda) to its Sanskrit name and demonstrate it in front of a mirror

Build a personal vocabulary sheet of at least 25 Odissi terms with the English meaning and one example of use in a composition

Record a 2-minute practice clip and annotate three corrections on posture or alignment

Break the Mangalacharan item into its sections (pushpanjali, bhumi pranam, sabha pranam, mantra) and rehearse each section separately before joining them

Count and clap the tala cycles used in the items you study (ekatali, khemta, jhampa, triputa), marking tali and khali positions aloud

Map the rhythmic structure of one pure nritta piece by writing its beat count bar by bar

Identify the percussion and melodic instruments in an Odissi ensemble and state each one's role

Perform the full Mangalacharan end to end twice with correct entry, exit, and pranam sequence

Explain the four types of abhinaya (angika, vachika, aharya, sattvika) and give one concrete example of each drawn from an item you dance

Analyze one pada or ashtapadi line by line: identify the literal meaning, the suggested (vyanjana) meaning, and the sanchari bhava you would use

Demonstrate three of the nine rasas with face and gesture and name each correctly

Rehearse a second repertoire item (Moksha or a Pallavi section) and mark its rhythmic and expressive turning points

Practice abhinaya for one piece with deliberate eye and eyebrow work, holding each bhava for a full beat rather than rushing

Sight-read a simple notation line and clap it back correctly without hearing the melody

Describe how the music and lyric support the mood at two specific moments in your item

Assemble and check the full costume: stitched pleats, sash, ornaments, and hair arrangement, and list the order in which each piece is put on

Describe the traditional makeup scheme and the reasoning behind the eye and forehead design

Outline the Guru-Shishya Parampara: how transmission works, the gharana/lineage idea, and the ethical expectations of the student

Profile three major exponents and one living lineage teacher, stating each one's specific contribution rather than a generic tribute

Convert one short item into a notation page using a consistent symbol set for steps, hand gestures, and beat counts

Write out notation for one full item with beat counts, footwork, hasta, and head or eye cues aligned to the tala

Build a 10-minute pre-dance warm-up and a 5-minute cool-down routine covering ankles, knees, hips, spine, and wrists

Identify the five most common Odissi overuse injuries and state one prevention measure for each

Explain safe practice habits for the chowk stance: knee tracking, turnout limits, and load management across the week

Rehearse your notation page by teaching it aloud to an imaginary student

Run two full timed mock exams across all nine domains and score them, targeting 80 percent or better in the two heaviest domains

Re-drill every term you missed on the glossary and mock exams until each is recalled without prompting

Perform one complete item in costume as a final run-through and fix only the two highest-impact issues

Review the history timeline and exponent profiles one final time for dates and attributions