Notes on Rhythmic Patterns in

Odissi Dance

Notes on Rhythmic Patterns in Odissi Dance

Dr. Rohini Dandavate June 2012

Rhythm is referred to as Tala in Indian dance. Tala patterns in dance and music have defined rules for the elaboration and each pattern has its own name. In this paper I will share the tala patterns used in Odissi dance, and explain the ways in which talas are grouped and notes counted based on the speed in which Odissi dance numbers are set and choreographed. Tala, Laya and Jati A cycle of beats (tala units) of different length and speed are strung together in a dance composition and each cycle of tala is called an avartan. Defined by the way in which the syllables are grouped every tala is generally divided into sections (vibhaags), not all of which may have the same number of beats and can be recited or played on the pakhawaj (percussion instrument) in different speeds (Laya). Lessons in tala for an Odissi dancer begin with the training of the basic steps in Tribhangi and Chowka. Set to Ukkutas (selected syllables) or bols the foot-work in the positions of tribhangi and chauka are practiced along with the memorization of the bols, to help vocalize the physical movements. Gurus recite the bols along with the playing of the pakhawaj during the training sessions. The nomenclature for fingers used in counting tala is as follows: In Oriya 1. Angusht 2. Tarjani 3. Madhyama 4. Anamika 5. Knishtha In English Thumb Index finger Middle finger4 Ring finger Little finger

The beats in each segment of tala are counted by using the following angas (limbs):

1. Laghu (denoted by the symbol I) is a clap of the hand followed by counting of the fingers; these counts could vary from 3 to 4 to 5 to 7 to 9, based on the jatis, i.e. 3 counts=tishra jati, 4 counts=chatusra jati, 5 counts=khanda jati, 7 counts=mishra jati, 9 counts=sankirna jati. 2. Druta (denoted by the symbol O) is a clap of the hand followed by a wave of the hand; it is a fixed unit of two beats. 3. Anudruta (denoted by the symbol U) is a clap of the hand; it is a fixed unit of one beat. Most Talas are combinations of Laghu and Druta, while Jhampa Tala combines Laghu, Druta and Anudruta and Eka Tala is made up of just Laghu. Jati indicates the Laghu counts varying from 3-9 and are of the following types: 1. Tisra Jati has 3 beats 2. Cathurushra Jati has 4 beats 3. Khanda Jati has 5 beats 4. Misra Jati has 7 beats and 5. Sankeerna Jati has 9 beats.

Laya refers to the speed or tempo in which the talas are recited. The tempo of the recitation of the bols (syllables) can be in Vilambit laya (Slow tempo), Madhya laya (Medium tempo) or Dhruta laya (Fast tempo). In a dance number the fundamental tala continues to be the same with the change of the tempo in recitation. The basic units of dance in tribhangi and chauka are practiced in three speeds or tempos by doubling and redoubling the speed of the original tempo. Given below is an example of a tala in three speeds. Chatusrasra Jati Eka tala
First Speed Clap Ta Index finger Ri Middle finger Khi Ring finger Ta

Second Speed

Clap Ta ri

Index finger khi ta

Middle finger Ta Ri

Ring finger Khi Ta

Third Speed Clap Ta Ri Khi ta Index finger Ta Ri Khi Ta Middle finger Ta Ri Khi Ta Ring finger Ta Ri Khi Ta

In Odissi dance, Khandi is the smallest unit of dance based on a tala. The example given below is made up of two Laghus (8 beats) in Chaturasra Ektala (a four beat cycle) 1 Clap Taka takadataka 2 index finger dha ta 3 middle finger dhagine dhagadigene 4 ring finger ta (I) dha (I)

Arasa, in comparison to a Khandi is a longer rhythmic composition in a given Tala, and its length may cover one or more cycles of the chosen Tala. Arasas are usually repeated three times and end on the first beat of the following cycle, which is known as Sam. The following section gives examples of arasas set in different talas.

Tala Patterns in Chaturasra Jati

1. Dhruva Tala- 14 beats, Avartans -2,Total beats -28, Subdivision 4 2 4 4 (IOII) Ukuta: Ta ethi naterekete tete (I) Thathi naam (O) Kititaka dhina dhaidhai Nati (I) Nakhita khititak terekete dhaidhai (I) Arasa: 3

Takun dari tajhe naam (I) Drimi khita (O) Tadri eta drimi khita (I) kadataka dhai kadataka dhai (I) Tadri eta drimi khita (I) kadataka kadataka(O) Tadri eta kadataka dha(I) kadataka dha dhakadatak dha (I) dha(sam) 2. Matha Tala 10 beats, Avartans 2,Total beats -20 Subdivision 4 2 4 (IOI) Ukuta: Ta ethi naterekete tete (I) tathi naam (O) Kititaka dhina dhai dhai nati (I) Arasa: Dhadhina khitakadha dhina kita dhinakita(I) jenaamta kititaka(O) Tathamta gadigene dhaidh aidhai (I) kadataka gadigene(O) Dahidh aidhai kadataka gadigene (I) Dha(sam) 3. Rupaka Tala 6 beats, Avartans 4,Total beats -24 Subdivision 2 4 (OI) Ukuta: Dha terekete (O) dha terekete thun na (I) Arasa: Dhinita takita(O) dhinita ta taata ta (I) aa gadigene (O) takadha etete khititaka gadigene(I) dhinita ta(O) takadha etete khititaka gadigene(I) dhinita ta(O)takadha ete khititaka gadigene(I) Dha(sam)

4. Jhampa Tala 7 beats, Avartans 7,Total beats -49 Subdivision 4 1 2 (I U O) Ukuta: Dhaik dhinna kataka dhinna (I) thunna (U) kadataka dhinna(O) Arasa: Kititaka Jimi Ta Jimi(I) tari (U) khita kukun(O) Dari thala anga taka (I) diku (U) tadri ta (O) Kititaka jena jimita jimi (I) ta (U) jimi kadataka (O) Tari Khita kukun dari (I) thala (U) ang taka (O) Diku taka gadi gena(I) kadatak (U) thala anga(O) Taka diku taka gadi (I) gena (U) kadatak thala (O) Anga taka diku taka (I) gadi (U) gena kadataka (O) Dha(sam) 5.Tripata Tala 8 beats, Avartans 4,Total beats -32 Subdivision 4 2 2 (I O O) Ukuta: Dhaik tathi naka dhina (I) naka dhina (O) naka dhina (O) Arasa: Dhaterekete tajena takata rijena(I) Dhaterekete tajena (O) takata rijena (O) Kinam takita tereketeta Kajena(I) Kinam takita(O) tereketeta Kajena (O) Tereketeje naterekete jenatereke tejena (I)Tereketeje naterekete (O) jenatereke tejena Dhatetrekete tajena dhai dhaterekete(I) tajena thai(O) dhaterekete tajena (O) Dha(sam)

6.Ata Tala 12 beats, Avartans 2,Total beats -24 Subdivision 4 4 2 2 (I I O O) Ukuta: Ta ethi naterekete tete (I) ta ethi naterekete tete(I) dhage naati (O) naterekete dhinakete (O) Arasa: Jeke jenam jenam takita(I) thinthi nakita taterekete ta(I) Kukundari khita (O) terekete jenakita (O) Tereketeje naterekete jenatereke tejena (I) dhaterekete tajena thai dhaterekete(I) tajena thai (O) dhaterekete tajena (O) thai (sam) 7.Eka Tala 4 beats, Avartans 13,Total beats -52 Subdivision 4 (I) Ukuta: Ta ethi naterekete tete (I) Ta kadataka je kadataka(I) tadha kadataka je S (I) Ta kadataka je kadataka(I) tadha kadataka je S (I) Tadha kadataka Tadha kadataka (I) Tadha kadataka kadataka Je (I) Tadha kadataka Tadha kadataka (I) Tadha kadataka kadataka Je (I) Ta kaje nam taka(I) je s s kadataka (I) Ta kaje nam taka (I) je s s kadataka(I) Je kadataka je kadataka (I) Je(sam)

References The Ukutas and tala patterns of the Arasas are from the class notes given by my Gurus during training in Odissi dance in Kala Vikash Kendra, Cuttack. My Gurus were Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, Guru Raghunath Dutta and Guru Ramani Ranjan Jena.