Odissi Dance Performance by Parveen Nair on 2nd December 2009 Parveen Nair, an Odissi dancer who lives in Malaysia, gave a wonderful performance at Omkarananda Patanjala Yoga Kendra, on 2nd December 2009. Odissi, known in Sanskrit as Odra-Magadhi, is one of the highest forms of Indian Classical Dance. It has its origins in the temples of Orissa (a State in India) where it was performed as a prayer or ritual. Today it has transcended the boundaries of Orissa and is performed throughout the world on international stages. It is distinguished from other Indian classical dances by its emphasis on a lyrical and graceful movement of the head and torso. It also has its typical Mudras (symbolic hand gestures). Parveen was trained under the eminent Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra and Ramli Ibrahim. His dance deeply touched the hearts of the yoga students with its expressivity, sensitivity and beauty. It was a wonderful evening to celebrate the conclusion of the November Yoga Intensive Course.