‘Bandha’, ‘Chhau’, ‘Jatra Ghat’, ‘Kamana Ghat’, ‘Odissi’ (‘Batu Ntriya’, ‘Nartana’, ‘Natangi’), ‘Maya Shavari’, ‘Ruk Mar Nacha’, ‘Danda-nata’, ‘Chaitighoda’, ‘Dalkhai’, ‘Medha’ (mask dance), ‘Paika Nritya’ (battle dance), ‘Karma dance’, ‘Bahaka Wata’ and ‘Goti Pua’ are the important dance forms of Orissa.
Bandha:
‘Bandha’ is considered as “the forgotten forerunner of the lyrical Odissi”. Practised by Gotipua dancers and characterised by acrobatic poses, ‘bandha’ is now flourishing in places like Raghurajpur, Konark and Pithapur in Puri district and some ‘akhadas’ (gymnasia) in Orissa. Aloka Kanungo, the renowned Odissi danseuse, is involved in the fusion of ‘bandha’ with Odissi.
Dalkhai:
This vigorous dance is performed by tribal women in Sambalpur, Barghar and Sonepur districts in the month of ‘Ashwin’. ‘Chaiti Ghorha’ is the dummy horse version of the dance.
Other important folk dances of Orissa include ‘Jadur’, ‘Magha’, ‘Ranapa Dance’ and ‘Sambhalpuri’.