Bhubaneswar: What makes Odissi performance a feast for the eyes is its colorful costume and jewellery. While some artistes buy them, others like to borrow ornaments or clothes on rent from rent centres. There are a couple of places in the city which supply costumes and jewellery on rent for a show or two. Orissa Post interacts with some dancers and shop owners in the business.
According to Rashmi Ranjan Mahapatra, who operates a rental shop from Old Town, artistes, dancers and movie-makers have been hiring dancers’ costumes and jewellery for the past 50 years. Silver jewellery and filigree work is very expensive. “People depend on us as we offer lookalike jewellery at a reasonable price,” Mahapatra says.
Kamlakanta Bisoi, owner of a dance costumes shop at Damana in Chandrasekharpur, says Odissi outfits and jewellery are in great demand. On occasions, he rents away at least 50 Odissi dresses and jewellery and also offers professional makeup for a small price. ‘‘Odissi heroes like Guru Kelucharan, Guru Deba Prasad Das are no more. So, we are trying to follow their footsteps in matters of costume, makeup and jewellery,’’ said Bisoi.
Another costumes shop at Jagannath Nagar, known for its quick makeup and dress material, has been serving performers for the past 20 years.
However, famous dancers like Prativa Panda seems to differ from the costume suppliers and makeup service artiste. “A performer must buy her own Patta, jewellery and do her own makeup. Some service providers are offering cheap plastic sola as headgear which is discarded in Odissi traditions. Dancers of this format need to wear only real Sola Tahia manufactured in Puri,” stated Panda.
Prativa Kar who runs a dance school at Sahid Nagar said, “Not every make-up service centre flouts the dress code for Odissi dancers. A shop or two may have plastic sola headgear, but I have never come across anything like it. It is not possible for every student to buy her own dance costume and jewellery.”
Jhumki Patra, a student of Odissi dance, said, “Whenever my guru asks me to perform on stage, I borrow my dresses from the nearby shop by paying a nominal fee. These shops also help us to make-up before Odissi programmes.”