Odissi Elements.. The Brahmari Spins
Center of Mass and Angular Momentum in Action
The spinning and twirling of a dancer around her feet is certainly magical. Like the sounds of a piper magically setting her in perpetual motion.
In Sanskrit, brahmari is to oscillate, like the Honey Bees. Perhaps, the spins in Odissi gets its names from here.
I was observing Tulika Tripathy. So many kinds of fun spins. From easy to hard.. And there is a method. Some reflections..
The first one.. Chakra Brahmari.. In the wide Chowka pose. Pivoting on the left feet, the right feet thumps and goes round in 4 steps, making a circle.
The second spin Kunchita Brahmari is with the ornate Krishna like prusTa dhanu paada sththi. Right feet resting on toes behind left feet. In 4 sets, like a duck, the feet move one after other, completing a circle.
The third spin is the mesmerizing mega one step spin. One big stamping of the Right leg, firing angular momentum, torque, and setting the body spin. Ekapaada Chowka Brahmari.
This reminds me of Center of Mass. The ballet dancers, don’t they fold one leg , for gaining lightness, like a spinning top? Here too, the left leg is in lolita folded pose and the feet brushing the right leg.
There are 3 more types..
Well, such deftness needs a fine body and great practise. Till then in the stage of my mind, enjoying, and decoding the elements!
