Odissi Odissi is a classical dance style from North-East India, dating back to the 2nd century BC, making it the oldest dance form in India and perhaps the world. Originally performed in temples as a sacred ritual dedicated to the gods, Odissi is marked by its sensuousness and lyricism, with movements that reflect the divine sculptural motifs of the temples of Orissa. Odissi is a dance of love and passion, in an everlasting synthesis of divinity and humanity. Its sculpturesque quality is breathtaking, while its intricate rhythmic patterns of footwork, along with the pulsating energy, the force and lightning-like speed of feet and body movements are a sheer pleasure to experience.