IIT Bhubaneswar First of Its Kind to Have Dance as a BTech Subject

IIT Bhubaneswar has introduced Odissi dance as a BTech subject, becoming the first IIT to include any dance form in its curriculum. Experts in the field have been called in to design the curriculum and exam pattern for the course. 

Forget electronics, civil, and computers. Now you get a BTech degree in dance. Yes, you heard it right. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bhubaneswar has become the first IIT to add dance in its curriculum, by introducing Odissi dance as a BTech subject.

And this would not be any alternate activity, but a “breadth” course of maximum 12 credits. Breadth courses are general education courses which all students at a university must take to obtain academic exposure at the introductory level, of a variety of subjects from different fields like environment, sports, dance, etc.

Students can learn Odissi in their first year as an extra academic activity for one credit. Other such activities include NSS, NCC, Yoga, badminton, volleyball and cricket. Ten girls have already chosen Odissi, in just the first year of its launch.

Photo: Thaths/Flickr

In the second and third year, they can opt for it as an elective “breadth course” course from other options like Odissi, financial management, international relations and entrepreneurship. One semester in a year will have three credits for the breadth course, which is mandatory to clear BTech.

In final year, students can opt out of this subject and can even continue it if they want. Whoever continues it till the final year will get a diploma in dance as well.

IIT Bhubaneswar decided to introduce this subject since “dance can broaden horizons of students studying specialised course,” said RV Rajkumar, director of the college.

Noted Odissi exponents Kum Kum Mohanty, Iliana along with other experts in the field have been roped in to design the curriculum and the exam pattern for the course.

The course will comprise of a mix of activities including classroom lessons, practical training, written exams and demonstration of the dance form.

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