Dances of India
Classical Dance forms
* The principles of which are derived from Bharatamunis Natya Shastra
* Natya comprises of music, dance and drama
* It is Brahma who is said to have created Natyaveda which is supposed to be the essence of the existent Vedas!
Bharatnatyam
* It is believed that Bharatnatyam was revealed by Lord Brahma to Bharata, a famous sage who then codified this sacred dance in a Sanskrit text called the Natya Shastra.
* Probably derives its name from an amalgamation of Bha from bhava Ra from raga and Ta from tala
* Has its origin in the sadir or the solo performance of the devdasis of Tamil Nadu
* Dance fell into disrepute but was brought into the meainstream by Rukmini Arundale through her school Kalakshetra(also popularized by freedom fighter E.Krishna Iyer)
Famous styles of Bharatnatyam
* Padanallur
* Tanjore
Format of a Bharatnatyam Dance
* Ganapati Vandana- prayer to Ganesha
* Alarippu- invocatory piece
* Jatiswaram- pure dance create beautiful poses to rhythmic beats
* Shabdam- abhinaya to a song in praise of God
* Varnam- combines nritta and nritya
* Padam- dancer can reveal mastery over abhinaya (usually padams deal with the theme of love)
* Thillana- pure dance
Famous dancers
* Mrinalini Sarabhai
* Rukmini Devi
Kuchipudi
* Originated in AP
* Gets its name from the village of its birth Kuseelavapuri
* Kuseelavas were groups of actors going from village to village
* Basically can be traced to the dance dramas of Brahmins in temples
Features
* Traditionally a Male preserve but now open to women too
* Combines lasya and tandav
* Bhama Kalapam is an important part of its repertoire
* Siddhendra Yogi the one who composed the above believed that it was a dance that could lead to salvation
Exponent
* Raja and Radha Reddy
Yakshagana Bayalata
* Originated in Karnataka
* Performed by male troupes maintained by temples
Features
* Theatre form
* Dances are of nritta variety
* Enacted in open spaces
* Elaborate make up , head dresses
* Colorful clothes
Themes
* Epics
* Dashavtaras
* Focused on celebrating victory of good over evil
Famous exponent
* Dr.Kota Shivaram Karanth
Chchau
* Ancient but obscure origin
* Derived from chchaya or shadow
* Term acc to odissi indicates war dance
* 3 stream of chchau nritya- Seraikela, Purulia and Mayurbhanj
Features
* Performed during sun or spring festival
* Shiva and Parvati are presidingdeities
* Stance resembles combat
* Male preserve though women have started learning
* Usage of masks
* Very vigorous, martial style, requires lot of stamina
* Musical accompaniment- flutes, drums
Themes
* Epics
* Puranas
* Nature
Exponent
* Raja Bijay Pratap
Kathak
* UP
* Probably inspired by Rasleela
* Influenced by Vaishnavism
* Revolves around Radha Krishna dance
* Derives name from kathika or story tellers who would recites stories from the epics with gestures
* Involves nritta and nritya
* Branched into a courtly stream in the Mughal period
* Fell into disrepute, later revived
* Influenced by different styles of diff gharanas- Lucknow, Jaipur, Varanasi and Raigarh
Features
* Intricate footwork
* Usage of facial expressions and hastas
* No bending of knees unlike bharatanatyam
* Indian and Persian costumes
Format
* Ganesh Vandan
* Aamad (dancer enters on stage with this item)
* Thaat (soft and varied movements)
* Gat Nikaas (brief outlines of mytho stories)
* Padhant (recitation of complicated bols and demonstration)
* Tatkar (conclusion- intricate footwork and complex)
Exponents
* Birju Maharaj
* Sashwati Sen
Manipuri
Features
* Emphasis on bhakti
* Not sensuous
* Awesome costumes, serene expressions
* Limited use of mudras
* Flourished with the advent of Vaishnavism
* Usage of drum or pung
* Cholom means dance- both tandav and lasya elements are present
* Inseparable from Rasleela
* Usage of compositions or songs composed by Jayadeva, Chandidas
* Brought to prominence by Rabindranath Tagore who introduced it in Shantiniketan
Exponent
* Charu Mathur
* Bipin Singh
Mohiniattam
* Kerala dance of the enchantress
* Origin apparently in the 19th century at Travancore
* Songs composed by Swami Thirunal
Features
* Elements of Bharatanatyam and Kathakali
* Grace of the former vigour of the latter
* Girls dance
* Erotic and lyrical
* Distinctive costumes
Exponent
* Hemamalini
* Vijayantimala
Odissi
* Probably derives its name from Odra nritya mentioned in Natya shastra
* Dance of the devdasis
* Influenced by Vaishnavism and the Bhakti cult
* Brought to light by Dr.Charles Fabri, dance critic who documented it
Features
* Called mobile sculpture cause its graceful and sensuous
* Great importance to tribhanga posture
* After the devdasis fell into disrepute it became a male preserve
* Jayadeva s ashtapadi is a compulsory item in its repertoire
Format
* Mangalacharan
* Batunritya
* Pallavi
* Tharijham
* Moksha (final dance of liberation)
Exponents
* Madhavi Mudgal
* Rani Karna
Kathakali katha- story kali- drama
* Temples of Kerala
* Main sources Kudiattam and Krishnattam
* Ramanattam evolved into Kathakali
* Popularized through Kalamandalam set up by Vallathol Menon
Features
* Male preserve
* Suited to open air stage
* Elaborate make up
* Emphasis on gestures and expressions
* Great use of eye expression
* Color to indicate character (green- nobility; black for wickedness)
* Thiranottam- expressive fiery character
Themes
* Epics
* Puranas
* Presents the eternal conflict between good and evil
Nikita Kametkar
