Dances of India

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