Indian Dance Forms Explained in Less Than 300 Words
Bharatanatyam
In India, Bharatanatyam is one of eight classical dance
forms. Hindustani dance called Bharatanatyam originates from Tamil Nadu in
southern India. It dates back almost 2000 years. Originally, Bharatanatyam was
performed in temples by Devadasis seeking the blessing of the god, so it is
also known as Daassiyattam. Over time, it was performed for kings
in royal courts, and today, it has become a symbol of artistic education.
Bharatanatyam dance is attributed to Lord Shiva. Lord Brahma is believed to
have revealed Bharatnatyam to the sage Bharata, who recorded the dance in a
Sanskrit text called the Natya Shastra
In Hindu tradition, the name for the dance form was
formed by pairing the word Bharata with the word Natyam, where Natyam refers to
dance in Sanskrit, and the word ‘Bharata’ is a mnemonic composed of ‘bha’, ‘ra’,
and ‘ta’, meaning ‘bhava’ which is emotion, ‘raga’ which is melody, and ‘tala’
which is rhythm. Bharatanatyam, therefore, is a dance form where bhava, raga,
and tala combine. The beauty of Bharathanatyam is its grace, its purity, its
tenderness, and its sculptural poses.
A distinguishing feature of Bharatanatyam is its fixed
upper torso, legs bent or knees flexed out, and the eye usually follows the tip
of the fingers when performing certain movements, requiring strong hand-eye
coordination. As well as adding discipline, this provides excellent eye
exercise. In addition to its international fame and standing, this dance form
is also considered an important treasure of India. Among the eminent scholars
in this field are actress Shobhana, Padmini, Bala Saraswathi, and Mrinalini
Sarabhai.
Kathakali
Kathakali
is the most renowned dance drama from the state of Kerala in southern India.
Every Keralite can take pride in the fact that this renowned art form
originated on the shores of Kerala more than 300 years ago. The word
Kathakali literally translates as "Story-Play". The word “Katha”
translates as a story, “Kali” as a play. Traditionally, Kathakali dances took
all night to perform. In today's case, they will last just a few hours.
Mahabharata is the inspiration for many Kathakali performances.
The story cannot be told by the actors
alone. Rather, they create characters through choreography. Kathakali, like all
other Indian classical dance forms, puts a lot of emphasis on hand gestures.
470 different mudras are used in Kathakali. A majority of these exercises are
carried out with the hands and fingers, but some are performed by the entire
body. Kathakali is a dance form that uses physical expression and hand gestures
to tell stories.
The type of kathakali is related to
the character and it is called Vesham. Among the five major Veshams in
Kathakali, there are Kathi (Knife), Pacha (Green), Thaadi (Beard), Minukku
(radiant), and Kari (Black). In Green Vesham appears the noble and the divine.
While the makeup is applied directly to the face, the fully expressive nature
of the face and eyes is not hindered. Large, elaborate makeup and costumes are
the most outstanding characteristics of this dance form. Kathakali's elaborate
costumes are an icon of Kerala. It takes three hours to do Kathakali's makeup.
These effects give actors a superhuman appearance.
Kuchipudi
The dance form of Kuchipudi originates in the state of
Andhra Pradesh. Kuchipudi's theoretical foundation can be traced back to the
ancient Sanskrit Hindu work called 'Natya Shastra' written by Bharata Muni.
Named after the village of Kuchipudi in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh,
Kuchipudi is a shortened form of the full name Kuchelapuram. A Dance similar to
this was performed in ancient times by Brahmins in Kuchelapuram.
All Indian arts have a deep religious heritage, and
Kuchipudi was a major result of the Bhakti movement beginning in the seventh
century. Siddhendra Yogi, an ascetic in the 14th century, gave it a new
definition and direction. In the past, Kuchipudi was exclusively a male dance.
Lord Krishna's life stories are told through this dance expressively and vibrantly. Several copper inscriptions from the medieval era attest to the
fact that dance flourished under the patronage of the medieval rulers in the
16th century. Its performance at the royal court of the Vijayanagara Empire is
also listed.
Concerning Kuchipudi's origins, there is a
legend. The village raised an orphan of Srikakulam once. He was
married at a young age according to the custom of the day. He went to
Udipi to study Vedic philosophy. He acquired the name Sidhendra Yogi
during his studies. After his studies, he returned to Srikakulam. During
his journey, he came upon a river. he realized that he couldn't
swim any further. He then prayed to God for the strength to cross.
As soon as he reached the shore, he swore to become a sanyasi (renunciate) and
dedicate his life to religious affairs. His first teaching assignment was in
the village of Kuchelapuram. Using religious themes as themes for his
dance dramas, he taught Brahmin boys.
courtesy: Amazing Facts about Kuchipudi Dance
Odissi
Odissi, originally called 'Odra-Nritya,' is a temple
dance from the state of Odisha in eastern India. The body movements, expressions,
and gestures of Odissi are excellent. Music and dance both play a role in
Odissi dance, blending music styles. Ragas that appear most commonly in Odissi
music are Kalyana, Nata, Shree Gowda, Baradi, Panchama, Dhanashri, Karnata,
Bhairavee, and Shokabaradi. Odissi is a difficult art to master because it is
performed continuously in a position that combines soft and fluid upper-body movements with strong and steady lower-body movements.
Odissi dance is devoted to Lord Jagannath, who is
considered the lord of the universe and is revered by the people of Odisha.
Interestingly, the first evidence we have of this dance has been found through
the engraving of a dancer in a cave near Udayagiri.
One of the most prominent features of Odissi is its proximity to many
sculptures found in temples across Orissa. While Odissi is graceful in its
manner, it is also rooted in a concept known as 'Tribhangi', which literally
translates to 'three parts', and it comprises three major movement types.
Performing Odissi requires considerable rigor, discipline, as well as a level
of precision, grace, and beauty that can only be achieved through intense
training.
Spines are strengthened by this dance form. According
to a source, it may be beneficial for people who suffer from severe
spondylitis. Dance costumes for Odissi are similar to those for Bharatanatyam.
The women dancers of Odissi wear the patta sari, nine yards long, and brightly
colored silk saris. They also wear black or red blouses called kanchulas. The
'nibibhanda', or apron-like silk cloth worn around the legs, is tied from the
waist. Known as the oldest dance in the world, Odissi is considered one of the
oldest artistic movements in the world.
Manipuri
The Manipuri classical dance originates in the northeast Indian state of Manipur. Manipuri is actually the name of several dance forms in the region. Manipuri culture is a fusion of Indian and
Southeastern cultures, which is reflected in its dances as well. Even before
recorded history began, its origins can be traced back to ancient times.
Despite not being well documented, it is believed that Rasleela dances originated in Manipur during the rule of King Bhagyachandra. In a dream, it was
this philosopher-king who dreamt up this unique dance form as well as its
costumes and music in the 18th century. Its main themes are the love stories of
Krishna and Radha, although other themes are also explored.
Classical Manipuri dance can be roughly divided into
two categories. They are Jagoi and Cholom. Jagoi represents the
Lasya element described in Bharata's Natya Shastra, which dominates Ras Leela.
Cholom represents the Tandava form of classical dance. Female artists usually
wear long stiff skirts with decorative embellishments. In addition to this,
they wear a dark-colored velvet blouse and a veil over their faces. Among the
male dancers, the dhoti, the kurta, the white turban, a folded shawl on the
left shoulder, and the drum strap on the right shoulder, are some of the
typical costume items. Krishna's characteristic costume includes a yellow
dhoti, a dark velvet jacket, and a crown of peacock feathers.
There are features of Manipuri dance that set it apart
from other classical dances: The artist never makes eye contact with the
audience. Continuous and circular movements merge into one another. Drums and
flutes are the two main instruments used in Manipuri dance. Famous Manipuri
dancers are Yumlembam Gambhini Devi, Guru Bipin Sinha, Darshana Jhaveri, and
Nirmala Mehta.
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