Types Of Dances in Indiaand their Origin

Dances of India

Classical Dance forms

·       The principles of which are derived from Bharatamuni’s 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 streamof 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 19^thcentury 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