10 Dances Of India
Walk the ramp once again as you get to see the most beautiful art of India – the Classical Dances. Flamboyant and flashing with one of the most beautiful dresses, these dancers will leave you with an awe !
1. Kathak
Hear the folk story in the form of dance called Kathak...
Kathak
The Dance
A 3rd century BC Sanskrit shloka (Mithila, late Mauryan period) mentions Kathak like this :
..anahat...nrityadharmam kathakacha devalokam... Translation: ...sound...and the Kathaks whose duty is dance for the divine peoples
Kathak is one of the major Classical Forms of dance of North India. The word " Kathak " means to tell a story. The Story of Kathak goes like this - in the olden days when the patronage shifted from the temple to the royal court, there came a change in the overall emphasis in telling stories. It shifted from religious stories to that of entertainment. Today, the story telling part remains with with it in the back and the dance holding the primary role.
Primarily, Kathak was associated with an institution called Tawaif. It is something like Ghesia tradition of Japan.Tawaif was a profeesion which demanded highest standards of training, intelligence and civility - to be able to learn Kathak. But then the Britishers came to rule India, giving Tawaif a bad name. This was the beginning of Tawaif into a downtrail spiral.
Facets Of Kathak :
The Dance Form of Kathak
There are three - Gharanas - the school of kathak.These schools are named as per the geographical areas in which they are developed. These are Jaipur, Lucknow and Benaras Gharanas.
All compositions in Kathak are performed so that the final step and the beat of the composition lands on the " Sam " or the first beat of the cycle. Most compositions also have " bols "which serve both as mnemonics to thecomposition and whose recitation also acts as a part of the performance. In addition to these "Tukras" are also formed to highlight the specific aspects of kathak. The "bols" can be borrowed from tabla (e.g. dha, ge, na, tirakiTa) or can be a dance variety (ta, thei, tat, ta ta, tigda, digdig and so on).
Musical Instruments used in Kathak
Bansuri
Dilruba
Ghungharu
Harmonium
Pakhawaj
Santur
Sarangi
Sarod
Sitar
Tabla
Tanpura
2. Kathakali
See the combination of music, painting, acting, dancing in this dance..
Kathakali
The Dance
It is rooted in the Hindu Mythology and dates back to 17th Century. It has a unique combination of literature (Sahithyam), music(Sangeetham) , painting (Chithram), acting (Natyam) and dancing (Nritham).
Kathakali originated from Ramanattom (“Raman”= the Hindu god, Sri Raman; “attom”= enactment”) and Krishnanattom ("Krishnan"= the Hindu god, Krishnan; “attom”= enactment). As per the history, Raja (the King) of Kottarakkara (a province in Kerala) sculpted Ramanattom when the Zamorin (then King of Kozhikode, another province in Kerala) refused to allow a performance of Krishnanattom in the former’s palace. Subsequently, Kottayam Thampuran (King of Kottayam, another province in Kerala) composed several plays on Mahabharata thereby making these distinct from stories based on Ramanattom. Thus, Kathakali was born.
Kathakali imbibes the properties of martial arts and folk arts which evolved in the years thereafter.
Facets of Kathakali :
The Dance Form of Kathakali
A lot of oral communication is there in Kathakali. A considerable part of Kathakali involves oral communication , sung by vocalists. The only accompaniments are percussion instruments - the Chenda (Drum played with sticks), Maddalam (Drum played with fingers), Chengila (Gong) and Ilathalam (Cymbals). Drumming Chenda is the salient feature of Kathakali.
Though many consider dancing as the main characterstic of Kathakali, but it is not so. The pure dance forms are restricted to Kalasams, which are the dance segments. Female characters spontaneously breaking into "Sari" and "Kummi" dances can be seen in few dramas.The movements in the Kathakali dance are often vibrant and less silent.
Mudras of Kathakali Dance
Pathaaka (Flag)
Mudraakhyam
Katakam (Golden Bangle)
Mushti
Kartharee Mukham (Scissor's sharp point)
Sukathundam (Parrot's peek)
Kapidhakam (The fruit of a tree)
HamsaPaksham (Swan's wing)
Sikharam (Peak)
Hamsaasyam (Swan's peek)
Anjaly (Folded hands in Salutation)
Ardhachandram (Half moon)
Mukuram (Mirror)
Bhramaram (Beetle)
Soochimukham (Needle's sharp point)
Pallavam (Sprout)
Thripathaaka (Flag with three colours)
Mrigaseersham (Deer's head)
Sarpasirassu (Serpant's head)
Vardhamanakam (Seedling)
Araalam (Curved)
Oornanabham (Spider)
Mukulam (Bud)
Katakaamukham
Hamsapaksham (Addressing people)
Costume of Kathakai Dancers
The costume worn by the various characters in Kathakai are a combination of intricate wood carving, paint and colors. It takes many painstaking hours to paint those headgears and the colorful faces of the dancers which is an intricate part of the Kathakali Costume. The raw material used for the make up of the artist is a mix of raw amorphous Sulphur, Indigo, Rice paste, Lime, Coconut oil and so on.
Characters with vividly painted faces and elaborate costumes re-enact stories from the Hindu epics, Mahabharata and Ramayana. Artists like Guru Thakazhi Kunju kurup, Kalamandalam Vasupisharady, Mathur Govindan kutty, Kottakkal Chandrasekharan have been awarded with Sangeet Natya Acadmey Awards for their explicit work and dance in the field of Kathakali.
3. Bharatnatyam
The Dance of Temple Dancers, its for the Gods...
Bharatnatyam
The Dance
Its a Classical Dance of South Indian State of India (Tamilnadu) - Bharatnatyam. Its a reincarnation of the 20th century dance form called Cathir - the art of temple dancers.The word Bharata, signifies the author of the famous Sanskrit treatise on stagecraft, called NatyaShastra. The word Bharatanatyam gets its etymology as :Bha for Bhava or abhinaya and expression, Ra for raga or melody, and Ta for tala or rhythm.
Bharatnatyam works on the lines of Natya Shastra It is cosidered to be the fire - dance, depicting the mystic presence of the fire God in the human body. Thus a Bharatnatyam dancer depicts the moveemnts of a dancing flame. Contemporary Bharatanatyam is rarely practiced as Natya Yoga, a sacred Hindu meditational tradition.
As per the Hindu mythology the whole universe is the dance of the supreme dancer, Natraja - the name of the Hindu Diety Shiva. Bharatnatyam follows this mythology of praying the whole universe through the celebration of the beauty of the materialistic body.
The Kings or the rulers used to invite temple dancers or the Devdasis (Servants of God),to dance in their courts. A Devadasi had to satisfy her own soul while she danced unwatched and offered herself (surrendered) to the Lord. This lead to the formation of a new Clan called the Rajnartaki (The Royal Dancer).The Rajnartakis dance was meant for the entertainments of Kings, Queens and the Lords.
Facets of Bharatnatyam :
The Dance Form of Bharatnatyam
In the proper form, Bharatnatyam is a Solo Dance, with two major aspects - Lasya - the graceful feminine lines and movements and the tandava - the dance of Lord Shiva - masculine aspect. This form of dance is identical to the Chinese YIN and YANG.
The famous four dancers Chinnayya, Ponniah, Sivanandam and Vadivelu of the Tanjore Court, during the rule of Maratha King Saraboji II (1798- 1832), made a rich contribution to music and Bharatanatyam and also completed the process of re-editing the Bharathanatyam. today what we see is amajor portion of what is written by the above four. Krishna Iyer and Rukmimi Devi Arundale too were instrumental in giving shape to the modern form of Bharatnatyam.
Techniques of Bharatnatyam Dance
Abhinaya or Natya - The dramatic story telling.
Nritta - pure dance - Different rythms of the Universe.
Nritya - Combination of Natya and Nritta.
Karanas - 108 key poses and transitions.
Hasta Mudras - Different hand gestures as a way of communicaiton.
Javaha (Agility), Sthirathvam (Steadiness), Rekha (graceful lines), Bhramari(balance in pirouettes), Drishti (glance), Shramaha (hard work), Medha (intelligence), Shraddha(devotion), Vacho (good speech), and Geetam (singing ability) are the TEN QUALITIES which are required in a Bharatnatyam Dancer.
Costume of Bharatnatyam Dancers
The Costume of a Bharatnatyam Dancer does not cover his whole body. The idea is to get the Aura of the body in the materialistic world.
In Bharatnatyam, usually Carnatic style of South Indian Music is used. For the music the mridangam (drum), nagaswaram (long pipe horn made from a black wood), the flute, violin and veena are used.
4. Odissi Dance
The oldest dance forms of India, is done in respect of Lord Jagganath...
Odissi Dance
The Dance
The Classical Dance of Orissa - Odisi, has its origin in its Temples. Odissi evokes the name of the Lord Jagganath - the Lord of Universe.
Oddisi Dance is said be the oldest dance forms of India, as per the archeological evidence. The Odisi dance forms have been found in Udayagiri, Rani Gumpa Caves of the second century BC. These caves are supposed to be earlier then the writingd of Bharats Natyashastra, in which there is mention of Odisi Dance.
The Odissi dance is performed by the Clan called the Maharis and the Gotipuas.. Maharis are the Devdasis (Servants of God) of Orissa. In the past there were two clans of Maharis - the bhitari gauni Maharis, who would reach the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and bahari gauni Maharis who would be in the temples but outside the sanctum sanctorum.Maharis are supposed to dance for the ceremonies and festivals connected with Lord Jagganath. But once the Gotipuras were taught to dance they stepped out of the temple premises. Gotipura in Oryan means a single boy. The Gotipuas came into emergence as the Vaishnavites ( devotess of lord Vishnu) did not like the dance by girls. So the Gotipuas - the boys were projected more than the Maharis.However Vaishnavites contributed a lot to the music, song and dance composition of Odisi. Bandha Nrutya is one of most interesting dance of Gotipuras which involves gotipuas
and a few girls joining in the dance.
Facets Of Odissi :
The Dance Form of Odissi
Tribhangi and Chaukhaare are the two main dance forms of Odissi. Tribhangi (literally: three parts break) is name given to a three body bend. It is very feminine in narture and relates to postures of Hindu Diety Lord Krishna. On the other hand Chaukha is comparable to araimandalam of Bharatnatyam. It more of a masculine aspect derived from Lord Jagganaths idol in Puri.
Guru Padma Vibushan Kelucharan Mohapatra, Guru Pankaj Charan Das, Smt. Sanjukta Panigrahi are some of the prominent dancers of Odissi. Guru Surendranath Jena propogated a different style of Odissi.
Dance Forms in Odissi
Mangalacharan: Includes bhumi pranam - prayer to the Mother Earth asking forgiveness from taping on the Earth.
Battu Nrutya : Dance Piece offered to Lord Shiva.
Pallavi : A musical melody dance
Abhinaya : Telling a story without speaking words in dance form.
Dashavataar : The dance describing the ten incarnations of the Lord.
Moksha : The dance of liberation.
5. Manipuri
Lord Krishna and Radha are revered in the form of this dance...
Manipuri
The Dance
Performed only in temples, it was only in the 20th century that the stage performance of Manipuri Dance begun.
Manipuri dance is a devotional dance, depicting the dance compositions like Ras Lila. It is dedicated to the Hindu Dieties Radha and Krishna.
It was the Maharaja Bhagyachandra (r. 1759 – 1798 CE), who s contribution brought drastic changes in the Manipuri Dance form. He composed three of the five types of Ras Lilas, the Maha Ras and the Kunja Ras. There were performed at Sri Sri Govindaji Temple in Imphal in his reign. The elobrate costume Kumil was also designed by him. The two TYPES OF Dance - Goshtha Bhangi Pareng and the Goshtha Vrindaban Pareng were composed by Maharajah Gambhir Singh. Maharaja Chandra Kirti Singh (r. 1849 – 1886 CE) was a gifted drummer and he composed at least 64 Pung choloms (drum dances). The two parengs Lasya type, the Vrindaban Bhangi Pareng and Khrumba Bhangi Pareng were also composed by him. He also wrote Nitya Ras.
A great lot has also been contributed by the Indian Scholar and Poet Rabindara Nath Tagore.He invited Guru Budhimantra Singh from Bangladesh in 1926 to teach Manipuri Dance in Shantiniketan. Several of Rabindranaths Dance dramas were based on Manipuri Dance.
Facets Of Manipuri :
The Dance Form of Manipuri
Manipuri Dance places importance on the feet work. Its more delicate and fragile than other dance forms. More and moe of circular movements without jerks are given importance. The dances feet are neither put down nor lifted up with the rythm of the dance. Even in the dance, its the first foot which is put first, then comes the rest of the foot. The delicate, lyrical and graceful movements of the dancer makes the Manipuri dance.
Manipuri dancers do not wear ankle bells. The hands, feet movements and facial expressions should be subtle in Manipuri Dance which is different from other dances.
Musical Instruments used in Manipuri
Pung : A kind of membranaphone - or a drum.
Cymbals : Round plates of various alloys
Pena
Flute : A woodwind Instrument
6. Kuchipudi
See how a dance can be done on a single brass plate....
Kuchipudi Dance
The Dance
One of the Classical Dance forms of Andhra Pradesh in South India, Kuchipudi is the name inherited from a village known as Kuchipudi. It is the Brahmins of this village who has kept this art form - the Kuchipudi Dance alive for generations.The brahmins received 600 acres of land from the Golconda King Abdul Hassan Tanesha in lieu of their great presentation for the King. It was Siddhendra Yogi who gave Kuchipudi its current form. He composed Bhamakalapam, the modern book of Kuchipudi.
The Kuchipudi dance have some set patterns in its presentation. A small puja is done at the beginning of the dance performance, then each artist come out to give a introduction of him/herself. with a composition to prove his identity. The drama then begins.
Quicksilver and scintillating, rounded and fleet-footed are the words that can be used to describe the Kuchipudi dance. In Kuchipudi dance, the dancer has to dance on a brass plate, placing the feet on the raised edges.While dancing the dancer has to balances a kundi - small vessel containing water and two diyas - oil burning candles. As the dance ends the dances extinguishes the candles and washes his or hands with the water in the vessel.Kuchipudi Dance resembles a lot with Bharatnatyam Dance - there are minute differences though!
Facets Of Kuchipudi :
The Dance Form of Kuchipudi
Kuchipudi dance makes use of the Carnatic Music. In Carnatic Music the main emphasis is on vocal music; most compositions are written to be sung, and even when played on instruments, they are meant to be performed in a singing style. Mridangam - the South Indian percussion instrument , violin, flute, and tambura are used by the Kuchipudi Singers and Drummers.
Types Of Kuchipudi Dance
The Kuchipudi Dance involves two types of Dance - Nattuva melamu' and 'Natyamelamu' -
Nattuva melamu' involves a group of actors - all of them are males performing Kuchipudi Dance Drama.
Nattuvamelam involves a group of women dancers. This tradition has two sects - one performing in the Royal Courts and the other performing in the temples.
Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam,Guru Jayarama Rao and Vanashree Rao Vedantam Lakshminarayana, Dr. Uma Rama Rao, Tadepalli Perayya, Chinta Krishna Murthy are some of the prominent personalities of Kuchipudi. Kuchipudi has gripped its roots in forgien countries also like Nilimma Devi, Sasikala Penumarthi and Revathi Komanduri in Atlanta, Kamala Reddy in Pittsburgh, Ratna Papa in Texas, Jyothi Lakkaraju, Vaidehi Yellai, Himabindu Challa, and Madhuri Kishore in the San Francisco.
Musical Instruments in Kuchipudi
Violin
Flute
Tambura
Mridangam
Manjira
Surpeti
Venu
Tanpura
Kanjira
7. Garba
This social dance is also a place for the first step of marriage..
Garba
The Dance
Originated in Gujarat, garba is similar to Social Dancing. The literal meaning of Graba is inside the earthenware lamp. It comes from the Sanskrit word Garba Deep.
It is performed during Navratris - the nine auspicious nights - wherein the Goddess Ambaji is worshipped. Goddess Amba is the one of the nine forms of Goddess Durga - the main diety.For the dance the Ambajis Idol is placed in the middle of the circle of boys and gils. The entire dance goes round and round the Goddess Idol. The modern Garba is a reflection of the Ras Dance.
The Garbo or the earthen pots has holes in it all around. Light within signifies Knowledge. The Concept of Garbo is linked to microcosm and macro- cosm. Moving around in circle signifies the never ending cicle of creation, maintenanace and destruction of the human body and things around it. The songs used in the dance are the traditional Gujarati songs sung by Gujarat Singers.
Facets Of Garba :
The Dance Form of Garba
Garba dance is the one which hails from Saurashtra - one part out of the four parts of Gujarat. Garba songs are in prais e of the Goddess Amba describing her Strenth, power and her beauty. Social Themes and seasons also make a part of the Garba Songs.Damru, Tabla, Nagara, pot drum, percussion, Ektaro, Ravan hattho, Jantar, Pavo, shehani, murli, turi, and taturi are the musical instruments used in Garba Dance.
Modern Garba also includes Ras Dance. Dancing in Circle by men and women is the main feature of the Garba Dance. Three variety of Garba Dance are described -
Dandia Ras - In this sticks or dandas are used for dance.
Mandala - Clapping is used in this dance form.
Lata Rasaka - Dancers cling to each other and dance like a creeper to a tree.
Dress used in Garba
Kamkha - Traditional blouse with embroidery in the front and the back open.
Chudla - The bangle sworn by the dancers are known as Chudla.
Kedia - High waist tops with Dhotis make this a festive dress for men.
Mojdee - Hand made pure leather shoes worn with the traditional dress.
8. Bhangra
Full of life, dance of Punjab leaves you with giggles...
Bhangra
The Dance
The celebration of Harvest and the Baisakhi Festival begans with the dance steps known as Bhangra. This tradition has been followed since 1947 - the year when India became Independent.
Its a fusion of dance, music and and the Dhol. The songs sung in it are in the form of couplets called the Bolis. The steps taken in the dance are in rythmn with these bolis. As per the history this dance begun either in the Alexander Regime or in the 14th or 15th century when the farmers used to dance and sing to pass their time at the time of harvest. Thus the story of the Bhangra beguns.
Bhangra songs are mainly about the history of Punjab. As the time passed, bhangra baecame a part of all the major festivals and dances of Punjab. From here came the alterations in the songs and dance of Bhangra. And so Bhangra became a part of Punjabi Culture. Jhumar, Luddi, Giddha, Julli, Daankara, Dhamal, Saami, Kikli, and Gatka - all are various forms of Bhangra which developed later on.
Facets Of Bhangra:
The Dance Form of Bhangra
Garba dance is the one which hails from Saurashtra - one part out of the four parts of Gujarat. Garba songs are in praise of the Goddess Amba describing her Strenth, power and her beauty. Social Themes and seasons also make a part of the Garba Songs. Damru, Tabla, Nagara, pot drum, percussion, Ektaro, Ravan hattho, Jantar, Pavo, shehani, murli, turi, and taturi are the musical instruments used in Garba Dance.
Sukhshinder Shinda, Inderjit Nikku, Jagmohan Kaur , Jasbir Jassi and Jassi Premi Jas are some of the well known Bhangra Dancers.
Musical Instruments in Bhangra
Dhol - The drum which produces the thumping voice in the dance.
Ektara - A single stringed instrument for music.
Tumbi -
Chimta - A pair of Tongs.
9. Bihu
The life line of Assam, Bihu resonates with every beat in the fields...
Bihu
The Dance
A set of three different secular festivals of Assam is termed as Bihu Dance. Performed by the young girls and boys of Assam, thid dance displays the various colors of Bihu Community.This Folk dance of Assam is enjoyed by all - yong, old rich and poor. Bihu Dance is a part of the Festival.
Bihu Dance is performed with tradiitonal folk music played with Dhol and Singor pepea. The songs and lyrics of the dance include welcome of the new year and the daily life life of a farmer in the song form.The common formation in any Bihu Dance is a Circle or the parallel rows. A dance similar to Bihu Dance is Akhu Dance which too celebrates the harvest.The characteristic feature of all Naga dancing is the use of the human figure in an erect posture with many movements of the legs and comparatively little use of the torso, and the shoulders.
Facets Of Bihu:
The Dance Form of Bihu
There are two types of Bihu Dance - Khasi and Garo Bihu Dance.The Bihu dance is performed by the Chakmas during Chaitra Sankranti. The Khasi dance is characterised by brisk steppings, flinging and flipping of hands , and swaying of the hip symbolizing the fever of Spring. Garo Bihu Dance is performed by the Garos of Bihu Tribe.
The Bihu Dance begans with the songs or the Bihu Geet being sung in courtyard of the homes, a little of the dance is also done in the courtyards. It increases to community functions being held in towns and cities at a large scale. The most important part of this dance and function is that it is celeberate without the demarcation of caste and creed.
Musical Instruments in Bihu
Dhol - The big drums which resound with the sounds of loud thumps.
Mohor Singor Pepa - Pipe Instrument made from a buffalo horn.
Tala - A Cymbal
Gogona - A reed and Bamboo Instrument.
Toka - A bamboo clapper
10. Lavani
This Dance revokes the Jagannath Yatra ....
Lavani
The Dance
Originating from the Maharashtrian word Lavanya meaning Beauty it tries to put the various social aspects in a entertaining form. Its a combinaiton of traditional song and dance. It used to work as Morale Boosters for the war soilders in the 18th century. So we can say its not a very old form of art.
Lavani Dance is performed by Dhangars or shepherds of Sholapur district of Maharashtra.The poetry written by Dhangras gets its inspiration by nature. containing tales of Birth of their Diety called Biruba. In the Lavani Songs meaningless chants are used to fill the gaps within the musical sounds. The maanch or the stage is decorated for the performance of the Lavani. This musical drama goes on for the entire night. At the end of the Lavani performance, a replica of Manmathas mount is burnt.
Facets Of Lavani :
The Dance Form of Lavani
Legends like Raja Bhoj, Kanjar gorl, and the tale of balabau is sung with frevour. There are love songs about Naik Banjara and the Ranubai, which have a much softer tones than the other musical compositions of Lavani.Traditionally the songs are sung by female singers. Male singers have a occassional presence.The dance form associated with Lavani is known as Tamasha.
Musical Instruments in Lavani
Dholak - The big drums which resound with the sounds of loud thumps.
There aren't many instruments used in Lavani. Major instrument is the Dholak. The main emphasis is on Song and dance steps.
Walk the ramp once again as you get to see the most beautiful art of India – the Classical Dances. Flamboyant and flashing with one of the most beautiful dresses, these dancers will leave you with an awe !
1. Kathak
Hear the folk story in the form of dance called Kathak...
Kathak
The Dance
A 3rd century BC Sanskrit shloka (Mithila, late Mauryan period) mentions Kathak like this :
..anahat...nrityadharmam kathakacha devalokam... Translation: ...sound...and the Kathaks whose duty is dance for the divine peoples
Kathak is one of the major Classical Forms of dance of North India. The word " Kathak " means to tell a story. The Story of Kathak goes like this - in the olden days when the patronage shifted from the temple to the royal court, there came a change in the overall emphasis in telling stories. It shifted from religious stories to that of entertainment. Today, the story telling part remains with with it in the back and the dance holding the primary role.
Primarily, Kathak was associated with an institution called Tawaif. It is something like Ghesia tradition of Japan.Tawaif was a profeesion which demanded highest standards of training, intelligence and civility - to be able to learn Kathak. But then the Britishers came to rule India, giving Tawaif a bad name. This was the beginning of Tawaif into a downtrail spiral.
Facets Of Kathak :
The Dance Form of Kathak
There are three - Gharanas - the school of kathak.These schools are named as per the geographical areas in which they are developed. These are Jaipur, Lucknow and Benaras Gharanas.
All compositions in Kathak are performed so that the final step and the beat of the composition lands on the " Sam " or the first beat of the cycle. Most compositions also have " bols "which serve both as mnemonics to thecomposition and whose recitation also acts as a part of the performance. In addition to these "Tukras" are also formed to highlight the specific aspects of kathak. The "bols" can be borrowed from tabla (e.g. dha, ge, na, tirakiTa) or can be a dance variety (ta, thei, tat, ta ta, tigda, digdig and so on).
Musical Instruments used in Kathak
Bansuri
Dilruba
Ghungharu
Harmonium
Pakhawaj
Santur
Sarangi
Sarod
Sitar
Tabla
Tanpura
2. Kathakali
See the combination of music, painting, acting, dancing in this dance..
Kathakali
The Dance
It is rooted in the Hindu Mythology and dates back to 17th Century. It has a unique combination of literature (Sahithyam), music(Sangeetham) , painting (Chithram), acting (Natyam) and dancing (Nritham).
Kathakali originated from Ramanattom (“Raman”= the Hindu god, Sri Raman; “attom”= enactment”) and Krishnanattom ("Krishnan"= the Hindu god, Krishnan; “attom”= enactment). As per the history, Raja (the King) of Kottarakkara (a province in Kerala) sculpted Ramanattom when the Zamorin (then King of Kozhikode, another province in Kerala) refused to allow a performance of Krishnanattom in the former’s palace. Subsequently, Kottayam Thampuran (King of Kottayam, another province in Kerala) composed several plays on Mahabharata thereby making these distinct from stories based on Ramanattom. Thus, Kathakali was born.
Kathakali imbibes the properties of martial arts and folk arts which evolved in the years thereafter.
Facets of Kathakali :
The Dance Form of Kathakali
A lot of oral communication is there in Kathakali. A considerable part of Kathakali involves oral communication , sung by vocalists. The only accompaniments are percussion instruments - the Chenda (Drum played with sticks), Maddalam (Drum played with fingers), Chengila (Gong) and Ilathalam (Cymbals). Drumming Chenda is the salient feature of Kathakali.
Though many consider dancing as the main characterstic of Kathakali, but it is not so. The pure dance forms are restricted to Kalasams, which are the dance segments. Female characters spontaneously breaking into "Sari" and "Kummi" dances can be seen in few dramas.The movements in the Kathakali dance are often vibrant and less silent.
Mudras of Kathakali Dance
Pathaaka (Flag)
Mudraakhyam
Katakam (Golden Bangle)
Mushti
Kartharee Mukham (Scissor's sharp point)
Sukathundam (Parrot's peek)
Kapidhakam (The fruit of a tree)
HamsaPaksham (Swan's wing)
Sikharam (Peak)
Hamsaasyam (Swan's peek)
Anjaly (Folded hands in Salutation)
Ardhachandram (Half moon)
Mukuram (Mirror)
Bhramaram (Beetle)
Soochimukham (Needle's sharp point)
Pallavam (Sprout)
Thripathaaka (Flag with three colours)
Mrigaseersham (Deer's head)
Sarpasirassu (Serpant's head)
Vardhamanakam (Seedling)
Araalam (Curved)
Oornanabham (Spider)
Mukulam (Bud)
Katakaamukham
Hamsapaksham (Addressing people)
Costume of Kathakai Dancers
The costume worn by the various characters in Kathakai are a combination of intricate wood carving, paint and colors. It takes many painstaking hours to paint those headgears and the colorful faces of the dancers which is an intricate part of the Kathakali Costume. The raw material used for the make up of the artist is a mix of raw amorphous Sulphur, Indigo, Rice paste, Lime, Coconut oil and so on.
Characters with vividly painted faces and elaborate costumes re-enact stories from the Hindu epics, Mahabharata and Ramayana. Artists like Guru Thakazhi Kunju kurup, Kalamandalam Vasupisharady, Mathur Govindan kutty, Kottakkal Chandrasekharan have been awarded with Sangeet Natya Acadmey Awards for their explicit work and dance in the field of Kathakali.
3. Bharatnatyam
The Dance of Temple Dancers, its for the Gods...
Bharatnatyam
The Dance
Its a Classical Dance of South Indian State of India (Tamilnadu) - Bharatnatyam. Its a reincarnation of the 20th century dance form called Cathir - the art of temple dancers.The word Bharata, signifies the author of the famous Sanskrit treatise on stagecraft, called NatyaShastra. The word Bharatanatyam gets its etymology as :Bha for Bhava or abhinaya and expression, Ra for raga or melody, and Ta for tala or rhythm.
Bharatnatyam works on the lines of Natya Shastra It is cosidered to be the fire - dance, depicting the mystic presence of the fire God in the human body. Thus a Bharatnatyam dancer depicts the moveemnts of a dancing flame. Contemporary Bharatanatyam is rarely practiced as Natya Yoga, a sacred Hindu meditational tradition.
As per the Hindu mythology the whole universe is the dance of the supreme dancer, Natraja - the name of the Hindu Diety Shiva. Bharatnatyam follows this mythology of praying the whole universe through the celebration of the beauty of the materialistic body.
The Kings or the rulers used to invite temple dancers or the Devdasis (Servants of God),to dance in their courts. A Devadasi had to satisfy her own soul while she danced unwatched and offered herself (surrendered) to the Lord. This lead to the formation of a new Clan called the Rajnartaki (The Royal Dancer).The Rajnartakis dance was meant for the entertainments of Kings, Queens and the Lords.
Facets of Bharatnatyam :
The Dance Form of Bharatnatyam
In the proper form, Bharatnatyam is a Solo Dance, with two major aspects - Lasya - the graceful feminine lines and movements and the tandava - the dance of Lord Shiva - masculine aspect. This form of dance is identical to the Chinese YIN and YANG.
The famous four dancers Chinnayya, Ponniah, Sivanandam and Vadivelu of the Tanjore Court, during the rule of Maratha King Saraboji II (1798- 1832), made a rich contribution to music and Bharatanatyam and also completed the process of re-editing the Bharathanatyam. today what we see is amajor portion of what is written by the above four. Krishna Iyer and Rukmimi Devi Arundale too were instrumental in giving shape to the modern form of Bharatnatyam.
Techniques of Bharatnatyam Dance
Abhinaya or Natya - The dramatic story telling.
Nritta - pure dance - Different rythms of the Universe.
Nritya - Combination of Natya and Nritta.
Karanas - 108 key poses and transitions.
Hasta Mudras - Different hand gestures as a way of communicaiton.
Javaha (Agility), Sthirathvam (Steadiness), Rekha (graceful lines), Bhramari(balance in pirouettes), Drishti (glance), Shramaha (hard work), Medha (intelligence), Shraddha(devotion), Vacho (good speech), and Geetam (singing ability) are the TEN QUALITIES which are required in a Bharatnatyam Dancer.
Costume of Bharatnatyam Dancers
The Costume of a Bharatnatyam Dancer does not cover his whole body. The idea is to get the Aura of the body in the materialistic world.
In Bharatnatyam, usually Carnatic style of South Indian Music is used. For the music the mridangam (drum), nagaswaram (long pipe horn made from a black wood), the flute, violin and veena are used.
4. Odissi Dance
The oldest dance forms of India, is done in respect of Lord Jagganath...
Odissi Dance
The Dance
The Classical Dance of Orissa - Odisi, has its origin in its Temples. Odissi evokes the name of the Lord Jagganath - the Lord of Universe.
Oddisi Dance is said be the oldest dance forms of India, as per the archeological evidence. The Odisi dance forms have been found in Udayagiri, Rani Gumpa Caves of the second century BC. These caves are supposed to be earlier then the writingd of Bharats Natyashastra, in which there is mention of Odisi Dance.
The Odissi dance is performed by the Clan called the Maharis and the Gotipuas.. Maharis are the Devdasis (Servants of God) of Orissa. In the past there were two clans of Maharis - the bhitari gauni Maharis, who would reach the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and bahari gauni Maharis who would be in the temples but outside the sanctum sanctorum.Maharis are supposed to dance for the ceremonies and festivals connected with Lord Jagganath. But once the Gotipuras were taught to dance they stepped out of the temple premises. Gotipura in Oryan means a single boy. The Gotipuas came into emergence as the Vaishnavites ( devotess of lord Vishnu) did not like the dance by girls. So the Gotipuas - the boys were projected more than the Maharis.However Vaishnavites contributed a lot to the music, song and dance composition of Odisi. Bandha Nrutya is one of most interesting dance of Gotipuras which involves gotipuas
and a few girls joining in the dance.
Facets Of Odissi :
The Dance Form of Odissi
Tribhangi and Chaukhaare are the two main dance forms of Odissi. Tribhangi (literally: three parts break) is name given to a three body bend. It is very feminine in narture and relates to postures of Hindu Diety Lord Krishna. On the other hand Chaukha is comparable to araimandalam of Bharatnatyam. It more of a masculine aspect derived from Lord Jagganaths idol in Puri.
Guru Padma Vibushan Kelucharan Mohapatra, Guru Pankaj Charan Das, Smt. Sanjukta Panigrahi are some of the prominent dancers of Odissi. Guru Surendranath Jena propogated a different style of Odissi.
Dance Forms in Odissi
Mangalacharan: Includes bhumi pranam - prayer to the Mother Earth asking forgiveness from taping on the Earth.
Battu Nrutya : Dance Piece offered to Lord Shiva.
Pallavi : A musical melody dance
Abhinaya : Telling a story without speaking words in dance form.
Dashavataar : The dance describing the ten incarnations of the Lord.
Moksha : The dance of liberation.
5. Manipuri
Lord Krishna and Radha are revered in the form of this dance...
Manipuri
The Dance
Performed only in temples, it was only in the 20th century that the stage performance of Manipuri Dance begun.
Manipuri dance is a devotional dance, depicting the dance compositions like Ras Lila. It is dedicated to the Hindu Dieties Radha and Krishna.
It was the Maharaja Bhagyachandra (r. 1759 – 1798 CE), who s contribution brought drastic changes in the Manipuri Dance form. He composed three of the five types of Ras Lilas, the Maha Ras and the Kunja Ras. There were performed at Sri Sri Govindaji Temple in Imphal in his reign. The elobrate costume Kumil was also designed by him. The two TYPES OF Dance - Goshtha Bhangi Pareng and the Goshtha Vrindaban Pareng were composed by Maharajah Gambhir Singh. Maharaja Chandra Kirti Singh (r. 1849 – 1886 CE) was a gifted drummer and he composed at least 64 Pung choloms (drum dances). The two parengs Lasya type, the Vrindaban Bhangi Pareng and Khrumba Bhangi Pareng were also composed by him. He also wrote Nitya Ras.
A great lot has also been contributed by the Indian Scholar and Poet Rabindara Nath Tagore.He invited Guru Budhimantra Singh from Bangladesh in 1926 to teach Manipuri Dance in Shantiniketan. Several of Rabindranaths Dance dramas were based on Manipuri Dance.
Facets Of Manipuri :
The Dance Form of Manipuri
Manipuri Dance places importance on the feet work. Its more delicate and fragile than other dance forms. More and moe of circular movements without jerks are given importance. The dances feet are neither put down nor lifted up with the rythm of the dance. Even in the dance, its the first foot which is put first, then comes the rest of the foot. The delicate, lyrical and graceful movements of the dancer makes the Manipuri dance.
Manipuri dancers do not wear ankle bells. The hands, feet movements and facial expressions should be subtle in Manipuri Dance which is different from other dances.
Musical Instruments used in Manipuri
Pung : A kind of membranaphone - or a drum.
Cymbals : Round plates of various alloys
Pena
Flute : A woodwind Instrument
6. Kuchipudi
See how a dance can be done on a single brass plate....
Kuchipudi Dance
The Dance
One of the Classical Dance forms of Andhra Pradesh in South India, Kuchipudi is the name inherited from a village known as Kuchipudi. It is the Brahmins of this village who has kept this art form - the Kuchipudi Dance alive for generations.The brahmins received 600 acres of land from the Golconda King Abdul Hassan Tanesha in lieu of their great presentation for the King. It was Siddhendra Yogi who gave Kuchipudi its current form. He composed Bhamakalapam, the modern book of Kuchipudi.
The Kuchipudi dance have some set patterns in its presentation. A small puja is done at the beginning of the dance performance, then each artist come out to give a introduction of him/herself. with a composition to prove his identity. The drama then begins.
Quicksilver and scintillating, rounded and fleet-footed are the words that can be used to describe the Kuchipudi dance. In Kuchipudi dance, the dancer has to dance on a brass plate, placing the feet on the raised edges.While dancing the dancer has to balances a kundi - small vessel containing water and two diyas - oil burning candles. As the dance ends the dances extinguishes the candles and washes his or hands with the water in the vessel.Kuchipudi Dance resembles a lot with Bharatnatyam Dance - there are minute differences though!
Facets Of Kuchipudi :
The Dance Form of Kuchipudi
Kuchipudi dance makes use of the Carnatic Music. In Carnatic Music the main emphasis is on vocal music; most compositions are written to be sung, and even when played on instruments, they are meant to be performed in a singing style. Mridangam - the South Indian percussion instrument , violin, flute, and tambura are used by the Kuchipudi Singers and Drummers.
Types Of Kuchipudi Dance
The Kuchipudi Dance involves two types of Dance - Nattuva melamu' and 'Natyamelamu' -
Nattuva melamu' involves a group of actors - all of them are males performing Kuchipudi Dance Drama.
Nattuvamelam involves a group of women dancers. This tradition has two sects - one performing in the Royal Courts and the other performing in the temples.
Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam,Guru Jayarama Rao and Vanashree Rao Vedantam Lakshminarayana, Dr. Uma Rama Rao, Tadepalli Perayya, Chinta Krishna Murthy are some of the prominent personalities of Kuchipudi. Kuchipudi has gripped its roots in forgien countries also like Nilimma Devi, Sasikala Penumarthi and Revathi Komanduri in Atlanta, Kamala Reddy in Pittsburgh, Ratna Papa in Texas, Jyothi Lakkaraju, Vaidehi Yellai, Himabindu Challa, and Madhuri Kishore in the San Francisco.
Musical Instruments in Kuchipudi
Violin
Flute
Tambura
Mridangam
Manjira
Surpeti
Venu
Tanpura
Kanjira
7. Garba
This social dance is also a place for the first step of marriage..
Garba
The Dance
Originated in Gujarat, garba is similar to Social Dancing. The literal meaning of Graba is inside the earthenware lamp. It comes from the Sanskrit word Garba Deep.
It is performed during Navratris - the nine auspicious nights - wherein the Goddess Ambaji is worshipped. Goddess Amba is the one of the nine forms of Goddess Durga - the main diety.For the dance the Ambajis Idol is placed in the middle of the circle of boys and gils. The entire dance goes round and round the Goddess Idol. The modern Garba is a reflection of the Ras Dance.
The Garbo or the earthen pots has holes in it all around. Light within signifies Knowledge. The Concept of Garbo is linked to microcosm and macro- cosm. Moving around in circle signifies the never ending cicle of creation, maintenanace and destruction of the human body and things around it. The songs used in the dance are the traditional Gujarati songs sung by Gujarat Singers.
Facets Of Garba :
The Dance Form of Garba
Garba dance is the one which hails from Saurashtra - one part out of the four parts of Gujarat. Garba songs are in prais e of the Goddess Amba describing her Strenth, power and her beauty. Social Themes and seasons also make a part of the Garba Songs.Damru, Tabla, Nagara, pot drum, percussion, Ektaro, Ravan hattho, Jantar, Pavo, shehani, murli, turi, and taturi are the musical instruments used in Garba Dance.
Modern Garba also includes Ras Dance. Dancing in Circle by men and women is the main feature of the Garba Dance. Three variety of Garba Dance are described -
Dandia Ras - In this sticks or dandas are used for dance.
Mandala - Clapping is used in this dance form.
Lata Rasaka - Dancers cling to each other and dance like a creeper to a tree.
Dress used in Garba
Kamkha - Traditional blouse with embroidery in the front and the back open.
Chudla - The bangle sworn by the dancers are known as Chudla.
Kedia - High waist tops with Dhotis make this a festive dress for men.
Mojdee - Hand made pure leather shoes worn with the traditional dress.
8. Bhangra
Full of life, dance of Punjab leaves you with giggles...
Bhangra
The Dance
The celebration of Harvest and the Baisakhi Festival begans with the dance steps known as Bhangra. This tradition has been followed since 1947 - the year when India became Independent.
Its a fusion of dance, music and and the Dhol. The songs sung in it are in the form of couplets called the Bolis. The steps taken in the dance are in rythmn with these bolis. As per the history this dance begun either in the Alexander Regime or in the 14th or 15th century when the farmers used to dance and sing to pass their time at the time of harvest. Thus the story of the Bhangra beguns.
Bhangra songs are mainly about the history of Punjab. As the time passed, bhangra baecame a part of all the major festivals and dances of Punjab. From here came the alterations in the songs and dance of Bhangra. And so Bhangra became a part of Punjabi Culture. Jhumar, Luddi, Giddha, Julli, Daankara, Dhamal, Saami, Kikli, and Gatka - all are various forms of Bhangra which developed later on.
Facets Of Bhangra:
The Dance Form of Bhangra
Garba dance is the one which hails from Saurashtra - one part out of the four parts of Gujarat. Garba songs are in praise of the Goddess Amba describing her Strenth, power and her beauty. Social Themes and seasons also make a part of the Garba Songs. Damru, Tabla, Nagara, pot drum, percussion, Ektaro, Ravan hattho, Jantar, Pavo, shehani, murli, turi, and taturi are the musical instruments used in Garba Dance.
Sukhshinder Shinda, Inderjit Nikku, Jagmohan Kaur , Jasbir Jassi and Jassi Premi Jas are some of the well known Bhangra Dancers.
Musical Instruments in Bhangra
Dhol - The drum which produces the thumping voice in the dance.
Ektara - A single stringed instrument for music.
Tumbi -
Chimta - A pair of Tongs.
9. Bihu
The life line of Assam, Bihu resonates with every beat in the fields...
Bihu
The Dance
A set of three different secular festivals of Assam is termed as Bihu Dance. Performed by the young girls and boys of Assam, thid dance displays the various colors of Bihu Community.This Folk dance of Assam is enjoyed by all - yong, old rich and poor. Bihu Dance is a part of the Festival.
Bihu Dance is performed with tradiitonal folk music played with Dhol and Singor pepea. The songs and lyrics of the dance include welcome of the new year and the daily life life of a farmer in the song form.The common formation in any Bihu Dance is a Circle or the parallel rows. A dance similar to Bihu Dance is Akhu Dance which too celebrates the harvest.The characteristic feature of all Naga dancing is the use of the human figure in an erect posture with many movements of the legs and comparatively little use of the torso, and the shoulders.
Facets Of Bihu:
The Dance Form of Bihu
There are two types of Bihu Dance - Khasi and Garo Bihu Dance.The Bihu dance is performed by the Chakmas during Chaitra Sankranti. The Khasi dance is characterised by brisk steppings, flinging and flipping of hands , and swaying of the hip symbolizing the fever of Spring. Garo Bihu Dance is performed by the Garos of Bihu Tribe.
The Bihu Dance begans with the songs or the Bihu Geet being sung in courtyard of the homes, a little of the dance is also done in the courtyards. It increases to community functions being held in towns and cities at a large scale. The most important part of this dance and function is that it is celeberate without the demarcation of caste and creed.
Musical Instruments in Bihu
Dhol - The big drums which resound with the sounds of loud thumps.
Mohor Singor Pepa - Pipe Instrument made from a buffalo horn.
Tala - A Cymbal
Gogona - A reed and Bamboo Instrument.
Toka - A bamboo clapper
10. Lavani
This Dance revokes the Jagannath Yatra ....
Lavani
The Dance
Originating from the Maharashtrian word Lavanya meaning Beauty it tries to put the various social aspects in a entertaining form. Its a combinaiton of traditional song and dance. It used to work as Morale Boosters for the war soilders in the 18th century. So we can say its not a very old form of art.
Lavani Dance is performed by Dhangars or shepherds of Sholapur district of Maharashtra.The poetry written by Dhangras gets its inspiration by nature. containing tales of Birth of their Diety called Biruba. In the Lavani Songs meaningless chants are used to fill the gaps within the musical sounds. The maanch or the stage is decorated for the performance of the Lavani. This musical drama goes on for the entire night. At the end of the Lavani performance, a replica of Manmathas mount is burnt.
Facets Of Lavani :
The Dance Form of Lavani
Legends like Raja Bhoj, Kanjar gorl, and the tale of balabau is sung with frevour. There are love songs about Naik Banjara and the Ranubai, which have a much softer tones than the other musical compositions of Lavani.Traditionally the songs are sung by female singers. Male singers have a occassional presence.The dance form associated with Lavani is known as Tamasha.
Musical Instruments in Lavani
Dholak - The big drums which resound with the sounds of loud thumps.
There aren't many instruments used in Lavani. Major instrument is the Dholak. The main emphasis is on Song and dance steps.
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