Evolution of dance

Dance is one of the many aspects of culture. By tracing the evolution of culture, it becomes easier
to understand the interrelationship of cultural levels at different socio-economic levels. According
to this formula, the evolution table is as follows-

Culture based on Primitive human lifestyle

(Hunting and collection based livelihood, forest life)

Advanced culture of tribal people

(Animal Husbandry - Partial Hunting / Patial Agricultural based Village Life)

Rural culture
(Culture based on Agricultural lifestyle)

Folk culture Rural Preceptor disciple culture

i.e. Some sort of embraced culture

Civic culture Classical culture or Sastriya

Mass culture

It is naturally clear that the civic classical culture evolved out of earlier layers of rural folk culture.
Therefore, it appears that folk culture and folk dance are tied together with the nexus of the earlier
and later stages. Rural society is conservative and limited as compared to civil society. City culture
is an example of universal amalgamation as people of different languages and cultures come together
in urban areas. Compared to that, rural culture is much more one-dimensional.
Today, however, the projection of an 'infatuated citizen' culture oozing from films, radio, television
and its various channels, newspaper, advertisements, etc., on rural dance is profound and its
fascination is influencing rural life and culture. But still rural flow of dance has not stopped. The
rural people's own tradition continues to flow inwardly. Classical culture owes much too rural
culture which can be understood only by understanding the names of Raga-Ragini currently in use.
Such as Bhupali, Bongal, Gaudmallar, Gurjari, Karnati, Saberi, Brindavani Sarong etc. These are mainly
based on the musical structure of various particular region.

Many people simplify the words 'classical' and 'folk' as 'Margi' and 'Desi'. But the information is not
correct. 'Marga Sangeet' was prevalent two thousand years ago in the era of Natya Shastra. So what
is presently prevalent in India definitely belongs to Desi Sangeet. It is of three types - 1) Elite
(known as classical) 2) Common (known as loukik) 3) Local (includes country music, folk music and
tribal songs).

Sangeet
(Song-Music-Dance)

Gandharba or Marga Desi or regional

Temple based rural Entertainment Sangeet

or urban Sangeet based on elite class audience
(song-music-dance) (song-music-dance)

During the period from the pre-Christian era to the fifteenth century 'Deshi' or regional classical
music was called 'Prabandha'. Classical raga and tala based songs were called 'Gitaprabandha'. Varied
expressions in Tantri instruments like veena, Shusir intruments and Anabdha Instruments were
called 'vadyya-prabandha'. A variety of combinations of classical rhythms in Anabdha Instruments
was called ‘Tala Prabandha’ and dancing with the help of rhythmic and lyrical organs was called
'Nritya Prabandha'. 'Deshi' music was created by adopting the regional characteristics and
restrictions of extinct Marga Sangeet. These 'desi' songs were divided into four categories. namely-
a) Raganga (inheriting the signs of village raga), b) Bhashanga ( lyrics or alap related ragas), c)
Krianga (applicable to social, religious and personal rituals etc.) and d) Upanga (associated with some
signs of marg raga).
From a purely anthropological point of view, the social strata are tribal, rural and urban. Again, to
describe them in artistic terms, they have to be called 'Loukik' and 'classical'. Although rarely
explicitly stated, secular or folk art is generally assumed to be related to tribal, village or group life.
On the other hand classical or traditional art is considered as civil and scholarly art. This culture
originated from rural society and tribal society, and inversely influenced rural and tribal society.
This is the cycle of the cultural world. That is, in a favorable environment, folk to classical and in
Adverse environment, according to the course of evolution, classical to folk.

Folk dance

Favourable
environment
Adverse
environment

Classical dance

Art forms that once emerged from social systems consisting of agriculture and village-based lifestyles
have gradually transformed and become integrated into the urban atmosphere. Of course, this
urbanization became possible only when they were able to break away from their primitive
agrarianism, that basic connection with the village was broken. In their ancient art form, new
literary content and musical attraction as well as change in presentation style have been added. As
a result, they have risen to the status of traditional arts. A kind of gesture and enriched artistic
style was under control by progressively culturing the old forms and rearrangement on disposition
of words. Herein lies the secret of the evolution of various hidden arts. Although these arts were
enjoyed by limited persons but were not disconnected with the rural art and within them lies the
possibility of continuous regeneration from day after day. Bharatamuni accepted two stages of acting,
one is realistic state and the other is the state of cultural expression, i.e. Lokdharmi and Natyadharmi.