Indian classical dance

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An illustration of the Manipuri Raas

Leela Dance (Meitei: Jagoi Raas, Raas Jagoi), one of the officially recognised classical
dance forms of India, depicted on a postage stamp from Armenia.
Indian classical dance, or Shastriya Nritya, is an umbrella term for different
regionally-specific Indian classical dance traditions, rooted in
predominantly Hindu musical theatre performance,[1][2][3] the theory and practice of which
can be traced to the Sanskrit text Natya Shastra.[4][5][6] The number of Indian classical
dance styles ranges from six to eight to twelve, or more, depending on the source and
scholar;[7][8] the main organisation for Indian arts preservation, the Sangeet Natak
Academy recognizes
eight: Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Kathakali, Sattriya, Manipuri and Mohi
niyattam.[9] Additionally, the Indian Ministry of Culture includes Chhau in its list,
recognising nine total styles.[10] Scholars such as Drid Williams
add Chhau, Yakshagana and Bhagavata Mela to the list.[11][3] Each dance tradition
originates and comes from a different state and/or region of India; for example,
Bharatanatyam is from Tamil Nadu in the south of India, Odissi is from the east coast
state of Odisha, and Manipuri is from the northeastern state of Manipur. The music
associated with these different dance performances consists many compositions
in Hindi, Malayalam, Meitei (Manipuri), Sanskrit, Tamil, Odia, Telugu, and many other
Indian-Subcontinent languages; they represent a unity of core ideas, and a diversity of
styles, costumes and expression.
Summary[edit]
Indian classical dancing started around 200 BCE in India, as a joyful and celebratory
activity, often in devotion to Hindu deities. Many of the performances are
choreographed to retell stories of the gods and other historical accounts. All styles of
Indian classical dance are vibrant, expressive and spiritual. Dance performances
usually take place at festivals, universities, various cultural events, and more. The
dancers who perform these styles are usually professionals who have devoted years of
study and practice in their respective style of Indian classical dance. In performances,
the dancers move to the beat of the song or music that is playing; in some styles, such
as Kathak, bells are worn around the ankles at times for added rhythmic effect when the
feet are stomped. The dancer takes the role of the character that they are portraying in
the performance, the composition being specific, and become emotionally connected
with the story and the audience.[12]
When dancers perform classical Indian dancing they wear traditional clothes
including sarees, lenghas, and kurtas. Usually, women are the main performers in
Indian classical dancing, though men are not absent from the tradition. The costume for
women usually consists of a long, colorful, handmade gown (worn without shoes), with
an intricately embroidered pattern(s) and beading on it. For accessories, there is the
use of much ornate jewelry, such as necklaces, rings, earrings, nose-rings, bracelets
and anklets, sometimes with bells attached which ring each time the dancer stomps
their foot in rhythm. The costume also includes a head-piece or some form of scarf,
depending on the style. The women usually wear considerable amounts of facial
makeup, not only to be noticeable from the audience, but to fully embody their
character. [13]
Types of classical dances[edit]
The Natya Shastra is the foundational treatise for classical dances of India,[4][14] and this
text is attributed to the ancient scholar Bharata Muni.[6][15][16] Its first complete compilation
is dated to between 200 BCE and 200 CE,[17][18] but estimates vary between 500 BCE and
500 CE.[19] The most studied version of the Natya Shastra text consists of about 6000
verses structured into 36 chapters.[17][20] The text, states Natalia Lidova, describes the
theory of Tāṇḍava dance (Shiva), the theory of rasa, of bhāva, expression, gestures,
acting techniques, basic steps, standing postures – all of which are part of Indian
classical dances.[17][21] Dance and performance arts, states this ancient text, are a form of
expression of spiritual ideas, virtues and the essence of scriptures.[22][23]
Performance arts and culture
Let Nātya (drama and dance) be the fifth vedic scripture.
Combined with an epic story,
tending to virtue, wealth, joy and spiritual freedom,
it must contain the significance of every scripture,
and forward every art.
— Nātyaśāstra 1.14–15[22][24]

While the Natya Shastra is the revered ancient text in the Hindu tradition, there are
numerous other ancient and medieval Sanskrit dance-drama related texts that further
discuss and expand on the classical repertoire of performance arts, such as
the Abhinaya Darpana, Abhinava Bharati, Natya Darpana, Bhava Prakasa and many
others.[25][26][27] The term "classical" (Sanskrit: "Shastriya") denotes the ancient Indian
Shastra-based performing arts.
The text Natya Shastra describes religious arts as a form as margi, or a "spiritual
traditional path" that liberates the soul, while the folk entertainment is called desi, or a
"regional popular practice".[28][29][30]
Indian classical dances are traditionally performed as an expressive drama-dance form
of religious performance art,[3] related to Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, pan-Hindu
Epics and the Vedic literature, or a folksy entertainment that includes story-telling from
Sanskrit or regional language plays.[31] As a religious art, they are either performed inside
the sanctum of a Hindu temple, or near it.[1][2] Folksy entertainment may also be
performed in temple grounds or any fairground, typically in a rural setting by travelling
troupes of artists; alternatively, they have been performed inside the halls of royal courts
or public squares during festivals.[32]
However, this is not the case for Kathak, Manipuri and Chhau as it has their own
uniqueness. Kathak can be also performed on courtyards of mosques and
had Muslim elements while Manipuri had the huyen langlon genre which focuses on
combat.[33][34][35][36] Like Manipuri, Chhau also had elements on combat.
Dance forms[edit]
The Natya Shastra mentions four Pravrittis (traditions, genres) of ancient dance-drama
in vogue when it was composed – Avanti (Ujjain,
central), Dakshinatya (south), Panchali (north, west) and Odra-Magadhi (east).[37]
Sources differ in their list of Indian classical dance forms.[38][39] Encyclopædia
Britannica mentions six dances.[40] The Sangeet Natak Akademi has given recognition to
eight Indian dances.[41] The Indian government's Ministry of Culture includes nine dance
forms.[42] Scholars such as Drid Williams and others include Yakshagana and Bhagavata
Mela to the nine classical Indian dances in the Sangeet Natak Akademi list.[3][11]
The classical dance forms recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Ministry
of Culture are:[41][43]
Eight classical dances recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi
and the Ministry of Culture[edit]
 Bharatanatyam, from Tamil Nadu
 Kathak, from northern India
 Kathakali, from Kerala
 Kuchipudi, from Andhra Pradesh
 Manipuri, from Manipur
 Mohiniyattam, from Kerala[a]
 Odissi, from Odisha
 Sattriya, from Assam[b]
Other dances also recognised by the Ministry of Culture[edit]
 Chhau, from Eastern India (Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal)[42]
Images[edit]


Bharatanatyam

Kathak
 

Kathakali

Kuchipudi

Manipuri

Mohiniyattam


 Odissi

Sattriya
Some famous Indian classical dancers are :

 Bharatanatyam - Rukmini Devi, Padma Subrahmanyam, Vyjayanthimala, Sheema

Kermani, Padmini
 Kathak - Birju Maharaj, Nahid Siddiqui, Lacchu Maharaj, Gopi Krishna, Saswati
Sen, Manjari Chaturvedi
 Kathakali - Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair
 Kuchipudi - Mallika Sarabhai, V. Satyanarayana Sarma, Deepa Shashindran
 Manipuri - Guru Bipin Singh, Darshana Jhaveri, Jhaveri Sisters, Devjani
Chaliha, Amala Shankar
 Mohiniyattam - Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty
Amma, Shobhana, Sunanda Nair, Kalamandalam
Radhika, Thankamani, Kalamandalam Hymavathy
 Odissi - Sujata Mohapatra, Madhavi Mudgal, Kelucharan Mohapatra, Surendra Nath
Jena, Shobana Sahajananan, Minati Mishra
 Sattriya - Indira P. P. Bora, Ghanakanta Bora, Sarodi Saikia
 Gaudiya Nritya - Mahua Mukherjee