HISTORY – ART &

CULTURE
DANCE
-CLASSICAL
FOLK
PUPPET
DANCES
 1ST text to describe classical dance
 Nattya sastra written by Bharatmuni

(Post Mauryan Period)

 Two types of classical dance

 Tandava – Masculine

 Lasya - Feminine
 Three Aspects of Indian Dance
 Natya – Dramatic Part

 Nritya – Expression Feel and Emotion

 Nritta – Pure Dance

 Abhinaya 4 types
-Angika – Gestures
Aharya – Costumes
Vachika – Dialogues
Sathvika - Expression
 Navarasas
1 – Hasiya – Laugh
2 – Shringra – Love
3 – Veera – Courage
4 – Roudra – Anger
5 – Bhayanaka – Fear
6 – Adbhuta – Wonder
7 – Shaanta – Peace
8 – Karunya – Compassion
9 – Bibhatsa – Disgust
 Dances – manipuri
Three Types
1) Raslila
2) Sankirtana
3) Thang Ta

 Raslila
 Devoloped by King Bhagyachandra in 18th
century
 Theme – Mythology
 Dominant play – Radha & Krishna
 Significance of dance – Sarvangabhinaya – full
body feature
 Ankle bells are absent
 Rabindranath Tagore use Lasya Style in his dance drama.
 Manipuri dances are based on Panchrasas.
 Movements of Raslila is like Solar system
 Costume – Kumil designed by bagyachandra

5 Types of Raslila Dance

4 are associated with season
1) Maharas

2) Divaras

3) Basantaras

4) Kunjaras

1 are associated with

5) Nityaras – All season

Video Link -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQI0T5Kjw9E
 Sankirtana
Singing and dancing

Musical Instruments used are

Pung (Drum), Kartal(Cembal – Jinchak),
Based on the musical instrument it is classified as
Pung Cholam
Kartal Cholam
Theme – Mahabarath, Ramayana & Popular Radha Krishna
Performend on all religious & Social Gathering
Singing + Dancing = Nat
Nat – High Pitched open throat singing
Video Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaIr
4jvY9vE
Sri Govindha Ji Temple in impal is center of manipuri dance
 Thang Tha
 Martial style of dance
 Video Link -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIlo6GX
YLdE
 Sattriya Dance - Assam
 Developed by – Vaishnava Saint –
Shankaradeva – 15th Century
 It was one act play – Ankia Naat performed by
Vaishnava matt called sattra so dance is named
as sattriya dance
 Traditionally performed by male monks –
Bhokot
 Now women also performing
 Theme – Mahabaratha, Ramayana.
 Only where Radha is not mmentioned
 Sattriya dance continuation
 Music associated with dance – Borgeet Music
 It’s a group dance and dancers uses gestures to narrate.

 Costume – Pat Silk of assam

 Types of assam silk

1 Pat
2 Tassar
3 Eri
4 Muga
Video -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qrjPznChEg
 Oddssi Dance- Odhissa
 Originally called odhra magadha
 Developed by female temple dancers – Maharis

 But they were taken to royal court so this became

disintegrated.
 Gottipua – young boys later started performing it.

 Postures

-Chowk – Masculine
-Tribhanga – Feminine
Pirouitte – Spinning on one leg is famous step
Silver Jewellery
 Odissy Continuation
 First Part – Mangalacharan
 Importat part – Batu
 Dedicated to Batukeshwar Bhairav.
 Last Part – Moksha
 Theme – Mythology – Ashtapadi of jayadeva
 Jayadeva author of famous text book called
geetha govindha
 Keelucharan mahapatra famous odissy dancer.
 Video -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6P6D6D
FJgs
 Kathak - UP
 Originated from kathakars ( Bards)
 Later converted to mughal patronage
 Combination of hindu and islam art
 Only dance with hindustani music
 Pirouetti important feature
 Ankle bells are present but not in leather but tied with
thread
 Recitation by dancer is called padhant
 Short duriation is called – Tukra
 Long Duriation Called – Toda
 Similarity to flamenga dance of gypsis
 Kathak Continuation
 Famous artists are from maharaja family.
 Theme – Social Theme & Mythology
 Greatest person – Nawab Wajid Ali Shah- He
established Lucknow Gharana (Lucknow
school of dance).
 Video Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Au_J6j
HKE0&list=PL5DbWnKK7ydIRzW4_juBfV8vc
zav5rd_A&index=2
 Chhau Dance – Tribal dance of east india

 Important feature face mask

 Seraikella – Jharkand
 Mayurbhang – Odhissa – no mask
 Purulia – West Bengal
 Mask for this dance is created only in Chorinda
Village in Bengal
 Performed during Chaitra Parva festival for 13 days
 Performed in night and only by males and it’s a
group performance
 Performed in open space called akhada.
 Chhau Dance Continuation
 Theme – Mythology and social theme
 UNESCO’s Intangible List
 Video -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojkj37wz
Onc
 Kuchupudi – Andhra Pradesh
 Originated in natiyamela Kuchilapuram
Krishna District – Andhra Pradesh.
 Originally it was dance drama
 Solo dancing was introduced in 19th century by
lakshmi narayana shastri.
 Now both are practiced.
 Dance details in Bhamakalpam written by
siddendhra yogi.
 Acrobatic Dancing
 Kuchupudi continuation
 Dancing on brass plate brim with water on top.
 Vachiga Abhinaya
 Boorgo – wooden ornament
 Theme – Mythology & Social theme
 Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrGbS_
H5mm4
 Bharadhanattiyam
 Originated from nattuvamela
 Developed by four brothers

1) Ponnaiya Pillai

2) Chinnaiya Pillai

3) Vadivelu

4) Shivanandam

Under the patronage of Maratha King raja sarfozi

Basic Movement is called Adavu.
Important pose Aramandi.
 Bharadham continuation
 Ekaharya – Same Dancer performing multiple
roles
 Invocation song – Alarippu – jatiswaram –
shabdam – varnam – tillana – mangalam
 Hand position in baraadham frames the body
of dancer in symmetrical line. This is to convey
relationship b/w universe and dancer
 Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDfYT3
Ax7mE
 Mohiniattam - Kerala
 Developed by travancore king – Swatotirunal in 19th
Century and its feminine ie lasya style.
 Language Manipravalam – Malayalam + Sanskrit.
 Basic Movement Adavukal
 Vocal Music is called Chollu.
 Dance is known for variety of walking styles
1) Hamsapadam
2) Mayurapadam
3) Kukkudapadam
4) Mandookapadam
5) Nahabandam
 Mohiniattam continuation
 20th century it was reviewed by famous poet of
kerala Vallathol Narayana Menon he
established kalamandalam.
 Important attraction is jasmine hairdo.
 Kathakali - Kerala
 Originated from theater form of kerala.
1) Ramanattam

2) Kirishnarattam

3) Koodiyattam

4) Chakiarkoothu

5) Influenze of kerala martial arts kalaripayattu

Theme – Mythology
Hand gestures is the most important feature.
 Kathakali Continuation
 Eloborate makeup
 Important characters are 5
 Pacha – Hero
 Kathi – Villan
 Tadi – Side role
 Kari – Evil
 Minnuku – Heroine
 Only dance where all three dance and 4 abhinaya is
combined.
 Vocal music associated with kathakali is called
sopanasangeetham( evolved as a separate art )