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Classical Dance and
Music
Indian Classical Dance "..abstraction of Upanishadic thought which
is assiduously translated in to well designed concrete language of
artistic media."
It all started with Natya Shastra
Said to be written 2000 years ago by Bharata Muni, it is the seminal
source book for dancers and performers. The mammoth book covers all
technical and aesthetic aspects of the art of the Indian Theatre and
Dance.
From the purpose of natya, to the architectural format, stage
rituals, Rasa, Bhava, Abhinaya, gestic communication, music, types
of instruments. 37 chapters that together form the nucleus of this
fascinating performing art. Later century works like Abhinaya
Darpana, Abhinaya Chandrike, also have great relevance to the dancer
today.
Legend has it that the Devas (Gods) had vanquished the Asuras (Evil)
and were relating the happenings to Brahma, the God of Creation. The
Asuras thought this was a renewed attack and retaliated. Brahma
intervened - "This is only a performance, hence forth it will only
be held on earth".
And Brahma passed on all the information on Dance and Drama to
Bharata Muni who compiled it as the Natya Shastra.
Sculpture Comes To Life
Temples were raised to the house the Gods and became the focal point
for the community. They also became centres of learning and
contributed to the advancement of such arts as sculpture, painting,
music and dance. Mostly built by Kings, who were also the patrons of
arts, encouraging a continuity and enriching rituals of worship, the
earliest basis of the classical performing arts.
It was from the temple that the Devdasi cult (Temple Dancers who
performed for the Lord) began. Once a practice countrywide - the
Kulvantalu in Andhra Pradesh, the Maibi in Manipur, the Devdasi in
Tamil Nadu and the Mahari in Orissa, all trace their roots to the
temple. The countless sculptures of dance poses in the temples, hint
at the potency of dance as a path to spiritual exaltation and lays
out a complete lexicon of dance techniques.
For instance, it is said that the greater part of vocabulary of
Odissi dance is preserved in stone.
A rich heritage to be brought alive by the artist.
Indian Folk and Tribal Dances
Indian folk and tribal dances are simple , and performed to express
joy. Folk dances are performed for every possible occasion, to
celebrate the arrival of seasons, birth of a child, a wedding and
festivals. The dances are extremely simple with minimum of steps or
movements. The dances burst with verve and vitality. Men and women
perform some dances exclusively, while in some performances men and
women dance together. On most occasions, the dancers sing
themselves, while being accompanied by artists on the instruments.
Each form of dance has a specific costume. Most costumes are
flamboyant with extensive jewels.
The northeast part of the country is the home for over 60 tribes.
Each tribe has its own range of tribal dances. The exciting dances
of the Nagas and the Bihus of Assam, are performed to celebrate
spring and harvesting.
The chief folk dance of Gujarat, the Dandiya, is performed using
sticks. Each performer holds two sticks, which they strike
alternately to the right and left while the group dances. They also
move diagonally, clockwise, anti-clockwise, as they strike the
sticks.
The Bhangra dance of Punjab is performed by men, to the rhythm of
the drum. The dance includes a wide range of leaps and jumps.
Dancers stand on each other's shoulder while dancing to the music.
There are hundreds of Indian folk and tribal dances. Each region of
India has its own folk dance. Both men and women perform the bamboo
dance of Mizoram. While the men hold the bamboo, the women folk
dance between the bamboo. In this performance, the sound of the
bamboo hitting each other is the rhythm. Though dangerous if a
rhythm is missed, these experienced dancers perform with grace and
with care.
In the south, the dummy horse dance or the Poikalkuthirai, is very
famous. Dancers fit dummy legs to their legs and dance to the tune
of the music. Both men and women perform this form of art. In Tamil
Nadu, dancers place a karagam or a decorated jug, on their head and
dance while balancing the karagam.
While there are numerous folk and tribal dances, they are constantly
improved. The skill and the imagination of the dances influence the
performance
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