Thread by @INDArtCulture

𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐒

- 2 major dance form in India are classical and folk dance

- 1st mentioned in Bharatmuni’s Natya Shastra- 200BCE – 200CE

- It describes Dance as the Complete Art encompassing within its scope all other forms of art

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- Indian classical dances - two basic aspects - Tandava (movement & rhythm symbolic to male) and Lasya (grace, bhava, Abhinaya & rasa symbolic to feminine feature).

The nine rasas are - Love, Heroism, Pathos, Humour, Anger, Fear, Disgust, Wonder and Peace.

The three main components are-

- Natya (the dramatic element referred to story)

- Nritta (basic dance steps, lacking any expression)

- Nritya (expressional element, emotions evoked through dance, Mudras).

𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑫𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒂

- Sangeet Natak Academy – 8 Classical dance forms

- Ministry of Culture – 9 Classical Dance Forms
(Included Chhau dance)

𝑩𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒚𝒂𝒎

- Origin can be traced back to Sadir – Temple dancer/ Devadasis

- E. Krishna Iyer and Rukmini Devi Arundale had played a significant role in helping the dance regain its lost popularity and position.

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Features:

- Alarippu – basic dance posture with rhythemic syllables

- Jatiswaram – Comprise Nritta component

- Shabdam – dramatic element with expressed words –

- abhinaya- generally praise the glory of god

- Varnam – Nritya Component , Dance + emotions

- Padam – mastery over the abhinaya

- Jawali – short loved lyrics at fast tempo

- Thillana – Concluding stage of the performance – Pure Nritta

- 4 dance teacher of Tanjavur – Tanjore Quartet

- Symbolize – Fire

- Equal emphasis on Tandava and Lasya

- Principal mudra – Kataka mukh Hasta

- Knees are mostly bent

- Ekcharya Lasyam – one dancer plays many roles

- Mrinalini Sarabhai, Mallika Sarabhai, Yamini Krishnamurthy

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𝑲𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒌𝒂𝒍𝒊

- Revived by V N Menon under the patronage of Mukunda Raja

- All male troop performance

- Heavy make-up and stunning costumes

- Elaborate masks, huge skirts, and big head-dresses

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- Narrating stories from Mahabharata and Ramayana

- Different facial colours indication green – nobility/virtue, black – evil, red patches –royalty, yellow – for saint/women, complete red – evil

- Involved Dance + Drama

- Chhenda and Maddala – beginning & end of Kathakali

- Hand gestures, facial expressions and eye movements are important.

- Weight of the body is on the outer edges of the feet

- Language used – Manipravalam (a mixture of Malayali + Sanskrit)

- Rita Ganguly, Guru Kunchu Kurup

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𝑲𝒖𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒑𝒖𝒅𝒊

- Originated from Kuchelapuram – Siddhendra Yogi

- Formalized the tradition – authored Bhama Kalapam Play

- Revived by Balasaraswati and Ragini Devi

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Features:

- Stories of Bhagvat purana

- Secular theme – predominance of shringara rasa

- Involves all 3 – Nritta, Natya and Nritya

- Sollakath/Patakshara – Nritta part

- Kuvutvams – Nritya Part – involves acrobatics

- Both Lasya + Tandava element

- Accompanied with Carnatic music

- Signifies –Sky element

- Costumes, ornaments and jewellery occupy an important place.

- Solo items - Manduka Shabdam (story of frog maiden),

- Tarangam (dance on the edges of brass plate with a pitcher full of water on head) and Jal Chitra Nrityam (drawing pictures with dancing toes).

- Yamini Krishnamurthy, Radha Reddy and Raja Reddy

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𝑴𝒐𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒚𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒂𝒎

- classical solo dance form of Kerala.

- Patronage of Swathi Thirunal

- Revived by V N Menoon along with Kalyani Amma

Features:

- Combines grace and elegance of Bharatnatyam and vigour of Kathakali

- Gentle footwork

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- Narrates feminine dance of Vishnu

- Lasya element is predominant

- Costume – White/Off-white, presence of gold colored brocade designs

- Symbolize – Air element

- The lyrics are in Manipravala

- Sunanda Nair and Pallavi Krishnan

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𝑶𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊

- Patronized by King Kharavela

- performance - lores of incarnations of Lord Vishnu and verses of Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda.

- A soft dance backed by soothing lyrics and is similar to

- Bharatanatyam in terms of the mudras and expressions.

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- two major postures - Tribhanga (the body is deflected at the neck, torso and the knees) and Chowk (a position imitating a square).

- Lower body – largely static

- Imp role of hand gesture

- Creates geometric shape with body – Mobile Sculpture

Elements:

- Mangalacharan(Beginning – flowers to mother earth)

- Batu Nritya (Dance-Tribhanga and chowk posture

- Pallavi (Facial expression)

- Tharijham (pure dance before conclusion)

- Conclusion - 2types – Moksha and Trikhanda Majura

- Accompanied by Hindustani Classical Music

- Symbolize – Water element

- Woman dancer wears an elaborate hair style, silver jewellery, long necklace

- Sonal Mansingh and Kelucharan Mohapatra are the eminent performers.

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𝑺𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒚𝒂

- introduced in the 15th century A.D by the Vaishnava saint Sankaradeva in Assam

- Devotional aspect – mythological stories of Vishnu

- Performed in grp by male monks – Bhokots
Khol(drum), Flute, Cymbals(manjira) used

- Rhythmic syllables

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- Male costume – Dhoti and Paguri

- Female Costume – Ghuri and Chador in Pat silk

- Gayan-Bhayanar Nach & Kharmanar Nach – 2 streams evolved

- Ankiya Naat – musical drama involved in Assamese-Maithili mix language(Brajavali) – Bhaona

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𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒑𝒖𝒓𝒊

- origin to the Lai Haraoba Festival

- Krishna – Central Theme – performed by females – Ras Leela

- Raja Bhag Chandra tried to revive; Rabindranath Tagore
introduced in Shantiniketan

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- Emphasis on devotion and not sensuality

- Facial expression less imp – faces are covered with a veil

- Gentle movement of feet and hand gesture

- Both Tandava and Lasya aspect

- Naga Bandha Mudra

- Drum – Pung, Flute, Khhartals, dhols

- Jhaveri sisters, Guru Bipin Singha

𝑲𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒌

- Traditional dance from Utter Pradesh

- Influenced by Persian costume

- Revived by Lady Leela Sokhey

- Different Gharanas:
Lucknow, Jaipur, Raigarh, Banaras

- Ananda- Introductory item

- Thaat – soft and varied movements

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- Todas and Tukdas – fast rhythm

- Jugalbandi – competitive play

- Padhant – recitation of complicated bols

- Tarana – similar to Thillana – movements before end

- Gat Bhaav – dance w/o music

- Performed with Dhrupad music

- Birju Maharaj, Lacchu Maharaj, Sitara Devi.

Major Folk Dances

References:

-indiaculture.gov.in
-india.gov.in
-kathakdance.org
-Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania
-Art and Culture by Gaurav Agarwal

Please find the PDF here

drive.google.com/file/d/1aajDce…