Indian Dance

Dance have always been a very important part of the life of the Indians. India has a very rich tradition of classical dance. Today however, there is a struggle among the various established dancers of India to renew thought of the old ways at the same time, preserve its rich heritage. Dancers are very important figures in the Indian culture and Indian dance have many varieties which reflects all aspect of life from religious to war to social. Although Indian dance styles and content have changed, their meaning and importance has not. The outfits worn by the dancers, like the styles of clothing today evolve over time, it is not a stagnant culture, but a vibrant and changing way of life.

History Of Indian Dance
The Natya Shastra, which is the oldest surviving text on stagecraft in the world, spends a considerable time discussing it. In the old days of the theater, the dancers would mime the story while the singers would sing the dialogue. The instrumentalists would accompany them all. The nature of the old theater was such that the dancers occupied a central position. For many centuries the dancers were attached to the temples. This maintained a strong religious flavour to dance. Even today many of the traditional themes are mythological in nature.

Types of Indian Dance
Over the centuries different areas have given their own colour to the ancient classical tradition. Today the acknowledged classical styles are: Bharatnatyam of Tamil Nadu, Kathakali of Kerala, Kuchipudi of Andhra Pradesh, Manipuri of Northeast India, Orissi from Orissa, and Kathak from north India and Pakistan. Each of these styles has a strong regional connection and none can claim to be representative of the entire Indian subcontinent.

Bharatnatyam: Bharat Natyam is the most widely known and exalted of the classical Indian dances. Although it has been traditionally associated with Tamil Nadu, it now has a strong presence throughout India. Even outside of India, the majority of schools that teach Indian dance, teach this style.

Kathakali: Kathakali is the most well known dance drama from the south Indian state of Kerala. The word Kathakali literally means "Story-Play". It is known for its large, elaborate makeup and costumes. The elaborate costumes of Kathakali have become the most recognised icon for Kerala.

Kuchipudi: Kuchipudi is the classical dance form from the South-East Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It derives its name from the village of Kuchelapuram, a small village about 65 kms from Vijaywada. It is known for its graceful movements and its strong narrative / dramatic character.

Orissi: The Odissi (Orissi) dance is the Indian classical dance from the Eastern state of Odissa. It has a long, yet broken tradition. Although dance in Odissa may be traced back more than 2000 years, it was brought to near extinction during the colonial period. Therefore, modern Odissi dance is a reconstruction.

Kathak: Kathak is the major classical dance form of northern India. The word kathak means "to tell a story". It is derived from the dance dramas of ancient India. When the patronage shifted from the temples to the royal court, there was a change in the overall emphasis. The emphasis shifted from the telling of religious stories to one of entertainment. Today, the story-telling aspect has been downgraded and the dance is primarily an abstract exploration of rhythm and movement.