Indian Dance

Indian Dances have always been a very important part of the Indian life and culture. The variety in the Indian dances depict the rich blend of cultures, of religion, of beliefs. Travel to different regions of India and you will always encounter something that is absolutely beautiful and unique. According to history, it all began in India with Natya Shastra (An ancient Indian book on dances). This text is attributed to Sage Bharata and is believed to be written between 200 B.C and 200 A.D. 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.


Folk Dances of India
Apart from classical dances, every state has its own set of folk dances which are as splendid as the classical dances if not more. If classical dances are more about grace and composure, folk dances of India are all about energy, enthusiasm and Power. The most common of course is the Bhangra of Punjab. Not only has it conquered Indian hearts, it has become a hit in other countries as well and is a regular at parties and discos. Folk dances are mostly according to occasions. There are different folk dances for different occasions like marriage, child birth, harvesting or any festival.

Classical Indian Dance
Today there are eight classical Dances in India. Bharatnatyam of Tamil Nadu, Mohiniaattam of Kerala, Kuchipudi of Andhra Pradesh, Manipuri of Northeast India, Orissi from Orissa, and Kathak from north India, Sattriya form Assam, and Kathakali from Kerala . These dances which belong to different regions, showcase strong influences of the culture prevailing in these states.

Bharatnatyam: Bharatnatyam was one of the first dances from India to make a name for itself on foreign shores. Today, many students from other countries come to India to learn this unique art. This dance during the time of its origin, was performed only by Devdasis (Temple Dancers). And it was also not considered a respectable profession. Slowly and gradually, it became famous and was accepted as a form of art. Bharatnatyam is an fusion of different techniques of dances like Abhinaya (drama art) Nritta (dance movements), and Nritya (mix of abhinaya and nritta). It is not only the powerful yet graceful body movements that set this dance apart; the subtle movements of hand go a long way in communicating the dance to the audiences.

Kathakali: First thing that comes to mind when talking of rich Kerala culture is Kathakali Dance. Kathakali is the most renowned dance drama of India . The word Kathakali literally means "Story-Play". The main feature of this dance is the makeup done on the performers. You will be amzazed to know that dancers have to start their makeup almost 5 to 6 hrs before the show. They believe so much in originality that to keep their eyes red, they put some irritating seeds into them. The stories that are enacted on stage are generally taken from great Indian epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Kuchipudi: Kuchipudi is the classical dance form from the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Like most other dances Kuchipudi too has gone under some changes. Earlier this dance form was only restricted to boys but today is mostly performed by women. Before every dance, performers come on stage to introduce themselves with a small dance. After this the real performances start, The music accompanying is generrally Carnatic music. The instruments used are Mridangam, violin, flute and tambura. The movements of the dance are very fast and very graceful.

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.