Indian classical dance

Bharata Natyam a traditional dance of Tamil Nadu

Kathak

Kuchipudi, a classical dance of Andhra Pradesh

A Kathakali performer in the virtuous pachcha (green) role

A Mohiniyattam performer in Ananda Sayana posture

Odissi is originally from Odisha state

Manipuri dance with scenes from the life of Lord Krishna

File:Bhoochari in Gaudiya Nritya bhumichari.jpg

A Gaudiya Nritya artist paying her respect to Mother Earth, dancing on an earthen pot

File:CHAU DANCE FROM WEST BENGAL INDIA COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2010 (11).jpg

Chhau dancers from West Bengal, 2010

File:Krishnakshi Kashyap Sattriya Dancer.jpg

Sattriya Dance has its origin in the "Sattras" of Assam established by the great Vaishnavite Saint Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev in the 15th and the 16th century.

Indian classical dance is a relatively new umbrella term for various codified art forms rooted in Natya, the sacred Hindu musical theatre styles, whose theory can be traced back to the Natya Shastra of Bharata Muni (400 BCE).

Definitions

These are:

• Dances performed inside the sanctum of the temple according to the rituals were called Agama Nartanam. Natya Shastra classifies this type of dance form as margi, or the soul-liberating dance.
• Dances performed in royal courts to the accompaniment of classical music were called Carnatakam. This was an intellectual art form.

For lack of any better equivalents in the European culture, the British colonial authorities called any performing art forms found in India as "Indian dance". Even though the art of Natya includes nritta, or dance proper, Natya has never been limited to dancing and includes singing, abhinaya (mime acting). These features are common to all the Indian classical styles. In the margi form Nritta is composed of karanas, while the desi nritta consists mainly of adavus.

The term "classical" (Sanskrit "Shastriya") was introduced by Sangeet Natak Akademi to denote the Natya Shastra-based performing art styles. A very important feature of Indian classical dances is the use of the mudra or hand gestures by the artists as a shorthand sign language to narrate a story and to demonstrate certain concepts such as objects, weather, nature and emotion. Many classical dances include facial expressions as an integral part of the dance form.

Dance forms

The classic text on Indian dramaturgy, the Natya Shastra of Bharata Muni, mentions the names of no classical dance form recognized today, but in its fourteenth chapter are the four Pravrittis: Dakshinatya, Audramagadhi, Avanti, and Punchali. During British colonial rule, all these traditional forms declined. It was only around the middle of the 20th century that attention came to be drawn to these dance forms, and they were then gradually revived and re-established on the foundation of their traditional heritage.

Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and Mohiniyattam were evolved from the Pravritti named Dakshinatya. The Audramagadhi represents the dance of Audramagadha: Anga, Banga, North part of Kalinga and Vatsa (Sloka is angabangautkalingavatsachaiva audramagadha). This was then a form that was extended over the eastern region. From this Odissi in Odisha, Satriya in Assam and Gaudiya Nritya in Bengal were evolved. About the two other forms Avanti and Panchali, little is known.

Though, Sangeet Natak Akademi has given their awards to eight Indian dance styles, but in their Natya Sangam, Festival of dance, artistes from other classical dance forms, have also performed on invitation(i.e. Gaudiya Nritya artist performed in 'Natya Sangam',2009). Actually, many sources state many things about the listing of Indian Classical Dance forms. Like, the Encyclopædia Britannica mentions six recognized schools. But in 2005, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, clarified their stand on Indian Classical Dance forms in the section for "Scholarship to Young Artistes" in Indian Classical Dance/ Dance Music, which gives classical status to eleven dance forms. Which are:

Dance form	State(s) of origin
Bharatanatyam	Tamil Nadu
Kathak	Uttar Pradesh
Kuchipudi	Andhra Pradesh
Kathakali	Kerala
Mohiniyattam	Kerala
Odissi	Odisha
Manipuri	Manipur
Thangta	Manipur
Gaudiya Nritya	Bengal
Chhau	Bengal
Sattriya	Assam

A dance style is classical to the extent it incorporates the Natya Shastra techniques. Some of the styles such as Kathak use very few elements found in Natya Shastra. Other art dances yet to be conferred as classical dances, whose theories and techniques can also be traced back to the Natya Shastra are:

1. Andhra Natyam - Telugu art dance
2. Vilasini Nrityam/Natyam - Telugu art dance
3. Kerala Natanam - Kerala classical dance

Of the recognized dance forms, the only two temple dance styles that have their origin in Natya Shastra and are prescribed by the Agamas are Bharata Natyam and Odissi. These two most faithfully adhere to the Natya Shastra but currently do not include Vaachikaabhinaya (dialog acts), although some styles of Bharata Natyam, such as Melattur style, prescribe the lip and eye movements indicating Vaachikaabhinaya.

Kuchipudi, which also prescribes the lip movements indicating Vaachikaabhinaya, and Mohiniyattam are relatively recent Darbari Aatam forms, just as Kathakali, and two eastern Indian styles, Manipuri and Sattriya, that are quite similar. Whereas, The age old Gaudiya Nritya, The Classical Dance form of Bengal again established with the help of not only the Natya Shastra but also the Srihastamuktavali and the Sangeet Damodara by Pandit Shubhankara. It has also found strong references to this dance form in Matanga’s Brihaddeshi, Sangeet Ratnakara of Sarangadeva and regional text material like the Abhinayachandrika by Mahesvara Mahapatra of Odisha. It has also strong evidences in the temple sculptures as early as the 4th century B.C. right down to as late as the 18th century. In Manasa Mangal Kavya, we come across an instance of a housewife of the soil of Bengal dancing in the court of Lord Indra, the king of the Gods. In Vijaya Gupta's Manasa Mangal there is a description of Ananda-Tandava dance of Shiva. And the Devadasi tradition existed in Bengal from ancient time in temples, till now as the relic of the past we could see Vaishnavite Sevadasis and Nachnis of western part of Bengal. During the time of the Pala dynasty we could know from Ramcharita Kavya about the devadasi dancers of Gauda Banga (West Bengal).

Kathak originated as a court dance. Some believe it evolved from Lord Krishna's raas lilas, forms of which have also evolved into the popular Garba-style dances popular in North India and Gujarat. The style gradually changed during the Mughal period under the influence of Persian dance, a major change being straight knees instead of the bent knees used in most other Indian classical forms. Intricate footwork and spins, as well as abhinaya, are the highlights of Kathak.

Currently, Sangeet Natak Akademi does not consider the recently reconstructed dance styles of Andhra Pradesh such as Andhra Natyam and Vilasini Natyam as "classical". Bharatanrithyam, despite being the one most closely following Natya Shastra's precepts, is considered as a variety of Bharata Natyam.

Sabha

Sabhas are the organizations involved in the promotion of classical art forms in South India. Ganamukundhapriya is one such Sabha that specialises in classical dances. Various events are held each year to celebrate classical dance.

References

• Ambrose, Kay (1984). Classical Dances and Costumes of India. Palgrave Macmillan.
• Andhra Pradesh Portal: Dance. Andhra Pradesh Government. Retrieved 2010-11-03.

Further reading

• Massey, Reginald (2004). India's dances: their history, technique, and repertoire. Abhinav Publications.

Revealing the Art of Natyasastra by Narayanan Chittoor Namboodiripad ISBN 10: 8121512182 / ISBN 13: 9788121512183

External links

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