Tuesday, April 8, 2008

India: the land of Classical Dances

Music and dance are the integral part of Indian society. The culturally and religiously diversed people of India want to start there day with some sort of music, it may be religious bhajans, gurubani, naat, qawwali, etc. Apart from the music, dances also occupy an important position in India. It is believed that the gods created dance as a device for their amusement. Later, in order to please the gods, human beings enacted the tale and glory of the gods. Thus began a cycle of celebration manifested in the joyous abandon of movement and music. All the dance forms were structured around the nine 'Rasa' or emotions, Hasya (happiness), Shoka (sorrow), Krodha (anger), Karuna (compassion), Bhibatsa (disgust), Adhbhuta (wonder), Bhaya (fear), Viram (courage) & Shanta (serenity).

The following are the most post popular Indian Classical Dances:-

Bharatanatyam: Bharatanatyam is a classical dance having its origin in South India. Originated from Thanjavoor, Tamil Nadu, this classical dance is a 20th century refinement of Cathir, the art of temple dancers. Cathir in turn, is derived from ancient dance forms. The name 'Bharatanatyam' is derived from three basic concepts of Bhava, Raga and Thaala. It was known as "Daasiyattam" since performed by Devadasies in the temples of Tamil Nadu long ago. The modern Bharatanatyam was systematically regularized by well known 'Thanjavoor Brothers', Ponnayya, Chinnayya, Sivanandam and Vativelu.

The dance is performed in the stage as Nritham, Nrithyam and Natyam. Bharatanatyam is based on the theories of the books 'Natyasaasthram' and 'Abhinaya Darpanam'. Its sequence is Alarippu, Jathiswaram, Sabdam, Varnam, Padam and Thillana. After 'Thillana', with a 'Mangala Slokam' the dance program ends.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

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Eri said...

Thank you for your comment on my blog. I'm commenting on this post because it's so informative--and I know nothing about Indian dance. But thanks to you, I know a little bit more now.

I love the way you've arranged your blog, too. The colors are attractive.