An article on the Classical Dances of India
(By Sahnya Mehra; March 2018)
India is an incredibly diverse country, bursting with colour and culture. So it’s no surprise that there is a wide variety of classical dances, each with its own unique traits. In India, dance is regarded as an ancient and celebrated tradition, steeped in rich spiritual and religious connotations. Some forms of dances may also stem from cultural practices like harvest festivals.
With religious dances, there is a ceremony which is strictly adhered to. Most often than not, a hymn is sung, to be addressed to the gods, and the dance that accompanies it is done as a form of worship. It is regarded as one of the purest forms of devotion. The costumes usually include a thick strip of bells worn around the ankles, which make a soft chiming sound when the dancer moves their feet.
In ancient times, these dances were patronised by the rulers of the region, and were performed by the artists in a special pillared hall of a temple, usually close to the inner sanctum of the Gods.
One of the most defining features of Indian Classical dances is the complex system of hand gestures (mudras) used as a technique of expression. Each gesture has its own unique meaning. Some are single hand gestures (Asamyukta Hastaah), which are to be executed either hand, on its own, or by both the hands simultaneously (Samyukta Hastaah). Ancient scriptures dictate that there are fifty two mudras, in total. For example, one of the most widely recognised mudra is the “Alapadma” or the symbol of a lotus in full bloom.
In later years, Classical dances evolved to include common expressions and themes from social life and personal experiences, which resulted in a surge of popularity and visibility of the various dance forms.
Indians have a special God of dance – Nataraj, the lord of all dances. He is believed to be a form of the god Shiva, and is said to perform cosmic dances which delicately balance life and death – turning the universe in a harmonious cycle.
BHARATANATAYAM:
One of the most recognizable classical dances of India is Bharatanatyam. Originating in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, the dance form traces its origins back to the Natyashastra, an ancient treatise on theatre and performing arts. It was originally a temple dance solely for women, used to express mythological stories and religious devotion. Yet over the millennia, Bharatanatyam has evolved into also being a form of art, in itself.
The dance movements are characterized by bent legs at the knees, while the feet keep up a constant rhythmic pulse, along with characteristic mudras that narrate a story, or give meaning to the performance.
KATHAK:
Kathak is, occasionally, a dance of love, performed both – by men and women. The movements include a system of intricate footwork, categorised by a sharp beat of stamping the feet, and hand gestures adapted from normal body language. One of its defining features is the importance of facial expressions that accompany the dance moves.
It began to be practiced by Kathakas, performers and storytellers who used a mixture of dance, song, and drama in their art.
KUCHIPUDI:
Unlike some of the other dance forms, Kuchipudi requires talent in both dancing and singing. Originating from Andhra Pradesh, it’s a highly ritualized dance, accompanied by a formal segment of song-and-dance, sprinkling of holy water, and burning of incense. It also includes an invocation of the goddesses.
While originally being performed solely by men, today it is a dance predominantly presented by women.
FOLK DANCES:
India is a country that’s revolves around agriculture – so it’s no surprise that one of the most defining features of the country is the abundance of harvest festivals, and the folk dances that accompany them.
These folk dances rarely have any religious connotations; rather, they have a feeling of celebration and thanksgiving. Indian folk and tribal dances stem from the different socio-economic traditions, and each state adds its own unique feature to the dances. For example, Garba – which is practiced in the northwest, includes a heavy costume of a ghagra choli with mirror and beadwork on colourful patterns. Dandiya is a form of dance which incorporates wooden sticks that are clapped together to the beat of the music, accompanied by an intricate formation of dancers. The ever – popular Bhangra relies on sporadic and continued shoulder movements that lend a frivolous, yet spirited feel to the dance.