9 CLASSICAL DANCES OF INDIA-ORIGIN AND SYMBOLISM

Classical dances of India: 9 classical dances of India are recognized by the Government of India and Sangeet Natak AkademiSangeet Natak Akademi (Ministry of culture). Let us have look at its ORIGIN AND SYMBOLISM.

In India, almost every state has its own language, eating, and dance. India is a rich country in culture. India has western, classical, folk, and tribal dance forms when it comes to dancing and they’re all awesome.

In the ancient days, Bharatanatyam was the oldest and one of the most famous classical dances originating in the region. The old Indian texts of Natya Shastra, which form the basis for performing arts, have been and are inspired by classic dance in India.

It is difficult to keep up with classical Indian dances in so many special and beautiful ways, each with a different intent and message.

See the list of nine main classical dance shapes found in India, explaining their roots and symbolism.

 9 Classical Dances of India 

Only Eight classical dances are recognized by Sangeet Natak Academy (India National Academy). Ministry of Culture also considered Chhau Dance as a classical dance of India and make the list of 9 classical dances of India.

 Brief description of the 9 classical dances of India: 

 1.Bharatanatyam 

• Bharatanatyam is a major genre of Indian classical dance that comes from Tamil Nadu, formerly known as the Sadhir Attam. Bharatanatyam is one of the oldest traditions of Indian classical dance.
• It has been grown in South Indian temples and courts since ancient times. It expresses the religious themes and spiritual beliefs of South India, especially Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and Shaktism.
• The primary source of study for body motion techniques in this dance style is Abhinav Darpan, written by Nandikeshwar (4th – 5th centuries BC).
• In the stones and pillars of old temples, there are many visual proofs of Bharatanatyam. There are many poses of Bharatanatyam in the dome of the temple Chidambaram.
• The ancestral Tamil epic Silapathikaram has Bharatanatyam mentioned in the 2nd century AD, but temples dating back to the 6th to the 9th century AD.
• The Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur has been the center of Bharatanatyam since 1000 AD.
• The instruments used were a tambourine (both sides of a drum), the tones (long wooden panels made of blackwood), harp (cymbals), flute, violin, and the lute.
• The traditional Bharatanatyam composition consists of a series of structures and the whole set is called Margam.

 2.Kathak 

• The origins of Kathak are traditionally known as Kathakas or storytellers attributed to the journey to ancient North India.
• The term Kathak comes from the Sanskrit Vedic word Katha which means “story” and Kathakar which means “one who tells a story” or “related to stories”
• The development of Bhakti, the class formed amidst mystical engagement patterns advanced in medieval Hinduism.
• The Kathakakars convey stories through rhythmic foot movements, hand gestures, facial appearance, and visual work.
• This performance amazes old-age folk tales and Indian stories, especially the life of Lord Krishna, who is very famous in the courts of the states of North India.
• The three particular types of this type are the three stages (schools), which differ in the tone usually given to footwork as opposed to acting, they are especially the most acclaimed, the Jaipur Gharana, the Banaras Gharana, and the Lucknow Gharana.
• Kathak matches the culture of North India. This form of classical dance is associated with the repetitive art of storytelling. Kathak is sponsored by Benares, Lucknow, and Jaipur.
• The story of Radha and Krishna is the major theme of Kathak. Instruments such as tabla, pakhavaj, harmonium, sarangi, and talam are used in Kathak performances.

 3.Kathakali 

• Kathakali (Malayalam) is an important form of classical Indian dance that originates from Kerala. This “story play” is a style of art but distinguished by the elaborate colorful makeup, costumes, and face masks traditionally worn by male actor-dancers.
• The term Kathakali is derived from Katha (Sanskrit) meaning “story or conversation, or traditional story”, and Kali (from art) meaning “performance and art”.
• The dance symbolizes the eternal struggle between good and evil.
• Kathakali has the most intricate outfit with headdresses, masks, and brightly decorated faces with paints from all of the classical Indian dances. It usually takes several hours to set up a Kathakali troupe to prepare for a play.
• Make-up follows an accepted code, which helps viewers easily identify hardcore characters such as deities, demons, demons, saints, animals, and characters in a story.
• Seven basic types of makeup are used in Kathakali, such as Pacha (green), Pazhuppu (ripe), Kathi, Kari, Thadi, Meenuku, and Teppu.
• Hand gestures or postures are discussed in various ancient Sanskrit texts such as Natya Shastra and Hasta Lakshdipika.
• Kathakali follows Lakhandipika more closely, unlike other classical dances from India.
• Chenda, cymbals, and Maddalam are the instruments used in the Kathakali show.

 4.Kuchipudi  

• It originated in a village called Kuchelapuri in Andhra Pradesh, India.
• Kuchipudi has its origins in the ancient Hindu Sanskrit text Natya Shastra. It is a drama-dance performance. The history of the Kuchipudi tradition says that the Tirtha Narayana Yeti, the saint of Advaita Vedanta, and its disciple, an orphan called Siddhendra Yogi, established and organized the modern version of Kuchipudi in the 17th century.
• Kuchipudi originated primarily as the Vaishnava practice of the Hindu deity, which was geared towards Krishna, and is closely connected to the  Bhagavata Mela.
• Kuchipudi originated as an adoration of the Hindu god Krishna.

 5.Manipuri 

• Manipuri, also known as Jagoi, is one of the key classical styles of Indian dance, named after its roots – the northeastern Indian state of Manipur.
• It is particularly known for its Hindu Vaishnavism themes, and Radha-Krishna’s love-inspired dance drama Rasleela is outstandingly performed. However, the dance during Lai Haroba is also attributed to regional deities such as Umang Lai.
• The terms used in Manipuri come from the poetry of Jayadev, Vidyapti, Chandidas, Govindadas, and Gyandas, which may be in Sanskrit, Maithili, Brij, or some other language.
• Pung (A barrel Drum) and small kartals (Cymbals) are often used in dance and are not relegated to accompaniment alone.
• Sembang, harmonium, Pena, flute, wind instrument, and Eraj, as well as conch, are used.

In classical Manipuri dance there are basically two categories:

1. Jagoi:

   This steam, which is mainly in Ras Leela, reflects the Lasya item mentioned in Natya Shastra of Bharata. In this case, the legs are usually bent and the knees kept together. The rhythm of the foot is not as loud and marked as in classical Indian dances.

2. Cholom: It is the form of classical Tandava dance.

The following are listed as the  three types of Manipuri Ras Leela:

1. Tal Rasak : 

Followed by a clap.

2. Danda Rasak:

The drums are pounded with two sticks while the dancers’ position produces geometric shapes.

3.Mandal Rasak:

Krishna’s character is at the heart, although it is surrounded by Gopis.

Varieties of Manipuri forms of dance:

• Raas

• Nata- Sankirtan’s

• Dhola Cholam’s

• Kartal  Cholam

• Pung Cholam (Dancers playing pung/drum while dancing)
• Thang ta’ (martial art form)

 6.Mohiniyattam  

• Mohiniyattam (Malayalam), one of India’s most popular classical dances, originated in the state of Kerala. Kathakali is Kerala’s other classical dance style.
• Mohiniyattam dance derives its name from the term Mohini-historically enchanting manifestation of the Hindu god Vishnu, who creates his feminine strength to support God over Evil.
• The Mohiniattam dance follows the Hastha Lakshanadipika scientific text, which includes a thorough explanation of the mudra (specifically articulated with palm and fingers).
• Mohiniyattam is lasya-style based on Natya Shastra.
• This includes delicate gestures and feminine facial features.
• The walk is slipping and flat. No rhythmic moves are possible.
• Greater focus is paid to facial expressions and hand gestures.
• Characteristics borrowed from Kerala from other dance styles, such as Nangir Koothu and Thiruvathirakali.
• Traditionally, this is performed only by women. Kathakali, on the other hand, is exclusive to men, but it is often embraced by women in modern times.
• In Mohiniattam’s vocal music there are gaps in the rhythmic form called cholu. 

 7.Odissi  

• Odissi (Odia) is a major ancient classical Indian dance originating from the Hindu temples of Odisha, East Coastal State of India, and also called Orisi in the old literature.
• The Odissi, in its history, played primarily by women and expressed religious stories and spiritual ideas, most notably Vaishnavism (Vishnu as Jagannath).
• The traditional Odissi exists in two main styles, the first perfection by women and focused on the sacred and spiritual temple dance (maharis); the second perfected boy’s Dresses as girls (gotipuas) varied to include athletic and acrobatic movements and were popular in temples ranging from festive occasions to general entertainment.
• The Odissi was the only Indian dance form featured on Michael Jackson’s 1991 hit single Black or White.
• Nritya and Abhinav are the two most interesting attractions of Odissi.
• Nritya: Dancers perform delicate physical movements to create ornamental movements.
• Abhinaya: The dancers make countless facial expressions to explain a religious story or legend.
• Tablas, pakhawaj, harmonium, cymbals, piano, woodwind, sitar, and Swarmandal are included among the melodic instruments.

There are three primary dance positions in Odissi:

1.Samabhanga

Square position, weighing on both legs fairly straight, arms lifted with the elbows bent.

2.Abhyanga 

The weight of the body moves from the side to the side because of extreme bends of the legs as the feet and knees move outwards and one hip extends sideways.

3.Tribhanga 

This is a triple S-shape bend with the chest in one direction and head and hips deflect to the opposite direction to the torso. Body in the opposite direction. In comparison, the hands and legs frame the body into a two-square compound (rectangle), with the esthetic reference structure.

This is mentioned in ancient Sanskrit texts and is present in other Hindu dance arts, but Tribhanga postures are mainly formed in Odissi and are distinctive in historical Hindu temples.

 8.Sattriya  

• Sattriya is the great classical Indian dance (Assamese).
• It is an art of dance-drama presentation from the Vaishnava monasteries of Assam, based on Krishna, and is credited to the scholar and St. Srimanta Sankardev in the Bhakti Movement of the 15th century.
• Sattriya’s one-act plays are called Ankiya Nat, which blends a song, dance, and plays with beauty and faith.
• The dance of Sattriya can be placed in two categories; Paurashik Bhangi, the male style, and Stri Bhangi, the female style.
• Pat silk saree, which represents localism by its different colorful motifs and designs, is the most common saree in this dance.
• Sattariya music is complemented by works called Mandali, composed by, amongst other plays, Sankaradeva and Srisri Madhavdev based on classical ragas.
• A variety of musical instruments, some like shell (dhol), bahi (floating), violin, tanpura, harmonium, and shankh (conch) are used for this Sattariya dance.

 9.Chhau Dance 

• Chhau dance is the seminal Indian dance of martial, tribal, and folk cultures, spelling like Chau or Chhaau, and it comes from eastern India.
• This can be seen in three styles named after the venue, i.e. Bengal Purulia Chau, the Jharkhand Seraikella, and Odisha Mayurbhanj Chau.
• The dance goes from the festive themes of martial art, acrobatics, and athletics to the formal dances of religious themes found in Shaiva, Shaktism, and Vaishnavism.
• The costumes differ between the models and Purulia and Serakeilla use masks for character recognition. Mayurbhanj Chhau Dance does not use masks.
• Chhau is the Rarh region’s folk dance.
• It could have originated from the Chāya Sanskrit (shadow, image, or mask). Some connect it to the Sanskrit root Chadma (disguise), while others, such as Sitakant Mahapatra, say that it is derived from Chhauni (military camp, shield, stealth) in the Odia language.
• The music is based on folk melody. A few instruments used to develop the music were Mohuri, Shehnai, Dhol, Dhumsa, Kharka, or Shadhadi.
• In 2010, Chhau was included on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Government founded the Government Chhau Center in Seraikella in 1960 and Myurbhanj Chhau Nritya Pratishthan in Baripada in 1962.
• National Centre for Chhau Dance was established at Baripada, Odisha, by the Sangeet Natak Akademi.

That is all about the 9 classical dances of India, hope this article is useful. Kindly have a look at the following article which is very useful for your examinations.

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