Shila Mehta

Dances Of India - An Introduction

Dance is eternal. It is perhaps the earliest art evolved by man.

Indian Dance is believed to have the oldest history and tradition among all dances in the world. It reflects deeply philosophical and the religious moods of the people. The spiritual trend in both dance and music is present since time immemorial.

Dance had achieved a considerable measure of discipline even during the earliest civilizations - Mohenjodaro and Harappa in the Indus Valley, and is dated at about 6000 B.C. Indian Dancing ofcourse, has changed but its basic elements are still the same as what they were 2000 years also.

The dance finds mention right through vedic literature. The word 'veda' means 'knowledge'. These are a body of sacred texts, which is believed to be in existence not through regular authorship but as a divine revelation. Mainly they are four in numbers:

Rig veda
Yajur Veda
Sam veda
Atharva veda and several minor ones


These together, with the two epics i.e. Ramayana and Mahabharat, various puranas of legends concerning gods have a close connection with the classical dance. Indian dance and drama are based on 'Shastra' which is known as 'Bharat Natya Shastra' - some also regard this as 'Fifth Veda'.

It is believed that Brahma created fifth Veda taking recitation from the 'Rig Veda' song from the 'Sam Veda' histrionic representation from 'Yajur Veda' and the sentiments from 'Atharva Veda'. This is known as 'Natya Veda'- fifth veda.

Indian dance is also classified as either Margi or Desi. That which is sacred to the gods and danced for them is 'Margi' while the dance for the pleasure of humans is 'Desi'.

Indian Dance is also classified as 'Tandav' and 'Lasya'. 'Tandav' covers all dances, which express actions and feelings with strength and vigor, danced by men and women both. It was first danced by the God 'Shiva' - lord of dance. 'Lasya' covers all dance, which are graceful and delicate and expresses emotions on gentle level usually danced by women Parvati - the consort of Shiva taught it to Usha, the daughter of the sage Bana, who then passed on the art to the women of India.

There is another tale regarding Indian dance. When first dance was performed in heaven by Shiva, devils had been standing against Gods to distruct. Brahma ordered the setting up of fence as a protection from devils and declared that dancing was not only for pleasure but also for an education and creativity. This suggested the high cultured value of Indian dancing.

Since Indian dance is closely related to the philosophy of ancient religion, which formed the basis of all life and its conduct, quiet a few important God and Goddesses of Indian myth appeal in it. some of these are Indra, Surya, Vishnu, Agni Saraswati, Lakshmi, Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha, Vayu, Kali, Ravana, Krishna, Rama, Naga, Varuna, some, usha, Kinnare, Manu and Yame.

Types of Indian Dance

We may broadly divide Indian Dance in two categories.

A. Classical Dance
B. Folk Dance


Classical Dance

These dances are based on 'shastra' i.e. text and are more disciplined and stylized in compare to folk dances. These are eight in numbers:

1. Bharatnatyam
2. Kathakali
3. Kucchipudi
4. Mohiniattam
5. Manipuri
6. Odissi
7. Satriya
8. Kathak


Out of these eight first four are practiced in south. Next three are practiced in east and the last one i.e. kathak is practiced in north.

Various aspects of Indian dance

These dances have 3 aspects:

1. Nritta
2. Nritya
3. Natya


Nritta

Nritta is a dance of pure rhythm, which visualises and reproduces music and rhythm by means of abstract gesture of the body, hands and precise use of footwork.

Nritya

Nritya is the element of dance whose main point is to express emotion and feelings which are conveyed through facial expressions and gestures. Thus it suggests Ras [sentiment] bhava [mood].

Natya

Natya is the dramatic element, which has a story in the dramatic dances. It shows emotions and feelings for the story with gestures and poses.



Rasas in Indian Dance

The Natyashastra takes about 8 rasas, which are sentiments of emotional states. These are:

1. Shringar
2. Hasya
3. Karuna
4. Rudra
5. Veer
6. Bhayanaka
7. Bibhatsa
8. Adbhuta


The success of the dancer lies in how effective he or she has been in evoking any of these rasas through dance.

Mudras in Indian Dance

Mudras refer to gestures made with hands and fingers, which are very well used to express the meanings while dancing.

As per Nandikeshwar "ABHINAYDARPAN' two types of mudras are there.

1. Single-handed mudra i.e. 'Aasanyukta' which are 28 in numbers.

They are - Pataka, Tripataka, Ardhapataka, Kartarimukha, Mayura, Ardhacandra, Arala, Sukatunda, Musti, Sikhara, Kapittha, Katakamukha, Suci, Candrakala, Padmakosa, Sarpasiras, Mrgasirsa, Simhamukha, Kangula, Alapadma, Catura, Bhramara, Hamsasya, Hamsapaksa, Sandamsa, Mukula, Tamracuda and Trisula.

1. Combined hands mudras i.e. 'SAWYAKTA MUDRA.which are 23 in numbers.

They are - Anjali, Kapota, Karkata, Svastika, Dola, Puspaputa, Utsanga, Sivalinga, Katakavardhana, Kartarisvastika, Sakata, Sankha, Cakra, Samputa, Pasa, kilaka, Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Garuda, Nagabandha, khatva and Bherunda.

Folk Dances

The name itself speaks about the dance which belongs to folk - all the peoples - all the messes. An amazing characteristic of spontaneity and the participation by every one is found in folk dances of any part of the world.

Like classical dances, folk dances of India are also closely related to philosophy and religious of the people

India is a country of varied 28 states. Each state has its own language, religion, customs and traditions festivals and costumes. The Folk Dances of each state act as the mirror of that particular state's culture, traditions and customs of the people belong to that state.

India lays a beautiful example of UNITY IN DIVERSITY so far as the CULTURE is concerned. The folk forms are constantly changing and transforming themselves. It carries a certain elements of historical past within themselves but not actually the historical past which is also true in case of classical dances.

In the terms of chronology the country has a known history of 2500 years and an equally long span of proto and pre history which precedes it.

Looking at the physical geography of India - we see that, there is a tribal belt which runs through all parts of India, from HIMALAYAS of the north-west to the eastern hills of Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, the plains of Gujarat, Rajasthan, U.P. and Bengal the plateau of Maharashtra, Chhota Nagpur and the areas of Bihar, M.P. and south-western ghats. This tribal belt comprises nearly 40 million people and they are the creators of what we call tribal dances.

There are another agricultural communities living in villages, which form the major portions of India. These communities are different from tribal communities in many ways including their agricultural tool and techniques and these peasants are the creator of folk dances.

There are also another groups of people who can be described as special groups who have always served the village as the entertainers, craftsmen and dancers. They are today the professionals.

NATAS.BHAVAIS, CHARANS, BHANDAS, KATHAKARS and may others, who are responsible for sustaining the continuity of the artistic traditions at those moments when this continuity was breaking down in the more sophisticated literate arts. Some of the most popular folk dances of India are as follows:


Bihu dance -- Assam,
Naga dance -- Nagaland,
Jatra and Baul -- West Bengal,
Burra rasa -- Bihar,
Bhangra and Gidda -- Punjab,
Dhamal and Loor -- Haryana,
Kullu Nati and Thoda -- Himachal Pradesh,
Roff -- Kashmir
Gindad , Kataputori, Ghummar, Shankeriya, Kachi Ghodi -- Rajasthan,
Karuma -- Madhya Pradesh,
Jadur Dance -- Orissa,
Tamasha and Lavani --Maharashtra, ,
Dandia Raas,Garba Dance,Bhavai,Tipni and Koli dance -- Gujarat,
Yakshaganam -- Karnataka,
Kummi dance -- Goa
Limbadi -- Andhra Pradesh
Kurabanji -- Tamilnadu

See Also History of Kathak

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