The heritage of dancing in India is at least 5000 years old. Since prehistoric times dance had been a mode of expression. Through ages, dance has been used as a vehicle of worship and manifestation. Dance has been an indispensable element of the ancient Indian society. Hindu mythologies associate many deities with this art form. Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha and Lord Krishna were considered to have expressed their joy, ecstasy as well as their rage through dancing. The Nataraja embodiment of Lord Shiva has exclusive effect on Indian dance and the Rasa Lila of Lord Krishna has developed as a dance form in contemporary times. All the aesthetic aspect of this art form is dealt in details in the oldest text, Natyashastra authored by Bharata Muni. Dance in Ancient India developed out of religious themes and most dance forms had rich mythological lore as their content.
Various historical proofs reveal the charisma of Dance in ancient India. The archaeological evidences from Mohenjodaro establish the fact that dances originated in the country since the early Indus valley civilisations in the 2nd Century B.C. The findings of a dancing girl figurine from the Mohenjodaro ruins display the talents of the people and their appreciation for this art form. The Vedic period also witnessed expansion of the dance and music which were the favourite pastimes of the Aryans. Furthermore, the group dancing sequences represented in the rock paintings of Bhimbhetka caves of Madhya Pradesh is again an evidence of continuation of dance in Madhaya Pradesh during the ancient times. The sculptures of the dancing figures in Khajuraho and in the temple walls of Hoysala dynasty provide evidences of popularity of Indian dances in ancient times.
Dance in ancient India was augmented by the Devadasis. The Devadasis or the temple dancers danced in the temples to offer gratitude to the gods. This form of dancing in the sanctum of the temple progressed with due course of time. The temple dancers led an ascetic life in order to perform sacred dances in front of the Gods and Goddesses. However, alongside the temple dancers, several dancing girls also performed in the princely courts. The dancing girls were invited by the local kings and they had to perform in various joyous occasions of the kingdom. Thus dance was appreciated as a medium of entertainment by the kings and courtyards in India. The Gupta period was the golden period for culture, art and literature. In that period, dance was given suitable acknowledgment and various dancers had the opportunity of showcasing their talents.
The origin of classical dance in India goes back to 2BC when the ancient treatise on dance, Natya Shastra, was compiled. Dance in India is guided by the elaborate codes in the Natya Shastra and by mythology, legend and classical literature. Both classical and fold form of dances are performed in India. Classical dance forms have rigid rules for presentation. Among the leading forms of classical dance are Bharatnatyam, Kathakali, Kathak, Manipuri, Odissi, Kuchipudi and Mohini Attam. Bharatnatyam, originating in Tamil Nadu, has movements of pure rhythm, rendering a story dramatically in different moods. Kathakali, the dance drama from Kerala, requires the artist to wear an elaborate mask. The principal classical dance of north India, Kathak, originated as a religious performance but later developed as a court dance under the Moghuls. The lyrical style of dance, Manipuri, comes from the eastern State of Manipur. It described the games of Krishna and the "Gopis". Odissi was once a temple dance in Orissa. Kuchipudi, the dance-drama from Andhra Pradesh, is based on themes from the epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata. In addition, there are numerous forms of folk and tribal dance in India.
The Charkul dance-drama of Central India revolves around a story generally from the Indian epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Similar traditions of dance-dramas are prevalent in other parts of India too. In Maharashtra, you have the Dashavatara, in Karnataka you have the Yakshagana The Kathak dance of North India and the ktha*ali dance of Kerala also originated as dance dramas and derive their names from the Sanskrit work 'Katha' which means a story.
The integration of Indian classical dance with the physical exercises of Yoga and the breath control of "Pranayam" has perfected the dance styles. Yoga especially had given the dance styles an excellent footwork which is called Padanyasa and Padalalitya. Another feature of these dance styles is that they are integrated with theology and worship.
Traditionally these dances were patronized by the temples. During festivals and other religious occasions, these dances were performed in the temple premises to propitiate the deity. Thus the dance came to combine both art and worship. Even today every recital of any Indian classical dance begins with an invocation to Nataraja or Nateshwara the god of dance.
In Indian folklore and legend, the God of Dance is himself shown to be dancing in a form called the Tandava. This has also been depicted in the statues and carvings in temples like, Khajuraho and Konark in Northern India, and at Chidambaram, Madurai, Rameshwaram, etc. in the South.
Indian dances have also evolved styles based on the Tandava like the Urdhra Tandava, Sandhya Tandava, etc. Indian classical dance found its way outside India, especially to the countries of Southeast Asia. The dance styles of Thailand, Indonesia, Burma, etc., have so heavily borrowed from the Indian classical dance traditions that to a casual observer there would seem to be hardly any difference between the two. While Western dance has not directly borrowed anything from Indian classical dance, it has borrowed from Indian folk dance through the medium of the Gypsies.
Various historical proofs reveal the charisma of Dance in ancient India. The archaeological evidences from Mohenjodaro establish the fact that dances originated in the country since the early Indus valley civilisations in the 2nd Century B.C. The findings of a dancing girl figurine from the Mohenjodaro ruins display the talents of the people and their appreciation for this art form. The Vedic period also witnessed expansion of the dance and music which were the favourite pastimes of the Aryans. Furthermore, the group dancing sequences represented in the rock paintings of Bhimbhetka caves of Madhya Pradesh is again an evidence of continuation of dance in Madhaya Pradesh during the ancient times. The sculptures of the dancing figures in Khajuraho and in the temple walls of Hoysala dynasty provide evidences of popularity of Indian dances in ancient times.
Dance in ancient India was augmented by the Devadasis. The Devadasis or the temple dancers danced in the temples to offer gratitude to the gods. This form of dancing in the sanctum of the temple progressed with due course of time. The temple dancers led an ascetic life in order to perform sacred dances in front of the Gods and Goddesses. However, alongside the temple dancers, several dancing girls also performed in the princely courts. The dancing girls were invited by the local kings and they had to perform in various joyous occasions of the kingdom. Thus dance was appreciated as a medium of entertainment by the kings and courtyards in India. The Gupta period was the golden period for culture, art and literature. In that period, dance was given suitable acknowledgment and various dancers had the opportunity of showcasing their talents.
The origin of classical dance in India goes back to 2BC when the ancient treatise on dance, Natya Shastra, was compiled. Dance in India is guided by the elaborate codes in the Natya Shastra and by mythology, legend and classical literature. Both classical and fold form of dances are performed in India. Classical dance forms have rigid rules for presentation. Among the leading forms of classical dance are Bharatnatyam, Kathakali, Kathak, Manipuri, Odissi, Kuchipudi and Mohini Attam. Bharatnatyam, originating in Tamil Nadu, has movements of pure rhythm, rendering a story dramatically in different moods. Kathakali, the dance drama from Kerala, requires the artist to wear an elaborate mask. The principal classical dance of north India, Kathak, originated as a religious performance but later developed as a court dance under the Moghuls. The lyrical style of dance, Manipuri, comes from the eastern State of Manipur. It described the games of Krishna and the "Gopis". Odissi was once a temple dance in Orissa. Kuchipudi, the dance-drama from Andhra Pradesh, is based on themes from the epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata. In addition, there are numerous forms of folk and tribal dance in India.
The Charkul dance-drama of Central India revolves around a story generally from the Indian epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Similar traditions of dance-dramas are prevalent in other parts of India too. In Maharashtra, you have the Dashavatara, in Karnataka you have the Yakshagana The Kathak dance of North India and the ktha*ali dance of Kerala also originated as dance dramas and derive their names from the Sanskrit work 'Katha' which means a story.
The integration of Indian classical dance with the physical exercises of Yoga and the breath control of "Pranayam" has perfected the dance styles. Yoga especially had given the dance styles an excellent footwork which is called Padanyasa and Padalalitya. Another feature of these dance styles is that they are integrated with theology and worship.
Traditionally these dances were patronized by the temples. During festivals and other religious occasions, these dances were performed in the temple premises to propitiate the deity. Thus the dance came to combine both art and worship. Even today every recital of any Indian classical dance begins with an invocation to Nataraja or Nateshwara the god of dance.
In Indian folklore and legend, the God of Dance is himself shown to be dancing in a form called the Tandava. This has also been depicted in the statues and carvings in temples like, Khajuraho and Konark in Northern India, and at Chidambaram, Madurai, Rameshwaram, etc. in the South.
Indian dances have also evolved styles based on the Tandava like the Urdhra Tandava, Sandhya Tandava, etc. Indian classical dance found its way outside India, especially to the countries of Southeast Asia. The dance styles of Thailand, Indonesia, Burma, etc., have so heavily borrowed from the Indian classical dance traditions that to a casual observer there would seem to be hardly any difference between the two. While Western dance has not directly borrowed anything from Indian classical dance, it has borrowed from Indian folk dance through the medium of the Gypsies.
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