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Indian classical dance is a relatively new umbrella term for various
codified art forms rooted in Natya,
the sacred Hindu musical
theatre styles, whose theory can be traced back to the Natya
Shastra of Bharata
Muni (400 BC).
These are:
- Dances performed inside the sanctum of the temple according to the rituals
were called Agama Nartanam. Natya Shastra classifies this type of dance form as
margi,
or the soul-liberating dance, unlike the desi
(purely entertaining) forms.
- Dances performed in royal courts to the accompaniment of classical music
were called Carnatakam.
This was an intellectual art form.
- Darbari
Aattam form of dance appealed more to the commoners and it educated them
about their religion, culture and social life. These dances were performed
outside the temple precincts in the courtyards. Both Carnatakam
and Darbari
Aattam in particular were predominantly desi
forms.
For lack of any better equivalents in the European culture, the British
colonial authorities called any performing art forms found in India as
"Indian dance". Even though the art of Natya
includes nritta,
or dance proper,
Natya
has never been limited to dancing and includes singing, abhinaya
(mime
acting). These features are common to all the Indian classical styles. In the margi
form Nritta
is composed of karanas,
while the desi nritta
consists mainly of adavus.
The term "classical" (Sanscr. "Shastriya") was introduced
by Sangeet
Natak Akademi to denote the Natya Shastra-based performing art styles. A very important feature of Indian
classical dances is the use of the mudra
or hand gestures by the artists as a short-hand sign
language to narrate a story and to demonstrate certain concepts such as
objects, weather, nature and emotion. Many classical dances include facial
expressions as an integral part of the dance form.
Eight classical dances
:
Sangeet
Natak Akademi currently confers classical status on eight Indian dance
styles:citation
needed]
- Bharatanatyam
- Tamil Classical Dance
- Odissi -
Orissa Classical dance
- Kuchipudi
- Telugu Classical dance
- Manipuri
- Manipur Classical Dance
- Mohiniaattam
- Kerala Classical Dance
- Sattriya
- Asamese Classical Dance
- Kathakali
- Malayalam Classical Dance
- Kathak -
North Indian Classical Dance
Out of the eight styles, the only two temple
dance styles that have their origin in Natya
Shastra and are prescribed by the Agamas
are Bharatanatyam
and Odissi.
These two most faithfully adhere to the Natya Shastra but currently do not
include Vaachikaabhinaya (dialog acts), although some styles of Bharatanatyam,
such as Melattur
style, prescribe the lip movements indicating Vaachikaabhinaya.
Kuchipudi,
which also prescribes the lip movements indicating Vaachikaabhinaya, and Mohiniaattam
are relatively recent Darbari
Aatam forms, just as Kathakali,
and two eastern Indian styles, Manipuri
and Sattriya,
that are quite similar.
Kathak was
created in the Mughal
period under the influence of Persian
dance and various other folk dance forms. As it does not adhere to any
shastra and cannot be called Shastriya (classical).
Currently, Sangeet
Natak Akademi does not consider the recently reconstructed dance styles of
Andhra Pradesh such as Andhra
Natyam and Vilasini
Natyam as "classical". Bharatanrithyam,
despite being the one most closely following Natya
Shastra's precepts, is considered as a variety of Bharatanatyam.
History : The British
Raj in India was a time of cultural hardship where these traditional dances
were viewed by the British rulers as debauched and of doubtful morality.
Furthermore, they were all labelled broadly as 'Indian dance' with no regard to
the specifics of style. Later, linking dance with tawaifs
and devadasis
(both groups whom the government considered to be prostitutes),
British rule prohibited public performance of dance. In 1947, India achieved
independence. The classical forms and regional distinctions of dance were
re-discovered, ethnic specialities were honoured.
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Bharatanatyam, one of the classical dances of
India
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Odissi is originally
from Orissa
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chakkarwala tukra,
one of the popular highlights of Kathak
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A Kathakali
performer in the virtuous pachcha (green) role
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Manipuri dance with
scenes from the life of Lord Krishna
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