Eight Classical Dances of India

Classical Dances of India are mentioned below in detail:

Bharatanatyam

The origin of Bharatanatyam dates back more than 2000 years.The dance form has its roots primarily in Tamil Nadu.Initially, Bharatanatyam was the prerogative of female temple dancers.

The various mudras associated with Bharatanatyam are

• Pataaka (Flag).
• Tripataaka (three colors)
• Arth pataaka (Half of a flag)
• Kartari Mukha (Scissors)
• Mayurakhyo (A peacock)
• Ardhachandra ( Half Moon)
• Araala (Bent)
• Shukatunda (Parrots head)
• Mushti (Fist)
• Shikara ( A peak)
• Kapittha (Elephant Apple)
• Kataka Mukha (Opening of girl, bird)
• Suchi (Needle)

There are mainly two commonly used styles in Bharatanatyam Costume for women:

• Skirt (saree) style
• Pyjama Style

Dancers mainly wear costumes which are made of silk sarees with gold zari embroidery designs.

The instruments used in Bharatanatyam are:

• Mridangam, which is a double-sided drum,
• Nadaswaram, a long type of oboe made from black wood,
• Nattuvangam, cymbals
• Flute
• Veena
• Violin
• Manjira
• Kanjira
• Surpeti

Some of the important features of Bharatanatyam are as follows:

• Since Bharatnatyam is the manifestation of fire in the human body, it is frequently referred to as the “fire dance.” Bharatnatyam’s movements resemble dancing flames for the most part.
• With a focus on mudras, the Tandava and Lasya components of dance are equally significant in this dance style.
• One of the most significant mudras is the “KatakaMukha Hasta,” in which the three fingers are joined to represent “Om.”
• Famous dancers – Yamini Krishnamurthy, Lakshmi Viswanathan, etc.

Kathak

Kathak literally means ‘storyteller’.The kathakaras are a caste of storytellers who moved from place to place to disperse their art of storytelling. This led to the evolution of Kathak dance as early as 400 BCE. Kathak dance is performed in the state of Uttar Pradesh.The modern form of kathak dance gained popularity due to the efforts of Wajid Ali Shah.

The salient features of the kathak dance are:

• The dance is divided into Nritya and Nritta.
• Though performed as a solo dance, group dance has gained popularity in recent times.
• The key elements associated with Kathak dance are Amad, Thaat, and Tatkar.
• Footwork has immense importance in kathak dance.

The instruments used in kathak dance are:

• Flute
• Sarangi
• Sitar
• Tabla
• Pankhwaj

Costumes worn by kathak dancers range from sarees to Anarkali suitsEarrings, necklaces, and bindi have their unique importance in kathak performances.

Various mudras associated with the kathak dance are:

• Tripataka
• Ardhapataka
• Aral
• Padmakosh
• Sarpheesh among others

Famous dancers associated with kathak dancers are- Janaki Prasad, Pandit Birju Maharaj, and Sitara Devi.

Kathakali

The birthplace of Kathakali can be traced to Kerala, India. Two types of dance dramas, Ramanattam and Krishnattam, which depict scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, emerged in Kerala temples under the patronage of feudal lords, which is believed to have been the precursor to Kathakali.

The various navarasam associated with kathakali are given as follows:

• Sringaram (Love)
• Hasyam (Comedy)
• Karunyam (Pity)
• Raudhram (Ferocity)
• Veeryam (Heroism)
• Bhayanakam (Fearfulness)
• Bheebatsam (Disgust)
• Albhutham ( Wonder)
• Shantham (Peace)

The musical instruments used in Kathakali dance are listed below: Chenda,Maddalam and Edakka.

• Some of the features of the kathakali are as follows:
• The dance form is mainly performed by male dancers.
• The rasas, which are used to tell the story in Kathakali, are portrayed by raising and lowering the eyebrows. Thus, eye movement finds immense importance in Kathakali.
• The dance form is practised in open-air theatres on rough mats or temple grounds.
• The lush vegetation of the state serves as a backdrop for kathakali performances.
• Brass lamps are used to provide lighting in open-air theatres.

Famous dancers of Kathakali are – Guru Kunchu Kurup, Gopi Nath, Late Shankaram Namboodiri, etc.

Kuchipudi

The South-East Indian state of Andhra Pradesh is home to the classical dance style known as Kuchipudi.The village in Andhra Pradesh’s Krishna district is where this dance style first appeared. The dance form is known to have been named after the Andhra Pradesh village of Kuchelapuram.The dance was initially performed by the Brahmins. However, with the passage of time, others, too, started taking part in Kuchipudi performances.

The various mudras associated with Kuchipudi are as follows:

• Pathakam
• Tripathakam
• Ardhapathakam
• Kartarimukham
• Mayuram
• Alapadmam
• Bramharam
• Mukulam
• Hamsasya
• Sandamsham

The name for the costumes used by males is known as Bagalbandi. Women typically dress alike as in Bharatanatyam, donning a colourful and vibrant saree. In order to enhance the dress’ beauty during movement, it has a fan-shaped pleated fabric in the front. The belt, which the women wear around their waists, is also part of the dress.

The musical instruments used in the Kuchipudi are as follows:

Mridangam,Cymbals,Veena,Flute and Tambura

Some of the features of Kuchipudi are as follows:

• The earthly elements in the Kuchipudi dance form can be seen as the human frame.
• It is typically performed by a group and demands difficult foot movements.
• Famous dancers associated with Kuchipudi dance are – Radha Reddy and Raja Reddy, Yamini Krishnamurthy, etc.

Classical Dance Forms

Manipuri

The mythological origin of the Manipuri dance style can be traced to the celestial dance of Shiva and Parvati in the Manipur valleys, along with the local “Gandharvas.” With the advent of Vaishnavism in the 15th century, dance rose to prominence. The dance is practised in the northeastern state of Manipur. The dance form is performed mainly by Females. The various mudras associated with manipuri are listed below:

• Potaka,
• tripitaka,
• ordopotaka,
• kotokamukh,
• Sondongsa,
• mrigashirsha,
• hongsashya,
• olopollob,
• bhruksa,
• angush,
• ardhachandra,
• kurak,
• Mushti.

The female dancers wear “patloi” dresses. The lehenga is called “Kumin,” and it is intricately woven with mirrors and zari work into beautiful designs. It is layered with transparent silk, also known as “Pasuan.”The choli is also embroidered with zari, silk, or gota. They wear a transparent odhni on their heads, covering their faces, allowing the dancer’s expression and emotion to be seen. Gopis are usually dressed in red, whereas Radha is dressed in green. Krishna, the male dancer, is dressed in saffron.

The male performers wear a dhoti, kurta, and turban, which is white in colour, apart from a shawl folded on the left shoulder.

The musical instruments associated with Manipur are under:

• Drums
• Cymbals
• String instruments

Some of the features of Manipuri dance are as follows:

• Ras Leela is a common theme in Manipuri dance recitals (Radha-Krishna love romance).
• It symbolizes the feminine side of dance, i.e., the Lasya component of dance, as an art form.
• Famous dancers associated with Manipuri dance are – Nayana, Suverna, Ranjana, and Darshana.

Mohiniyattam

Mohiniyattam originated from the word ‘Mohini,’ which means beautiful woman, and ‘attam’ means dance.It is also known as the Dance of an Enchantress.Mohiniyattam is a solo dance performance by women that was further developed by Vadivelu in the 19th century and rose to prominence under the rulers of Travancore in the present state of Kerala.

The various mudras associated with Mohiniyattam are as follows:

• Asamyukta Mudra
• Samyukta Mudra
• Samana Mudra
• Misra Mudra

The dancer wears a white or off-white plain saree with bright gold or gold laced coloured brocade embroidered in its borders, which is complemented by a matching choli or blouse.

The various musical instruments associated with Mohiniyattam are listed below:

• Mridangam or Madhalam (barrel drum),
• Idakka (hourglass drum),
• flute,
• Veena, and
• Kuzhitalam (cymbals).

Some of the features of Mohiniyattam are as follows:

• A Mohiniyattam performance represents the element of air.
• Atavakul, or Atavus, is a collection of 40 fundamental dance movements.

Some of the famous dancers associated with Mohiniyattam are – Sunanda Nair, Kalamandalam Kshemavathy, etc.

Classical Dance Forms

Odissi

The earliest reference to the Odissi dance can be found in the caves of Udayagiri-Khandagiri.

The dance form gets its name from the ‘Odra nritya’ mentioned in Natya Shastra.

It was primarily practised by the maharis’ and was supported by Jain King Kharavela.

The mudras associated with the odissi dance are as follows:

• Angusta (Thumb)
• Tarjani (Fore Finger)
• Madhyama (Middle Finger)
• Anamika (Ring Finger)
• Kanishta (Little Finger)

Female dancers wear brightly colored saris made of local silk and embellished with traditional and local designs, such as the Bomkai Saree and the Sambalpuri Saree. The front of the sari is worn with pleats or a separate pleated cloth stitched in front to allow the dancer to move freely while displaying excellent footwork. The head, ear, neck, arms, and wrists are all adorned with silver jewellery.

Ghunghru, or musical anklets, made of leather straps with small metallic bells attached, are wrapped around her ankles, and her waist is tied with an elaborate belt. The various musical instruments associated with odissi dance are:

• Harmonium
• Veena
• Sitar
• Tabla
• Pakhawaj
• Harmonium
• Cymbals
• Violin
• Flute
• Sitar
• Swarmandal Some of the features of odissi are given below:
• The Odissi dance form is unique in its depiction of grace, sensuality, and beauty. The dancers use their bodies to create intricate geometrical shapes and patterns. As a result, it is referred to as a “mobile sculpture.”
• The water element is represented by the dance form.

Some famous dancers associated with Odissi dance are – Guru Pankaj Charan Das, Guru Kelu Charan, Mohapatra, etc.

Sattriya

Sattriya dance, in its modern form, was introduced in Assam by Vaishnava Saint Sankaradeva in the 15th century AD. The name Sattariya comes from the Vaishnava monasteries known as ‘Sattras,’ where it was primarily practised. The dance form finds mention in the NatyaShastra of Bharata Muni.

It was influenced by the Bhakti Movement.

The various mudras associated with Sattriya are as follows:

• Pataka
• Tripataka
• Ardhapataka
• Kartarimukha
• Mayur: The costumes worn in the Sattriya dance are divided into two categories based on gender: male costumes (dhoti, chadar, and paguri ) and female costumes [ghuri, chadar, and kanchi (waist cloth)] Traditionally, the costumes were white or raw silk, with red, blue, and yellow accents for specific dance numbers.

The various musical instruments used in Odissi dance are:

• Khol
• Cymbals
• Flute Some of the features of the sattriya dance are as follows:

Male monks known as ‘Bhokots’ generally perform the dance in groups as part of their daily rituals or on festivals.

Sattriya recitals emphasize the devotional aspect of dance and explain mythological stories about Vishnu.

Famous Odissi dancers are – Ghanakanta Bora, Jatin Goswami, etc.

Conclusion

India’s religion and culture have long included dancing as an essential component. According to Indian mythology, the gods invented dance. Dancing is one of the most celebrated Hindu arts since it incorporates music, drama, shape, and line. The Indian government has a strategy of preserving and promoting Indian classical dances, which have a nearly 2000-year history both within India and outside of its borders.

National Highways of India