G.K
2. Write a note in 250 'Words India dance' or 'Indian Classical Dance'.
Answers
India has thousands of year old tradition of fine arts and classical and folk music and dances. Some of the world-famous dance forms that originated and evolved in India are Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniattam and Odissi. All these dance forms use basically the same 'mudras' or signs of hand as a common language of expression and were originally performed in the temples to entertain various Gods and Goddesses. They were also effective in carrying forward the various mythological stories from generation to generation while entertaining the audiences. It eventually became a part of 'Natya Shashtra', as propounded by Sage Bharata to compile and forge some rules and regulations of entertaining arts.
Kathakali:-
Kathakali from Kerala makes use of colourful masks and costumes and belongs to Kerala. Kuchipudi is the dance drama of Andhra Pradesh that combines Natya, Nritta and Nritya. Manipuri, as the name suggests, is from Manipur, the Northeastern state of India, and is a combination of many dances prevalent in the region.Mohiniattam from Kerala is a solo female dance and is known for its rhythmic and unbroken flow of the body movements. Odissi from Orissa is a dance of love, joy and intense passion.
Bharatnatyam:-
Bharatnatyam is one of the most popular classical Indian dances. Bharatnatyam is more popular in South Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Bharatnatyam dance is almost 2,000 years old is believed that Bharatnatyam was revealed by Lord Brahma to Bharata, a famous sage who then codified this sacred dance in a Sanskrit text called the Natya Shastra. The Natya Shastra is one of the fundamental treatises on Indian drama and aesthetics.
Kathak:-
Kathak is one of the most important classical dances of India. Kathak is said to be derived from the word Katha, meaning "the art of storytelling." The Kathak dance form originated in north India and was very similar to the Bharatnatyam dance form. In ancient India, there were Kathakars or bards who used to recite religious and mythological tales to the accompaniment music, mime and dance.
Kathakali:-
Kathakali is the classical dance form of Kerala. The word Kathakali literally means "Story-Play". Kathakali is known for its heavy, elaborate makeup and costumes. In fact, the colourful and fascinating costumes of Kathakali have become the most recognized icon of Kerala. Kathakali is considered as one of the most magnificent theatres of imagination and creativity. Kathakali dance presents themes derived from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and other Hindu epics, mythologies and legends.
Kuchipudi:-
Kuchipudi is one of the classical dance forms of South India. Kuchipudi derives its name from the Kuchipudi village of Andhra Pradesh. In the seventeenth century, the Kuchipudi village was presented to the Brahmins, who were experts in staging dance and drama. Kuchipudi exhibits scenes from the Hindu Epics, legends and mythological tales through a combination of music, dance and acting. Like other classical dances, Kuchipudi also comprises pure dance, mime and histrionics but it is the use of speech that distinguishes Kuchipudi's presentation as dance drama.
Manipuri:-
Manipuri is one of the six major classical dances of India. Manipuri dance is indigenous to Manipur, the Northeastern state of India. The Manipuri dance style is inextricably woven into the life pattern of Manipuri people. The most striking part of Manipur dance is its colourful decoration, lightness of dancing foot, the delicacy of abhinaya (drama), lilting music and poetic charm. The Manipuri dance form is mostly ritualistic and draws heavily from the rich culture of the state of Manipur.
Moniniattam:-
Mohiniattam is a classical dance form of Kerala. Mohiniattam is derived from the words "Mohini" (meaning beautiful women) and "attam"(meanbottomance). Thus, Mohiniattam dance form is a beautiful feminine style with surging fa low of body movements. Mohiniattam dance in Kerala developed in the tradition of Devadasi system, which later grew and developed a classical status.
Odissi:-
Odissi is one of the famous classical Indian dances from Orissa state. The history of Odissi dance is almost two thousand years old. Odissi is a highly inspired, passionate, ecstatic and sensuous form of dance. Like most of the South Indian classical dances of India Odissi too had its orbottomttomthe Devadasi tradition. The state of Orissa has a great cultural history.
Answer:
The divine concept of the cosmos and the philosophy of Indian thought pervade and form a backdrop to the dance techniques. Dance was a ritual form of worship in temples. The much denigrated devadasis in the temples, in their rituals of worship, kept alive the art form, till a cultural revival brought the dances out of the temples into the theatres of the present.
The principles of Indian classical dance—whatever the style—derive from the Natyashastra (c. 2nd century AD) by Bharatamuni. Natya includes dance, music and drama. Bharatamuni traces the origin of the art form to Brahma. It was Brahma who, on perceiving the growing desire, greed, jealousy, anger, and misery in the world, went into meditation and created a fifth Veda, viz., the Natyaveda, representing the essence of the existent four Vedas.
The intellectual content of the Rig-Veda, the music of the Samaveda, abhinaya or mime from the Yajurveda and the rasa from the Atharvaveda have been brought together in the Natyaveda to embody moral and spiritual truths. Thus the art form is meant not just to entertain but also to instruct and inspire discipline and righteousness.
The dancing Shiva, Nataraja, represents in his art creation, preservation, destruction, release from bondage and the cycle of life and death. Parvati, learning the art from Shiva, in turn taught it to the people of the earth. Whatever the origin, dance is often considered to be a ‘complete art’, at least a composite art enfolding in its range other fine arts—music, of course, besides elements of sculpture, poetry and drama.