Indian classical dance

Indian classical dance, also called Shastriya Nritya, refers to many different dance styles from various regions of India. These dances have deep roots in Hindu musical theatre and are based on ideas found in an old book called the Natya Shastra.

There are many Indian classical dance styles, and different people may count them differently. The Sangeet Natak Academy, which works to protect Indian arts, recognises eight main styles: Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Kathakali, Sattriya, Manipuri, and Mohiniyattam. The Indian Ministry of Culture adds Chhau and Gaudiya Nritya, making ten styles in total. Some scholars also include Chhau, Yakshagana, and Bhagavata Mela.

Each dance style comes from a different state or region of India. For example, Bharatanatyam comes from Tamil Nadu in southern India, Odissi is from Odisha on the east coast, and Manipuri is from the northeastern state of Manipur. The music for these dances includes many songs in languages such as Hindi, Malayalam, Meitei (Manipuri), Sanskrit, Tamil, Odia, Telugu, and Assamese, showing both shared ideas and rich variety in costumes and expressions.

Summary

Indian classical dancing began around 200 BCE in India as a joyful activity, often to honor Hindu gods. These dances tell stories through movement, using music and rhythm to share tales from history and mythology. Dancers train for many years to master their art, performing at festivals, schools, and cultural events. In some styles, like Kathak, dancers wear bells on their ankles to add sound when they stomp their feet.

Performers wear beautiful traditional clothes such as sarees, lehengas, and kurtas. Women often wear long, colorful gowns with detailed embroidery and jewelry like necklaces, rings, and earrings. They also wear special headpieces and use makeup to enhance their characters during the dance. While women are the main performers, men also take part in this rich tradition.

Types of classical dances

The Natya Shastra is an important ancient book about Indian classical dances, written by a scholar named Bharata Muni. It talks about many dance moves, expressions, and acting styles that are used in these dances. The book says that dance and performance are ways to show deep ideas and good values.

Indian classical dances are often performed as a special kind of storytelling that is also a dance. They are connected to ancient stories and beliefs, and they might be done inside Hindu temples or at special events. Some dances, like Kathak and Manipuri, have their own special styles and can be performed in different places, including near mosques or in places that show combat scenes.

Dance forms

The Natya Shastra talks about four old styles of dance-drama from different parts of India: Avanti from central India, Dakshinatya from the south, Panchali from the north and west, and Odra-Magadhi from the east.

Different sources list different numbers of Indian classical dance forms. Some mention six, while others talk about eight or nine. The Sangeet Natak Akademi recognizes eight main Indian classical dances, and the Indian government's Ministry of Culture also includes nine. Some scholars add even more.

The eight classical dances recognized by the Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Ministry of Culture are:

Eight classical dances recognised by the Sangeet Natak Academy and the Ministry of Culture

• Bharatanatyam, from Tamil Nadu
• Kathak, from Uttar Pradesh
• Kathakali, from Kerala
• Kuchipudi, from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
• Manipuri, from Manipur
• Mohiniyattam, from Kerala
• Odissi, from Odisha
• Sattriya, from Assam

Images

Some famous Indian classical dancers are:

• Bharatanatyam - Rukmini Devi, Padma Subrahmanyam, Vyjayanthimala, Sheema Kermani, Padmini, Pt. Smt. Swati Daithankar (who was awarded the 'Nritya Alankar' by Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal)
• Kathak - Birju Maharaj, Nahid Siddiqui, Lacchu Maharaj, Gopi Krishna, Saswati Sen, Manjari Chaturvedi
• Kathakali - Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair, Guru Kunchu Kurup, Ramankutty Nair, Guru Gopinath
• Kuchipudi - Mallika Sarabhai, V. Satyanarayana Sarma, Deepa Shashindran,
• Manipuri - Guru Bipin Singh, Darshana Jhaveri, Jhaveri Sisters, Devjani Chaliha, Amala Shankar
• Mohiniyattam - Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma, Shobhana, Sunanda Nair, Kalamandalam Radhika, Thankamani, Kalamandalam Hymavathy
• Odissi - Sujata Mohapatra, Madhavi Mudgal, Kelucharan Mohapatra, Surendra Nath Jena, Shobana Sahajananan, Minati Mishra
• Sattriya - Jatin Goswami, Indira P. P. Bora, Ghanakanta Bora, Sarodi Saikia, Pushpa Bhuyan

Shared aspects

All major classical Indian dance forms include three types of performance described in an ancient text called the Natya Shastra. These are Nritta, Nritya, and Natya.

• The Nritta part of a dance is fast and focuses on rhythmic movements. It is all about the beauty of motion, with no story being told. It is a technical display meant to delight the senses.
• The Nritya is slower and more expressive, aiming to share feelings and stories, often with spiritual themes. Dancers use gestures and body movements to silently express words and tell legends or spiritual messages. This part connects with the emotions and mind of the audience.
• The Natya is like a play, often performed by a group but sometimes by a single dancer. The dancer uses special movements to show different characters in a story, combining elements of Nritya.

Classical Indian dances share similar ways of using gestures, called abhinaya, which come from the Natyashastra. This text says that drama should bring joy to the audience by connecting them in a deep, inner way. Dancers use expressive gestures, called mudras or hastas, and facial expressions to show the feelings and moods of the story. In Hindu classical dances, performers focus on four key parts of a performance: body language, music and song, costumes and makeup, and the dancer's inner feelings and connection with the story and audience. Through abhinaya, they bring out the bhava (mood and feelings) of the performance.