DANCE
FORMS OF INDIA
Bharata
Natyam
Bharatanatyam
is the most popular of Indian dances and belongs to the South Indian state
of Tamilnadu. Its antiquity is well established. In the past it was practised
ad performed in the temples by a class of dancers known as the devadasis.
It was a part of the religious rituals and has a long and hoary past. The
kings and the princely courts patronised the temples, as well as the various
traditions sustaining the dance form.
The
salient features of Bharatanatyam are movements conceived in space mostly
either along straight lines or triangles. In terms of geometrical designs,
the dancer appears to weave a series of triangles besides several geometrical
patterns.
In
nritta (pure dance) to the chosen time cycle and a raga (melody), a dancer
executes patterns that reveal the architectonic beauty of the form with
a series of dance units called jathis or teermanams. The torso is used
as a unit, the legs are in a semi-plie form and the stance achieves the
basic posture called araimandi. The nritta numbers include Alarippu, Jatiswaram
and Tillana, which are abstract items not conveying and specific meaning
except that of joyous abandon with the dancer creating variegated forms
of staggering visual beauty.
In
nritya, a dancer performs to a poem, creating a parallel kinetic poetry
in movement, registering subtle expressions on the face and the entire
body reacts to the emotions, evoking sentiments in the spectator for relish
- the rasa. The numbers are varnam, which has expressions as well as pure
dance; padams, javalis and shlokas. The accompanying music is classical
Carnatic. The themes are from Indian mythology, the epics and the Puranas.
Chakiarkoothu
This
dance form is believed to have been introduced to Kerala by the early Aryan
immigrants & is performed only by the members of the Chakiar caste.
A highly orthodox type of entertainment, it can be staged inside temples
only & witnessed by the Hindus of the higher castes. The theatre is
known as Koothambalam. The story is recited in a quasi-dramatic style with
emphasis on eloquent declarations with appropriately suggestive facial
expressions & hand gestures. The only accompaniments are the cymbals
& the drum known as the mizhavu, made of copper with a narrow mouth
on which is stretched a piece of parchment.
Chhau
With
origins shrouded in mystery, the Chhau dancer communicates inner emotions
and themes through cadences of body flexions, movements and kinetic suggestions.
The word Chhau is interpreted differently by scholars. ‘Shadow’, ‘Disguise’
and ‘Image’ are the most common interpretations due to the extensive use
of masks in this dance form. The martial movements of Chhau have led to
another interpretation of the word as meaning ‘to attack stealthily’ or
‘to hunt’.
Three
styles of Chhau exist born from the three different regions of Seraikella
(Bihar), Purulia (West Bengal), and Mayurbhanj (Orissa). Martial movements,
strong rhythmic statements and dynamic use of space are characteristic
of Chhau.
Seraikella
Chhau flourished under royal patronage. Its vigorous martial character
made it suitable only for male dancers. The princes were not only patrons
but also dancers, teachers and mask-making experts. The Seraikella masks
are similar to those used in the Noh dance of Japan and the Wayang Wong
of Java.
Purulia
Chhau uses masks which is a highly developed craft in the region. The barren
land with its tribal inhabitants and multi-layered influences of Vedic
literature, Hinduism and martial folk-lore have all combined to shape the
Purulia Chhau dances which have only one message - the triumph of good
over evil.
Mayurbhanj
Chhau has highly developed movements, no masks and a more chiselled vocabulary
than the other two Chhau styles. Like Seraikella Chhau, it had also thrived
under royal patronage and is considered a link between the earthy Indian
dance movements and the flying, springing elevations of Western dance.
Unlike other Indian Classical dance forms, vocal music in Chhau hardly
exists! Instrumental music and a variety of drums like the Dhol, Dhumba,
Nagara, Dhansa and Chadchadi provide the accompaniment. Combining
folk, tribal and martial traditions and yet covering the three aspects
of Nritta, Nritya and Natya as well as the Tandava and Lasya aspects of
classical dance, the Chhau dances are complex combinations of Folk and
Classical motifs.
Kathak
Prevalent
in the North as a classical dance form, Kathak has a long history. Nurtured
in the holy precincts of the Hindu temples, Kathak has over the centuries
attained refinement and enriched itself with various hues and embellishments.
Kathak means a story teller and it developed as a dance form in which a
solo dancer tells and interprets stories from mythology.
In
nritya, the expressional numbers called gats are danced by delicate glances
of the eye and by using the art of mime. Themes from life are taken like
enacting simple chores of carrying water from the well or walking gracefully,
covering a face with a veil and looking through it in a tantalising manner
at the lover.
Also,
to the lyrics, expressions are shown evoking the rasa or emotion in the
spectators, who, if the musical traditions are shared along with the songs,
enjoy it by expressing their appreciation with a round of applause.
The
themes of Krishna, Radha, Shiva, Parvati and mythological characters find
a prominent place in the Kathak dancer’s repertoire. Nowadays, experiments
are being carried out with group choreography exploring the dance form.
Both men and women perform Kathak which is also used to present dance dramas
of historical tales and contemporary events.
Kathakali
Kathakali
means a story play or a dance drama. Katha means story. Belonging to the
South-Western coastal state of Kerala, Kathakali is primarily a dance drama
form and is extremely colourful with billowing costumes, flowing scarves,
ornaments and crowns. The dancers use a specific type of symbolic makeup
to portray various roles which are character-types rather than individual
characters. Various qualities, human, godlike, demonic, etc., are all represented
through fantastic make-up and costumes.
The
world of Kathakali is peopled by noble heroes and demons locked in battle,
with truth winning over untruth, good over evil. The stories from the two
epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, as well as the Puranas constitute
the themes of the Kathakali dance dramas.
The
macro and micro movements of the face, the movements of the eyebrows, the
eyeballs, the cheeks, the nose and the chin are minutely worked out and
various emotions are registered in a flash by a Kathakali actor-dancer.
Often men play the female roles, though of late women have taken to Kathakali.
The
pure dance element in Kathakali is limited to kalasams, decorative dance
movements alternating with an expressional passage where the actor impersonates
a character, miming to the liberetto sung by the musician. A cylindrical
drum called chenda, a drum called maddalam held horizontally, cymbals and
a gong form the musical accompaniment, and two vocalists render the songs.
Using typical music known as Sopanam, Kathakali creates a world of its
own.
The
most striking feature of Kathakali is its overwhelming dramatic quality.
But its characters never speak. It is danced to the musical compositions,
involving dialogues, narration and continuity. It employs the lexicon of
a highly developed hand-gesture language which enhances the facial expressions
and unfolds the text of the drama.
Koodiyattam
Practised
and preserved by the Chakyar community in Kerala, Koodiyattam is the oldest
surviving link with ancient Sanskrit theatre. A precursor of Kathakali
drama, Koodiyattam has several conventions which reflect the aesthetic
conventions of the Natyashastra. The stylised mode of acting, the
same character playing different roles, the use of the spoken word akin
to chanting, stories within stories, flash backs, improvisations, eye expressions
(netrabhinaya), an extensive gesture vocabulary or 'hastas', body movements
(angika abhinaya) and facial expressions (mukhajabhinaya), the use of Sanskrit
by the main character and Malayalam by the court jester or vidushaka who
comments, satirizes and ridicules the protagonists... these are the salient
features of Koodiyattam.
Performances
are traditionally held in the Koothambalam which are special theatres attached
to temples. The Sanskrit play selected for the performance usually
takes over several days. Female dancers called Nangiars deliver the
invocatory songs and also participate. The use of the tirashila or
curtain, different colours for the face to depict characters and elaborate
ornaments are all similar to Kathakali. The mizhavu is a special
drum used as an accompaniment for Koodiyattam performances.
The
repertoire consists of Sanskrit dramas like Ascharyachudamani of Shaktibadra,
Subhadradhananjeyan of Kulasekara Varman, Abhisekha Nataka and Swapnavasavadatta
of Bhasa, Kalyana Saugandhikam of Mahendra Vikrama and Bhagavadajjukiyam
of Bodhayana which are the popular favourites. With disciplined and
dedicated performers like Ammanur Madhava Chakyar, Kocchukuttan Chakyar
and Kitangur Kuttappan Chakyar, this ancient classical form has a growing
legion of students and afficionados in India and elsewhere.
Krishnattam
It
is intended for presentation on eight successive nights to unfold the entire
story of Lord Krishna, the style is almost akin to Kathakali.
Kuchipudi
Kuchipudi,
like Kathakali is also a dance-drama tradition and derives its name from
the vilage of Kuchipudi in the Southern State of Andra Pradesh. In
recent years, it has evolved as a solo dance for the concert platform and
is performed by women, though like Kathakali it was formerly the preserve
of men. The female roles were enacted by men and even today, the
tradition boasts of gifted male dancers enacting female roles with such
consummate artistry that hardly anyone would notice them as male dancers.
The
movements in Kuchipudi are quicksilver and scintillating, rounded and fleet-footed.
Performed to classical Carnatic music, it shares many common elements with
Bharatanatyam. In its solo exxposition Kuchipudi nritta numbers include
jatiswaram and tillana whereas in nritya it has several lyrical compositions
reflecting the desire of a devotee to merge with God - symbolically the
union of the soul with the super soul.
The
songs are mimed with alluring expressions, swift looks and fleeting emotions
evoking the rasa. A special number in the Kuchipudi repertoire is called
tarangam, in which a dancer balances herself on the rim of a brass plate
and executes steps to the beat of a drum. At times she places a pot full
of water on her head and dances on the brass plate. The song accompanying
this number is from the well known Krishna Leela Tarangini, a text which
recounts the life and events of Lord Krishna.
In
expressional numbers a dancer sometimes chooses to enact the role of Satyabhama,
the proud and self-assured queen of Lord Krishna, from the dance-drama
Bhama Kalapam. She goes through various stages of love. When in separation
from Lord Krishna, she recalls the happy days of union and pines for him.
At last they are reunited when she sends him a letter. One more number
from the Kuchipudi repertoire that deserves mention is Krishna Shabdam,
in which a milkmaid invites Krishna for a rendezvous in myriads of ways
giving full scope for the dancer to display the charms of a woman.
Manipuri
Manipuri
dances originate from the North Eastern state of Manipur and derives its
name from its native state. Intensely devotional in mood, the Manipuri
dances are a part of the daily life of the Manipuri people. Essentially
presented as a group dance with gorgeous, colourful costumes and gentle,
swaying petal-soft movements, Manipuri dances create a hypnotic impact.
The dances are influenced by the religious movement of Vaishnavism, the
worship of Lord Vishnu, and have flowered in exquisite Rasalila performances,
the favourite dance in a circle by Krishna with his milkmaids. Various
types of Rasalilas are performed on special occasions and festivals.
Besides
Rasalilas, there are other dances called Natasankirtana, in which a group
of men play cymbals and dance in a circle or in two rows singing praises
of God. In Pung Cholom, the dancers play upon pung, the drum, and dance
while playing the intricate time cycles, executing somersaults and breathtaking
acrobatic feats. In group dances like Lai Haraoba, the merry-making for
the gods, the dancers perform various steps and weave patterns, involving
various choreographic compositions. From the corpus of Manipuri dances,
one sees on the contemporary stage solo, duet and group performances. The
music is typical of the region and is influenced by the kirtan school of
Bengal due to the influence of Vaishnavism.
Rasalila,
Lai Haraoba, Choloms, Pung Cholom, Natasankirtana, Khubak Ishai and other
Manipuri dances share both nritta and nritya aspects and are edited judiciously
for the concert platform to suit the urban audience. However, to enjoy
Manipuri, one should see the dances in their natural setting. Gossamer
veils, cylindrical mirrored skirts and ornaments dazzle the audiences with
their colourful costumes which create a dream-like effect.
Mohiniattam
Mohini
Attam as a dance form has developed in Kerala. Performed by women it has
graceful, gentle bobbing movements. Mohini means an enchantress and a dancer
with enchanting movements, dressed in a typical white saree with gold border,
hair gathered in a bun on one side and with golden jewellery epitomises
the image of a beautiful maiden. Apparently it resembles the Bharatanatyam
dance form but is quite distinct in its execution of movements, usage of
hand gestures and its stark, simple costume.
Mohini
Attam has enjoyed a revival in recent times and is the most popular dance
form among the young aspirants in Kerala. It has a format which follows
the Bharatanatyam form and the repertoire has common names. In nritta a
number called Cholukattu consists of pure dance movements at the end of
which is tagged a poem that is in praise of a deity and also narrates the
story of the Ramayana in a nutshell. The mnemonic syllables are sung instead
of being uttered by the musician. Another item of pure dance is Tillana
which follows the musical mode of Bharatanatyam with classical Carnatic
music. However, of late, kerala's Sopana music is being employed for Mohini
Attam and the repertoire has also been enlarged with the choreography maintaining
the typical movements of this graceful style.
In
nritya, the padams are mimed with facial expressions and hand gestures
and the themes are drawn from mythology. The nayika or heroine longs for
union with her beloved. A confidante goes and conveys the message to the
lover and the nayika describes the pangs of separation. A varnam follows
the structure of a Bharatanatyam varnam dwelling upon the narration, impersonation
and alternating with pure dance. Though the dance units in Mohini
Attam are limited, the quintessential grace and the measured movements
are its distinct features.
Odissi
Odissi
has been revived in the past fifty years and can be considered as the oldest
classical Indian dance on the basis of archival evidence. The form belongs
to the East Indian state of Orissa. Odissi has a close association with
the temples and its striking feature is its intimate relationship with
temple sculpture. Tribhanga, the three-body bend characterises this dance
form. It has a vast range of sculptural body movements which gives one
the illusion of the sculptures coming to life.
In
nritta the numbers consist of batu nritya, pallavi and mokhya. In batu
nritya the dancer strikes poses holding various instruments like veena,
flute, cymbals and drums and the choreography of this number reveals the
imagination of the choreographer-gurus. Pallavi means to elaborate, and
a dancer performs pure dance to a chosen time cycle and a musical raga
(melody). Various body postures similar to temple sculptures are woven
in this number. In mokhya, before the dance concludes, a dancer employs
various dance units creating arresting visuals. In nritya, the songs from
the celebrated Gita Govinda of poet Jayadeva written in the 12th century
A.D., are used by dancers for expressional numbers.
The
exquisite Sanskrit poetry and the sculptural movements to the typical Odissi
music almost cast a spell on the spectators. Songs of other Oriya poets
are also danced with subtle expressions, replete with emotions. In its
revival period Odissi has received enthusiastic support from the young
exponents and often one finds Bharatanatyam dancers also mastering the
Odissi technique and performing both the dance forms though while doing
so, they maintain the clearcut differences in the execution of the movements.
In recent years, group choreographic presentations and dance dramas are
also attempted in order to bring out the full glory and sculptural wealth
of Odissi which is truly a visually fascinating performance style.
Ottan Thullal
It
is performed solo & because of its ready mass appeal, it is also known
as the poor man's Kathakali. Kunjan Nambiar evolved it & brought out
the social conditions of his time, the distinctions of class & the
weakness & whims of the rich & the great. The dialogue is in simple
Malayalam & therefore ensures mass appeal.
Yaksha
Gana
This
belongs to Karnataka & has a rural origin. It is an admixture of dance
& drama. Its heart lies in Gana meaning music. It is about 400 years
old. The language is Kannada & the themes are based on Hindu Epics.
The costumes are almost akin to the Kathakali ones & the style seems
to have drawn inspiration from Kathakali. As prescribed in the Natya Sastra,
it has the Suthra Dhara (conductor) & the vidushaka (the Jester).
The
info about Bharatanatyam, Chhau, Kathak, Kathakali, Koodiyattam, Kuchipudi,
Manipuri, Mohinattam, Odissi have been provided from "Narthaki
- A web directory of Classical Indian Dances"
|