BHARATA NATYAM

Varnam:A varnam is the centre piece in the Bharatanatyam repertoire.A varnam is relatively long piece , ranging from 30 minutes to one hour. It is usually set to Ata or Aadi taala.Though the lyrics are simple , it usually has long syllables and swara phrases of various lenghts which bring out the essential features of the raaga.In Carnatic music there are two types of varnams. They are Taana varnam and Pada varnam.Taana varnams are usually sung as vocal exercises in a particular raaga , whereas Padavarnams are usually sung for Bharatanatyam .

BHARATA NATYAM

Shabdam:It is with "Shabdam" that a dancer first introduces "Abhinaya" in the repertoire.The abhinaya usually composed in simple sahithyam is separated by simple korvais.Generally a synopsis is given in the first line which is followed by a description in the following repetitions.After each stanza only very simple footsteps follow.The number of stanzas vary fron 2-4 or 5.The stories are usually about one deity or theme usually composed in ragamalika and misrachapu(thakita thakadhimi).The movements are leisurely and abhinaya is unfolded in a controlled manner.

BHARATA NATYAM

Jathiswaram :An item of traditonal Bharathanatyam repertoire, which is usually performed after Alarippu. As the name suggests it is a combination of one Jathi and a few Swarams....hence called JATHISWARAM.It is styled as a collection of five or six rhythmic sequences. The first one is performed to a Jathi ,while the other pieces are performed to Swara patterns. Each rhythmic sequence is separated by an interlude that consists of short steps finishing with elegant postures. There are quite a few Jathiswarams available , the ones in Vasantha raga and Kalyani raga being the most popular. Jathiswaram is devoid of any abhinaya .Even the mudras are used as ornamental .There is no specific meaning. But the music is enthralling.

SATTRIYA

Sattriya is a classical dance form of Assam which was included among the principal classical dances of India in the year 2000 by Sahitya Nataka Akademi.

Sattriya, or Sattriya Nritya, is one among eight principal classical Indian dance traditions. Whereas some of the other traditions have been revived in the recent past, Sattriya has remained a living tradition since its creation by the Assamese Vaishnav saint Srimanta Sankardeva, in 15th century Assam.[1]Sankardeva created Sattriya Nritya as an accompaniment to the Ankiya Naat (a form of Assamese one-act plays devised by him), which were usually performed in the sattras, as Assam's monasteries are called. As the tradition developed and grew within the sattras, the dance form came to be called Sattriya Nritya.[2] Today, although Sattriya Nritya has emerged from within the confines of the sattras to a much wider recognition, the sattras continue to use the dance form for ritualistic and other purposes for which it was originally created circa 500 years ago.

MOHINIYATTAM

The distinctive style of MOHINIYATTAM is the complete absence of heavy stamping and rhythmical tension . The stamping of the feet is a very substantial element in most of the other dance forms except MANIPURI.In Mohiniyattam the footwork is gentle , soft and sliding. The movements are never abrupt , they are dignified easy and natural , but the vertical line of the body is never disrupted.Graceful gentle bobbing movements are very special of MOHINIYATTAM. We can say that this dance form has some resemblence to Bharatanatyam , but it is quite distinct in its execution of movements , usage of hand gestures and its stark simple costume.

KATHAKALI

Kathakali is a harmonious combination of 5 forms of fine art. 1.Literature {Sahithyam} 2.Music {Sangeetham} 3.Painting {Chitram} 4.Acting {Natyam} 5.Dance {Nritham} The role of each of these artforms is very vital in the making of Kathakali , the king of performing arts , particularly theatre. As we have seen in almost all the prior mentioned dance forms it is LASYA { the graceful feminine expression } that is the predominant style , but in Kathakali it is THANDAVA {masculine expression of vigour } that is the predominant style.Hence the movements are often explosive .Delicate movements are rare.Kathakali follows the language of Mudras as described in HASTHALAKSHANADEEPIKA.

MODERN JAZZ

Any modern dance takes styles from various forms of other dances. It is very difficult to categorise them strictly , based on certain techniques like Indian classical dances.In the 18th century Jazz dance was often referred to as Tap dance , because tap dancing set to Jazz music was one of the predominant dances of the era.The dance styles originated from the African American vernacular dance. In the 1950's a new genre of Jazz dance - modern Jazz dance emerged with roots in Caribbean traditional dance ,which has a very smooth style. Tap dance branched off to follow its own separate evolutionary path.