BHARATA NATYAM

This art form belongs to Tamil Nadu. This was originally known as "Dasiattam" and was performed by Devadasies in temples to appease the gods and goddesses.Lot of evolution has occured over the years and the present form is depicted by its rhythmic vigorous footwork, crisp movements and sculpturesque poses .

MOHINIYATTAM

This art form also has its origin in kerala..the land of Kera's..ie coconut trees. The serenity of this dance form is well depicted

in the costume. The enchanting sway of "Mohini" is a soothing balm to the eyes and mind. Sringara and Bhakti are the main emotions of this dance form.

KATHAKALI

KATHAKALI ...

AN AWE INSPIRING DANCE DEPICTED IN THE DRAMATIC FORM WHICH USUALLY TELLS A STORY FROM THE MYTHOLOGY..MAINLY MAHABHARATA. THE VALOUR AND VIGOUR OF THE PROTAGONIST IS WELL UNDERSTOOD FROM THE COSTUME.

MAIN INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCES

1)KATHAKALI AND MOHINIYATTAM- KERALA
2)BHARATA NATYAM -TAMIL NADU
3)KUCHIPUDI -ANDHARA PRADESH
4)ODISSI -ORISSA
5)KATHAK -UTTAR PRADESH
6)MANIPURI -MANIPUR

MESMERISING WORLD OF INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCES

INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCES COME UNDER THE ORIENTAL DANCES AS IT IS MAINLY BASED ON MYTHOLOGY AND RELIGION.THESE ANCIENT DANCE FORMS ORIGINATED TO PLEASE THE GODS AND WERE MAINLY DONE IN THE TEMPLES. SO THEY WERE KNOWN AS TEMPLE DANCES.THESE DANCE FORMS USE "MUDRAS" -HAND GESTURES THAT HAVE RECOGNIZED MEANINGS COMBINED WITH RHYTHMIC MOVEMENT OF THE BODY UNIQUE TO EACH STYLE.THE FACIAL EXPRESSIONS KNOWN AS "NAVARASAS" ALSO PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN THE DANCE FORMS.

TYPES OF DANCING.......CONTINUED

5)ORIENTAL DANCING-THESE DANCE TRADITIONS ARE THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD,MAINLY BASED UPON A HISTORICAL EVENT, A MYTH OR A LEGEND. THESE ARE POPULAR IN ASIAN COUNTRIES.
6)AFRICAN DANCING-FOR AFRICANS DANCING IS A WAY OF LIFE. ANY IMPORTANT OCCASION IS FOLLOWED BY A CEREMONIAL DANCE USUALLY DONE IN GROUPS, ACCOMPANIED WITH DRUM BEATS.

TYPES OF DANCING

DANCES COME IN VARIOUS HUES AND COLOURS,EACH HAVING ITS OWN IDENTITY AND SCINTILLATING BEAUTY.YET WE CAN LIBERALLY CLASSIFY THEM INTO FOUR OF THE PROMINENT KINDS IN THE WESTERN WORLD AND ONE EACH OF ASIAN AND AFRICAN ORIGIN.THE SIX BROAD CATEGORIES ARE....
1)CLASSICAL FORM- BALLET-IN THE FORM OF A DRAMA USUALLY TELLS A STORY.
2)MODERN DANCING-THERE ARE MORE THAN TEN TYPES UNDER THIS.EX:-JAZZ,HIP HOP,TAP DANCE ETC.
3)FOLK DANCING-IT IS THE TRADITIONAL FORM OF SOCIAL DANCING OF A PARTICULAR NATION OR ETHNIC GROUP.
4)POPULAR DANCING-KIND OF DANCING PEOPLE DO FOR FUN.USUALLY DONE IN DISCOTHEQUES OR DISCOS TO LIVE BANDS OR RECORDED MUSIC.

KINDS OF DANCING

THERE ARE TWO MAJOR KINDS OF DANCING- THEATRICAL AND SOCIAL.
THE FORMER IS MAINLY FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT OF SPECTATORS.
THE LATTER IS DONE FOR THE PLEASURE OF THE DANCER RATHER THAN THE ENTERTAINMENT OF AN AUDIENCE.
IF WE LOOK AT IT FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE WE REALISE ANY ARTFORM EXPRESSED WHOLEHEARTEDLY RENDERS A LOT OF SELF SATISFACTION.

ORIGIN OF DANCING

SOCIAL SCIENTISTS BELIEVE THAT DURING PREHISTORIC DAYS DANCING MAY HAVE PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART IN HUNTING AND MANY OTHER ACTIVITIES.AFTER KILLING A PREY THE HUNTERS WOULD HAVE SWAYED IN A RHYTHMIC WAY OUT OF JOY WITH A NOTE AT THE TIP OF THEIR TONGUE.FURTHER JOINING THE BIGGER GROUP BACK HOME THE CEREMONIES WOULD HAVE GEARED UP THE CELEBRATIONS.
AS WE DELVE DEEP INTO THE SMITHEREENS OF VARIOUS CULTURES SCATTERED ALL OVER THE WORLD THE KINDS OF DANCES A PEOPLE DO-AND HOW AND WHY THEY DOTHEM- CAN REVEAL MUCH ABOUT THEIR WAY OF LIFE.

WHAT IS DANCING?

WHAT IS DANCING? IT IS AN ACT OF MOVING THE BODY IN RHYTHM,USUALLY IN TIME TO MUSIC.PEOPLE HAVE AN URGE TO EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS ALSO THROUGH THESE MOVEMENTS.DANCING IS BOTH AN ARTAND A FORM OF RECREATION.AS AN ART,A DANCE CAN TELL YOU A STORY,SET A MOOD OR EXPRESS AN EMOTION. EMOTION PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE IN THE VARIOUS DANCE FORMS.AS A FORM OF RECREATION,DANCING HAS LONG PROVIDED FUN, RELAXATION AND COMPANIONSHIP. THE IMPORTANCE GIVEN TO CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOLSIS MAINLY TO ENHANCE GROUP ACTIVITY.AN ART FORM REACHES ITS PINNACLE OF GLORY ONLY IF IT IS PLANNED WELL,CHISELLED AND POLISHED BY THE RIGHT SET OF PEOPLE. FOR THIS CO-OPERATION OF A GROUP IS INDISPENSABLE.

DANCE

THE WORLD IS DANCING ..ITS NOT STILL A SINGLE SECOND.....SO ARE WE......SO ITS A RHYTHMIC MOVEMENT...A SWAY ..ABOUT WHICH WE ARE NOT AWARE AT ALL.....MOTHER EARTH EXPECTS US TO SWAY TO HER BEAUTIFUL MUSIC...ie..MUSIC OF NATURE.THE CHIRPING OF BIRDS,TINKLING SOUND OF THE WATERFALL,THE BEAUTIFUL WIND WHICH BLOWS WITH A MAGIC GIVING US A FEEL OF ECSTASY....WHY DON'T WE TAKE TIME TO LOOK AROUND WITH AN OPEN EYE AT ALL THESE AND CHERISH THE VERY BEING OF EXISTENCE???? LIFE IS A BEAUTIFUL DANCE....LET US DELVE DEEP INTO THIS BEAUTIFUL WORLD......THE WORLD OF A DANCER.....I WELCOME ALL TO HAVE A PEEP INTO THIS HARMONIOUS WORLD.....