All about Dance... ANISHA GOEL

I have learnt Indian Classical dance – Bharatanatyam under my esteemed teachers Smt. Rekha Hegde and Smt. Roopa Hegde in the dance academy Shantala Natyalaya, Belgaum; for ten years and extensively practiced western dance – Jazz on my own. I know a little bit of Salsa and Cha cha cha although I haven’t taken professional training.

Dance, I believe is a way of expressing joy and ecstasy in one of the most marvelous forms. I am very passionate about dance and believe that anyone who has a heartbeat, a rhythm, can dance. All that you have to do is leave your inhibitions behind and swing to the music!

So c’mon, take the plunge and enrich yourself with knowledge of this fascinating art form.

>> Beginning of Dance

Using the body as a medium of communication, the expression of dance is perhaps the most intricate and developed, yet easily understood art form. Dance in India has seeped into several other realms like poetry, sculpture, architecture, literature, music and theatre. The earliest archaeological evidence is a beautiful statuette of a dancing girl, dated around 6000 B.C. Bharata's Natya Shastra (believed to be penned between second century B.C. and second century A.D.) is the earliest available treatise on dramaturgy. All forms of Indian classical dances owe allegiance to Natya Shastra, regarded as the fifth Veda (Sacred book of knowledge created by Lord Brahma).

The Natya Shastra contains deliberations on the different kind of postures, the mudras or hand formations and their meanings, the kind of emotions and their categorisation, not to mention the kind of attire, the stage, the ornaments and even the audience. All dance forms are thus structured around the nine rasas or emotions, called Navarasa

· hasya (happiness),

· krodha (anger),

· bhibasta (disgust),

· bhaya (fear),

· shoka (sorrow),

· viram (courage),

· karuna (compassion),

· adbhuta (wonder) and

· shanta (serenity).

All dance forms follow the same hand gestures or hasta mudras for each of these rasas. The dances differ where the local genius has adapted it to local demands and needs.

It is said that Brahma, the Creator, when asked by Indra and other devas to create an object of diversion, created Natya veda, taking patya or recitation from the Rig Veda, sangeeta or song from the Sama Veda, abhinaya or expression from the Yajur Veda and rasa or aesthetic experience from the Atharvana Veda. When the Gods expressed their inability to practice it, Brahma gave it to his son – Bharata Muni who codified it and wrote Natya Shastra. Bharata taught natya to his 100 sons, the apsaras or celestial damsels and gandharvas or male nature spirits/ husbands of apsaras.

This dance art was exhibited to Lord Shiva Nataraja. Reminiscing his cosmic dance, the lord found an element in the dance missing and introduced the vigorous form of dance through his attendant Tandu. Hence the name ‘Tandava’ came to this dance form. Lord Shiva’s consort Goddess Parvati added ‘Lasya’ or graceful dance. In due course of time this divine art descended to the earth. During vedic times ancient sages danced in ecstasy while performing Yajnas or sacrifices. Dance was one of the forms of worship. As indicated by sculptures and paintings, it was a part of the rituals during temple festivals.

>> History in India

Dance developed as a classical art, a medium between external world and internal teachings. The kings, queens and princesses of ancient India were connoisseurs of dance. Rani Roopwati of Sri Lanka and queen Shantala of Hoysala dynasty as great dancers gave prestige to this art. Kings played flute or veena as accompanists to the dancers in their family. For example, king Rudraja played the flute while his queen Chandravati danced. Dance spread all over India under the patronage of kings as it was a medium to develop Bhakti or devotion, Nyaya or justice, Satya or truth, Ghanate or dignity and Soundarya or beauty.

Dance in ancient India was known as . However in northern India people called Kathakaras or story tellers performed a variant which became a sophisticated chamber art with the advent of Mughal culture. As time passed by encouragement to dance declined. Dancers started entertaining rich merchants, landlords, etc. as a result dance fell to degradation and was considered disreputable. However it was preserved as a divine respected art in some families who practiced and performed dance regularly. In 1930’s the British government tabooed the performance of dance in temples as it had lost its sanctity and was considered vulgar and cheap. It took quite a few years for some persistent art lovers to remove the stigma on dance with their unshaken courage and restore its eminent position in the art world. Finally after India’s independence dance underwent a renaissance. Classical dance forms became renowned all over the world as our great heritage having excellence and pristine beauty.

>> Elements of Indian Dance

Indian dance is a blend of

· Nritta - the rhythmic elements,

· Nritya - the combination of rhythm with expression and

· Natya - the dramatic element.

Nritta is the rhythmic movement of the body in dance, pure dance. It does not express any emotion. Nritya is usually expressed through the eyes, hands and facial movements. Nritya combined with nritta makes up the usual dance programmes. Nritya comprises abhinaya, depicting rasa (sentiment) and bhava (mood). Abhinaya has been analysed in the Natya Shastra and has been categorised into four types:

· Angika - or physical, using movements of every part of the body to convey meaning, with hasta mudras (hand gestures), mandis (postures) and even the walk of the dancer.
· Vachikabhinaya - or vocal/verbal, used formally today by members of the orchestra or supporting, non-dancing cast.
· Aharyabhinaya - or external, expression, mood and background as conveyed by costume, make-up, accessories and sets.
· Satvikabhinaya - or psychological, shown by the eyes in particular and as a whole by the entire being of the performer, who feels the mood, the character and the emotion as emanating from the self, not as an act or practical presentation.

To appreciate natya or dance drama, one has to understand and appreciate Indian legends. Most Indian dances take their themes from India’s rich mythology and folk legends. Hindu gods and goddesses like Vishnu and Lakshmi, Rama and Sita, Krishna and Radha are all depicted in classical Indian dances. Each dance form also draws inspiration from stories depicting the life, ethics and beliefs of the Indian people.

>> Classical Dance Forms of India

The genesis of the contemporary styles of classical dances can be traced to the period between 1300-1400 A.D. India offers a number of classical dance forms, each of which can be traced to different parts of the country. Each form represents the culture and ethos of a particular region or a group of people. The prominent dance forms of India are

Bharatnatyam - Tamil Nadu

Kathak - Uttar Pradesh

Kathakali - Kerala

Manipuri - Manipur

Kuchipudi - Andhra Pradesh

Mohiniyattam - Kerala

Odissi - Orissa

Besides these, there are several semi-classical dances that contribute to the plethora of Indian dances. Briefly get introduced to the various folk dances of India too.

In India, dance and music pervade all aspects of life and bring colour, joy and gaiety to a number of festivals and ceremonies. In fact, dance and music are tied inextricably to festivity of any kind.