ESSENCE OF INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCE

I am a girl who loves to dance. It is an expression of my emotion that reflects the lyrics with rhythm. Movies are a source for youth to understand the connection between music and dance. Extra modern youth prefer to go to disc and old age ladies prefer to dance in temple's bhajan evening. We enjoy dancing many parties and many parties. Internationally, jazz, hip-hop, tango, salsa, zumba, and much more became more attractive to us. We think these are trendy, but we don't know their history. According to research, we concluded that Uday Shankar, Chandralekha, Mallika Sarabhai, Mithun Chakraborty, Prabhudeva, Madhuri Dixit, Hrithik Roshan, Allu Arjun, Terence Lewis, Shakti Mohan are top ten dancers from Bollywood who inspired us from their gestures regarding dance. We are all connected with Bollywood.

As an Indian, I want to highlight our roots in Indian Classical Dance. Few of us know, and many don't try to be aware. These are something which is beyond our thoughts. Without the essence of history, how do we understand the Classical dance story?

So come with me to dip into the vibration of Indian feet sensations with rhythm. What is the connection of our soul to dance that we can't stop ourselves beyond our social hesitations?

Our body language, combined with our facial expressions, continues with the rhythm created by blood circulation and feeling body sensations. It's a definition of dance I tried to derive from my own experience of dance.

WHAT IS CLASSICAL DANCE?

Classical is just not a word. It's our history, roots, nurture, tradition, and essence from the past, which is ethical and ethnic as well. So classical dance has origins in the past and flourishing its identity like a shadow of us. It movements of the body, with a rhythm that has deep roots inside itself.

Indian Classical dance started about 200 BCE as a celebrated and joyful activity. I t based on telling stories about myths, God, and deities. All styles are vibrant, expressive, and spiritual. Those dancers are merely professionals who devote their time to practicing a lot. Basically, in detail, it's written by Bharat Muni in Natya Shastra. Dance performed over theatrical story-based lyrics based on mostly mythological impressions. It connected with Sanskrit ancient or medieval dance drama as shastriya or abhinaya. It is an expressive drama with dance, and this performance art is related to Shiv, Vishnu, and Shakti. Hindu epic and Vedic literature or folk are regional entertainment in the form of dance drama. They used to perform on temple grounds or rolay courts. However, Kathak has a Muslim element and is performed in mosques and Muslim courtyards as well. Manipuri and chhau are dance forms based on martial arts forms.

There are different forms of classical dances from 6 to 12 or more.

HISTORY

India is rich in culture and traditional legacy. Dance has its uniqueness from prehistoric times. Indian dance has two types: classical and, other is folk. These arise due to different locations in India. Folk dances are in rural and villages. It reflects the cultural and traditional values of those places. Indian folk and tribal dances are on events such as changing seasons, childbirth, marriages, and festivals. There was no creator's identity as owned by a group of people and regions.

Paintings made in caves more than 10,000 years ago suggest that even the earliest people danced. The first written records of dance date back some 4,000 years to the ancient Egyptians. Dance was a crucial element in festivals for their gods. The ancient Egyptians also brought skilled dancers from central Africa to Egypt to provide entertainment.

In India, the earliest book, Natya Shastra, discusses dance that is above 1,500 years old. Bharatanatyam is a classical dance form based on this book.

OUTFITS

Dance has its outfit with rhythm, and some costumes are incredibly colorful, with many gems and intricate designs. Indian country has unity in diversity and has various traditions and cultures bound in it. So, a variety of costumes in Indian Classical Dances according to region or state varies. In classical dances, females wear traditional clothes like sarees, lenghas, and kurtas. The costume for women usually consists of a long, colorful, handmade gown worn without shoes, with an intricately embroidered pattern and beading on it. Using ornate jewelry, such as necklaces, rings, earrings, nose-rings, bracelets, and anklets, sometimes with bells attached ring when each time the dancer stomps their foot in rhythm. Sometimes, costumes also include a headpiece or some form of scarf, depending on the style. To dip into the characters they play, dancers apply amounts of makeup on their faces that attract the audience's attention as well. Classical dance is a regional practice and spiritual tradition. The outfits that I observed are a way that the audience can understand each step easily, and dancing captures cosmic energy and reflects spiritual vibrations through which the audience feels every bit of the dancer's emotions.

ELEMENTS OF DANCE

When we talk about dance performance, it's not only just performed. Indian classical dance has its elements to perform. These elements focused on the rhythm of music. A complete dance formation consists of Laya (Rhythm/ Tempo), Taal (Beats), Emotion (Bhaav), Acting (Abhinaya), Body movements, Costume, Space, and Timing.

Laya is the tempo of the rhythm, which means a difference in timing between the two components.

There are many Taal like Teentaal, ektaal, chautaal, rupak etc. Taal is the way to measure the timing of the music.

Bhaav/expression is one of the essential elements to bring the emotions to the dancer and express towards the audience from their expressions.
Abhinaya/acting is the expression that brings emotion to the face and in body language through dance. It's the most crucial element that the audience feels connects with the aura of a dancer.
Body movement is to move the body parts like eyes, neck, chest, eyebrows, waist, hands, and legs in such a way that it affects the audience's mind.
The costume is the first impression and eye-catcher of the audience. Color, texture, pattern, and design must be related to the act. It should be light waited.
Space is the ground of the stage to the dancer. The stage used while dancing impacts the audience's mind with complete visuals.
Timing is really in terms of the relation of dance with music and beat.

STYLES OF INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCE

Every culture, region, location, tradition, and state has its unique aura. That essence is visible through their different and incredible dances.

You can watch it, feel it. It delivers its rooted depth of beauty. Many years back, there were only 29 states of India. So, at least 29 names for the different forms of Indian dances, classical or folk. They are like

Andhra Pradesh - Kuchipudi
Uttar Pradesh - Kathak
Assam - Sattriya
Rajasthan - Ghoomar
Assam - Bihu
Jammu and Kashmir - Rouf
Bihar - Bidesia
Gujarat - Garba
Kerala - Kathakali
Arunachal Pradesh - Bardo Chham
Manipur- Manipuri dance (Jagoi)
Nagaland - Chang- Lo
Chhattisgarh - Karma Naach
Goa - Dekhni
Haryana - Saang
Meghalaya - Laho
Himachal Pradesh - Nati
Jharkhand - Paika
Karnataka - Dollu Kunitha
Mizoram - Cheraw
Madhya Pradesh - Maanch
Maharashtra - Lavani
Odisha - Odissi
Uttarakhand - Choliya Dance
Telangana - Dandari
Punjab - Bhangra
Sikkim - Singhi Chaam
Tamil Nadu - Bharatanatyam
Tripura - Hojagiri
West Bengal - Chhau

And more folk and trible dances we can go through, but I am not going too deep into it.

Broadly, nine Indian classical dances are. These nine are special and unique in themselves.

Odissi – Classical Dance (Orissa)

Odissi dance was performed as part of temple service by maharis or female temple servants. Old tradition transformed into a theatre art. Odissi dance has spread quickly across the country because it's in medieval scriptures and literature. The movements are soft and graceful. The dancer dances by a singer and a drummer who plays the Pakhawaj, flute, and Sitar. It is related to the ritual dance in northern temples in ancient India.

Kathak – Storytelling Classical Dance (Uttar Pradesh)

Kathak is in northern India and has rehearsed in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Madhya Pradesh. Its narrative dances on scriptures, the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, and Puranic literature. Kathak is characterized stylistically by its footwork. Its traditional music consists of the Thumri and other lyrical song forms, and the essential musical instruments are the Tabla, Pakhawaj, and Sarangi. Thumri expresses various shades of romantic love. The different styles of Singing Thumri are Punjabi, Purabi (of Lucknow), and Benaras styles. The three main sections of the dance are an invocation, Nritta, and Nritya. There are Jaipur gharana, Benaras gharana, and Lucknow gharana.

Bharatanatyam – The Oldest Classical Dance (Tamil Nadu)

Bharatnatyam dancers are devoted to temples known as Sadir or Dasi Attam. It has a rich repertoire of songs in Telugu, Tamil and Sanskrit. It is as shringara (romantic love) and Bhakti (devotion). Its music is related to the Carnatic system of southern India. It includes one vocalist, a Mridangam (drum)-player, a flutist or violinist, or a Veena (lute)-player to dance. Its origin is in the Hindu temples of Tamil Nadu.

Kathakali-Classical Dance-Drama (Kerala)

Kathakali is a story play. Prine of Karnataka, who wrote plays for performances drawn from the epic Ramayana in Malayalam. The makeup and costume build them up as symbolic personalities. The faces of the actors painted to their characters are impactful. The Green color is for heroes, kings, and divinities, red and black for the evil and fierce. The costume is a large, billowing skirt for males and elaborate headdresses. The libretto has two singers singing on the stage and a pair of drummers playing. Facial expressions and hand gestures are unique. Kathakali starts in the evening. There are seven fundamental makeup codes to depict different ragas (emotions), which is the main essence of this dance form.

Kuchipudi – Classical Dance Drama (Andhra Pradesh)

It grew as a product of the Bhakti movement beginning in the 7th Century AD. It consists of speech and act. The Kuchipudi dancer is a multiple person on the stage. Nowadays, it is performed either as a solo, duet, or a group. Kuchipudi involves remarkable footwork, impressive eye movements, thespian characterization, and energetic narrative. The execution on a brass plate and moving the plate along with music.

Manipuri – Classical Dance (Manipur)

Dance Nurtured In The Mountainous Region Of The Northeast. The theme of Manipuri dance is devotion and the rich lore of Radha and Krishna. Manipuri dance is introverted and restrained. The movements are circular and continuous. Jagoi means sophisticated, and cholom means fierceness are the two main divisions. In this dance, the legs and the knees are held close together with bent legs. That helps the feet land softly on the ground and lends a floating swing to the movements. The footwork is never audible. The Pung, a drum, and flute are the principal instruments used in Manipuri dance. Its emphasis is on upper body movements.

Mohiniattam/Mohiniyattam – Classical Dance Of The Women (Kerala)

Its name is from the mythic enchantress Mohini ( the beauty when Vishnu and Shiv combine.). It's a Dance of feminine grace. Mohiniattam has no heavy steps or rhythmic tension. The footwork is gentle, soft, and sliding. The dancer's body rises and falls with grace. Musical instruments are the Mridangam, the Veena, the flute, and the Kuzhitalam, or Cymbals. Forty different basic movements are called Adavukal.

Sattriya – Classical Dance (Assam)

It is a dance drama developed in the sattras or monasteries of Assam. When Vaishnav and saints quarrel over the faith of Vishnu and Shiv, this dance emerges centered on devotion to Krishna. Ramdani, Chali, Mela Nach, and Jhumura offer scope for Nritta, while abhinaya is researched, as Geetar Nach. With a brief musical interlude on drums, the Gayan Bayan, and a group of musicians. Dance is rich and varied in its rhythmic, melodic, and lyrical aspects. It comes through the Gurukul system.

Gaudiya Nritya – Classical Dance (Bengal)

That is one of the oldest forms of classical Indian dance. Mahua Mukherjee reconstructed this dance form and worked for its revival. This dance has a lot of circular movements. There is a balanced mix of rigid and flexible elements. It revived after almost becoming extinct in the 20th century.

Conclusion

Do you know our top five classical dancers?

Well, here they are Birju Maharaj (Kathak), Thankamani Kutty (Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam), Dr. Aruna Mohanty (Odissi), Elam Endira Devi (Manipuri), Raja and Radha Reddy (Kuchipudi).

Uday Shankar is the father of Indian modern dance. Rukmini Devi Arundale was the first Indian Classical woman nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha. We all know the Indian cinema sensation Hema Malini, the famous classical dancer.

But what is dance for you? Just keep on thinking. In some steps, you can move your body in a rhythmic movement. So enjoy your dancing, but enrich your knowledge with our roots, culture, and tradition. Not just empower your mindset from Western influences as dance has its depth too.

I know most of the minds don't like women to dance. In our Society, those mindsets are like dirty mud from which the body explores its rhythmic essence of bloom with the vibration of the body.

For me, dance is very Devine. It consists of your body sensations which you can't able to feel in any other work. It's a spontaneous activity, and every time repeat after repeat, your body feels something else. When you dance, you enter another world with no worries, and at that time, you only matter. Dance is the simple way to feel God. Feel of Lord Shiva's Natraj and Tandav, the supreme power of dance. How can we forget about Krishna's Ras Leela, the ultimate dance of romance? I always get attracted to Lord Krishna's kalia naga dance, to dance on the heads of snakes. The dance of Apsara is the rhythmic power of Indra Lok. Whenever Vishnu transforms into Mohini, Vishnu can't able to control their dance. If God is dancing so, I think dance is the only source of healing.

. . .

REFERENCES:

Discus