Tuesday, 20 November 2012

Indian Cultural Dances

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Indian Cultural Dances Biography
India is a land of diversities. Various climatic conditions have made India a diverse country. In all spheres of Indian life diversities are clearly visible. These diversities have made the Indian culture a unique one. Like all other aspects of life, the dance forms of India are also varied and different. There are many types of dance forms in India, from those which are deeply religious in content to those which are performed on small occasions.
The Indian dances are broadly divided into Classical dances and folk dances. The Classical dances of India are usually spiritual in content. Though the folk dances of India are also spiritual and religious in content but the main force behind the folk dances of India is the celebratory mood. Dances are a form of coherent expression of human feelings. Like the Indian culture, Indian classical dances are equally diverse in nature. There are numerous classical dance forms in India and innumerable folk dances. Each dance form 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 most popular classical dance styles of India are Bharatnatyam of Tamil Nadu, Kathakali and Mohiniattam of Kerala, Odissi of Orissa, Kathak of Uttar Pradesh, Kuchipudi of Andhra Pradesh and Manipuri of Manipur.
Indian Classical Dances
India has thousands of year old tradition of fine arts and classical and folk music and dances. Some of the world-famous dance forms that originated and evolved in India are Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniattam and Odissi. All these dance forms use basically the same 'mudras' or signs of hand as a common language of expression and were originally performed in the temples to entertain various Gods and Goddesses.
Indian Classical Dancers
Indian classical dance has a distinct character that reflects the great cultural and traditional endeavor. The forms of Indian dance have transcended beyond the fences and socio-cultural hindrances. Exponents of the Indian classical dance believe that it has the caliber of creating a new and disciplined lifestyle. The Indian Classical Dance is often regarded as the form of worship and meditation. The performers of Indian Classical Dance, despite of the background and forms, have played a crucial role in presenting India to the forefront of the World stage.
Indian Folk Dances
India is a land of varied cultures and traditions. Diversities in all spheres make the Indian culture quite unique. Indian folk and tribal dances are product of different socio-economic set up and traditions. Indian folk and tribal dances are simple and are performed to express joy. In India we have festivals and celebrations virtually every day. This has added to the richness of Indian culture. Since every festival is accompanied by celebration, folk dances have become an integral part of our social milieu.

India's contemporary classical dances trace their origin far back in Indian history. Dance like any other aspect of Indian culture and tradition has developed over thousands of years. It is a very influential art form, for sculptures and pieces of literature from the past all depict some form of dance. Classical Indian dances today trace their roots to a book called the Natyasastra which forms the basis of all the performing arts today.
The first concrete evidence of dance in India can be traced back to the period of the Indus Valley Civilization, , where beautiful bronze sculptures of a dancing girl have been found. Other sculptures found at the Indus Valley Civilization sites indicate that dance was a well developed art. Moving into the Vedic age, we once again find evidence of the continuing tradition of dance with the Vedas speaking eloquently on the art form. Dance was respected as a profession as well as a social activity. Even the Gods have been shown to appreciate dance, with Lord Krishna known as the Supreme Dancer. Essentially one can divide the history of dance in India into two periods, the first one from the 2nd Century BC to the 9th Century BC and the second from the 10th Century BC to the 18th Century BC. During the first period, Sanskrit was the premier language for arts and hence had an influence on dance as well. This resulted in the dances being more or less uniform throughout the country. This period followed the Natyasastra with very little deviation from the principles it set down, and hence during this period dance, drama and music were one. The second period is characterized by regional diversifications and experimentations with newer ideas. Regional languages which had come up played an important role in diversifying the dance traditions, as did the inclination to deviate from the principles of the Natyasastra . They however still followed the essential concepts of the Natyasastra . The classical dance forms of Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Orissi, Kathakali and Manipuri began developing during this period. Another notable literary work on dance that was written during this period is the Abhinaya Darpana .
Indian dance almost died out during the British rule, but a tradition of over five thousand years could not be wiped out that easily, and by the early part of the 20th Century a revival of the dances took place, and today there are many excellent artistes for each dance. The articles and images in our dance section will give you a brief idea of what each dance is, but to fully appreciate and understand them you would have to watch a dance recital. Indian dancers perform in many parts of the world so check the guides for upcoming events in your area. You may also be able to get videos of past performances. Our sections on each dance includes information about some of the prominent artists of that dance form, which would be a good starting point to begin your quest with.

Indian Cultural Dances
Indian Cultural Dances
Indian Cultural Dances
Indian Cultural Dances
Indian Cultural Dances
Indian Cultural Dances
Indian Cultural Dances
Indian Cultural Dances
Indian Cultural Dances
Indian Cultural Dances
Indian Cultural Dances
Indian Cultural Dances
Indian Cultural Dances
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