bharata natyam is a style of solo dance.docx

7/30/2019 Bharata Natyam is a style of solo dance.docx

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a style of solo dance (one person dancing) that comes

from southern India. It is one of the most important and probably one of the oldest of theclassical styles and is an amalgam of many aspect of art. Although closely linked withlocal traditional dance-drama, it was used mainly in Hindu religious ceremonies.

Bharata Natyam has two connotations - first where Bharata is considered to be thename of a sage scholar, Bharata to whom is attributed the first comprehensive treatiseon theatre, music and dance namely the Bharata natye shashtra. The secondconnotation breaks up the word Bharata into three syllables. Bha for Bhava (emotions)and Ra for Raga (music) and Ta for Tala (rhythm). The term Natyam refers to theatre.Today the word BharataNatyam connotes a classical dance system belonging to thesouthern states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. During the 17th ,18th and 19th century, itwas also known as Sadir and Dasi attam.

The first item in the traditional and classical BharataNatyamrecital must start by saluting and impressing the lord of dance, an item called Alarippu.The movement of the eyebrows, eyes, neck, shoulders, arms and the feet are executedin the rhythmic succession and at the end the whole body dances in harmony makingthe recital divided according to these forms.

The movements of this dance style are developed from a basic pose, in which thethighs are turned outward, the knees are flexed, and the feet are close together and arealso turned outward. The feet beat out complex rhythms. Performances may last forabout two hours and follow a set list of procedures. Bharatanatyam can be completelydetached and abstract pictorial description or it may interpret song, moods and meaning. Then there is a legend of Nritta (pure rhythmic movement) and Nritya meaning of theabstract and emotional. The Nritta or the abstract part of the Bharatanatyam is built upby interweaving different basic movements of legs and


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is the major dance style of northern India and combines local folk

elements with dance forms that developed in the courts of the Mughal emperors andlater Indian princes. During the 15th and 16th centuries, Kathak assumed a distinctdance form. This was due to the popularization of the Radha Krishna legend and

consequent emergence of an operatic play known as 'Rasa Lila' which in turn wasinspired by the song of big poets like Surdas, Nandadas and Krishnadas with the adventof the muslim rule.

The folk and temple traditions from which the Kathak style hasdeveloped consist mostly of Hindu dance-dramas. Kathak owesmuch of its present form to developments made in the 1800's atthe court of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, the ruler of Lucknow.

Dancers perform Kathak keeping their bodies straight. Cleverfootwork, including highly rhythmical walks, glides, and fast

pirouettes (spinning on one foot), gives the style its vital, dazzling,skilful character. Delicate movements of the eyes, eyebrows, neck, and shoulders arealso used in some dances. Both men and women perform Kathak dances. Many dancesexpress love or devotion to Krishna.

, from the state of Kerala in southwestern India, is a true dance-drama.

The Kathakali dancers act out the parts of different characters in a play. They dress upin outsize costumes to give themselves a larger-than-life appearance. They also wear

masklike face make-up, in colors that have a strong,symbolic meaning. Kathakali performances are often heldoutdoors and sometimes go on all night. They areaccompanied by a person who sings or speaks the poetry,while the dancers convey the meaning of each line withmovements and gestures, including finger pointing, sweepingbody movements, and wide, circling arm movements. Informer times, male dancers took all the parts in a Kathakali

play. But women now also perform in them.


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is a dance form from the state of Orissa, in eastern

India. Sculptures found in Orissa, dating from the 100's B.C.,show dancers in distinctive poses characteristic of the Orissistyle. The style developed from musical plays and was common

in temples and village entertainments. Orissi dances were firstperformed by women. Later, men dressed as women performedthem around temples.

Now the Orissi style is a solo dance form, usually performed by awoman. It has many of the same patterns and poses as BharataNatyam. But it makes greater use of curves in its bodymovements and postures. Jumps add vitality to the Orissi style.

Just as food without salt is inedible, so is Orissi dance inconceivable without renderingfrom Jaydeva's Geeta Govinda. From the days of Devadasis or Sevadasis offering their

souls through the art of dancing and music in the great temple of Lord Jagannath atPuri. Geeta Govinda has formed the very basis upon which the superstructure ofOrissan dance rests.

Geeta Govinda is said to have originated in the first decade ofthe 12th century. The theme is singing the praises of LordKrishna and Shri Radhika through hymns or verses Known asLeela kirtana about the first half of the 12th century. A newform came to be worshipped in Orissa , that of the Jugal Rupaof Jagannath and Nirmala Devi who represent Shri Krishna andRadha or the Shakti and the Shaktimaan.

The small, beautiful state of Manipur lies betweenthe Assam hills and the Indo - Burma border. Danceand music is a way of life for the Manipuris. Legendhas it that while searching for a suitable place tohold his rasa (union) with Parvati, Lord Shiva cameacross this place which was verdant, lush, secludedand girdled by hills but which happened to be fullwith water. Since the place was very attractive,Shiva thrust his trident right through it and all thewater sieved through.

Manipuri depicts a highly intricate and creative dance form. The dancer's feet faceforward and knees are slightly bent. The dancer moves his or her chest and waist inopposite directions, making a figure-of-eight shape with the body. The dancer's arms


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make graceful, curved movements. His or her fingers trace out delicate circles andcurves in the air. The Manipuri style includes several types of repertoire (range ofdances). Five types, consisting of dancing by whole troupes, as well as dance solos andduets, deal with a story about Krishna. Another body of dances, the Sankirtanas,involves male dancers performing jumps to the sound of drums, cymbals, and clapping.

bharata natyam is a style of solo dance.docx

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