Classical

In my previous post, I mentioned some Indian Classical styles, such as Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi, etc. I thought I would explain them today.

In India, they used to and still do, dance as a sign of worship and expression of emotions to their Hindu Gods. The Devadasis dancers were temple dancers who learned routines and performed sacred dances in front of their fellow villagers to please specific Gods. These dance routines involved signs of praise and gratitude to Hindu Gods. The Indians believed that their Gods would keep their families happy and help them have a good harvest for their crops. Sometimes these dances were performed in front of cows, which are sacred in Hinduism. Today these dances have been modernised and are performed as a form of entertainment.  Some of these styles are considered to be representations of the physical elements of life; Bharatnatyam (fire), Odissi (water), Kuchpudi (earth), Mohiniyattam (air) and Kathakali (sky).
These styles originate from all over India, but are now performed by artists from all over the globe.

Image from: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VUggHmzofS8/T__5qw_A9lI/AAAAAAAAAws/bfBm8YvN3Ak/s640/Untitled-1.jpg

As you can see from the image above, each classical style is individual, representing the culture of that part of the nation.

Bharatnatyam is a dance form from a state in southern India, called Tamilnadu. At first in the 19th century, it was practised and performed in temples, as a prayer. Bharatnatyam is known for its purity, grace, tenderness and sculpturesque poses.

Kathak is a style from a north Indian state, called Uttar Pradesh. Kathak teachers often say 'Katha kahe soh kathak' to their students, which means, to do kathak is to tell a story; therefore we know that it is a form of storytelling. The 'ghungroo' (bells worn around ankles) are worn individually instead of on a belt, separating the style from others. Kathak has certain features of Persian dance, form the 16th century.

Kathakali is a style from a state called Kerala, in south India, begining in the 17th century. You may think it is similar to kathak, because the words are so similar, but they are totally different. By looking at the image above, you might be able to tell that this style is more theatrical and dramatic as the dancers reenact the life and activities of Lord Krishna (a Hindu God). 

Mohiniyattam is also from Kerala, believed to have originated in the 16th century. It is considered to be very graceful and performed solo by women. The word literally means 'dance of the enchantress', involving the swaying of hips and gentle movements of a straight posture.

Kuchpudi is a form from Andra Pradesh, also in the south. The name is derived from the name of a village and the surname of the original practitioners of this dance form. The dance is fortified with alluring and swift looks. Kuchipudi shares many elements with bharatnatyam.

Manipuri is from east India, 17th century Manipur. This state is located within mountains and is quite isolated, hence making the style unconventional to the others. The dances are based mostly on the 'raslila' (romance) of Lord Krishna and Radha. 

Odissi is from Odisha, also from the east. It is very old, surviving dance, tracing back to the 1st century. All the moves are based on the 'chauka', a square stance that symbolises Lord Jagannath.

Sattriya is also from eastern India, from Assam, originating in the 15th century. It is established upon mystical stories and traditionally performed by male monks, but now performed by both genders.

There are also some other styles that are not as widely recognised; Chhau, Gaudya Nritya and Thang Ta.

Image fromhttp://www.dollsofindia.com/images/products/brass-statues/lord-shiva-as-nataraja-AE54_l.jpg

The picture above is of a Natraja statue, another incarnation of Lord Shiva as the Hindu God of dance.

In classical dancing, your expressions are the most important feature, as they communicate your emotions, telling the audience a story. It is also better to learn classical dancing from a young age, as you need a particular posture which easier to build at a younger age.

Sources;

http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/dances/dances.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_classical_dance

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bharata_Natyam

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathak

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathakali

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohiniyattam

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuchipudi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manipuri_dance

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odissi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sattriya