7.Indian dance forms Flashcards
PYQ Themes
1.states : Dance
- Paricular danceform (main ones in singha)
- > state ; features
ex. sattriya
ex. difference b/w Kuchipudi and Bharatnatyam - description of various poses
ex. Tribhanga
States : Dance (from singhania only)
a
Bharatnatyam features
- oldest of all classical ones ; name from bharata muni
- Prominent in Tamil Nadu
- origin -> sadir -> temple dancers/devadasi
- E.Krishna iyer & rukmini devi arundale -> efforts
- Also called as Ekcharya lasyam i.e., one dancer many roles
- Source: Abhinaya Darpana of Nandikeshwara
- Person reciting the dance is called as Nattuvanar.
- Elements of Bharatanatyam recital -> given by 4 tanjore teachers
- Alarippu : to seek god blessing
- Jatiswaram : no expressions
- Shabdam : dramatic element with expressed words; in praise of god’s glory
- Varnam: dance + emotions ; most IMP
- Padam: dance becomes emotional ; expression imp
- Jawali : short love lyrics
- Thillana : last part
• It is also referred as Fire dance.
- equal emphasis on tandava & lasya ; major emphasis on mudras
- major mudra : kataka mukha hasta -> 3 fingers joined to show om
- knees mostly bent
Kuchipudi features
- name derived from andhra village kuchelapuram
- vaishnavism -> only males used to do -> bhagvat purana being theme
- 20th century -> popularised by ragini devi & balasaraswati
- difficult foot movement ; team game
- mostly on bhagwata purana ; secular ; mostly sringara ras
- intro of each character : ‘daaru’
- performance has :
1) sollakath/patakshara : Nritta (body movement)
2) kavutvams : Nritya part(extensive acrobatics) - dancer may sing as well
- Lasya & tandav both imp
- solo elements also present
1) manduk shabdam : frog story
2) Tarangam : feet on edges of brass plate + balancing pot of water/set of diyas on head
3) Jala chitra Nrityam : draws picture on floor with toes
-with karnatic music ; recital in telugu
Kathakali features
- kerala -> ramayana & mahabharata story
- Katha : story ; kali : drama
- all male
-elaborate face makeup + head gear red : near nose ; for royalty black : wickedness yellow : saints ; women face 100% red : indicates evil white beard : higher consciousness + divinity
- shows eternal conflict b/w good & evil
- on stories from epics & puranas ; AKA ballad of east
- songs language : Manipravalam (malayalam + sanskrit)
- music very imp
- gestures very imp ->represent rasas through eye & eye-brows movement
- performed in open air theatres
Mohiniattam features
- kerala
- Mohini : beautiful woman ; attam : dance
- by woman,solo
- gentle footwork
- story of feminine dance of vishnu
- Lasya(beauty,grace) is dominant
- white-offwhite sari ; no face makeup ; ghungroo
Odissi features
- Odisha
- uses tribhanga posture: body bending @ 3 instances
- uses chowk posture : hands spread out ; depicts masculinity
-creation of intricate geometriical shapes
by dancers
- Elements of dance
1) Mangalacharan : beginning ; flower to earth
2) Batu nritya : has tribhanga & chowk
3) pallavi : face expression
4) Tharijham : pure dance
5) Moksha (movement signify liberation) / trikhanda majura(taking leave from god) : conclusion - symbolises water
- hairstyle ; silver jewellery ; long necklace
Manipuri features
- Manipur
- generally by females
- revived by rabindranath tagore
- Trick : costume madhe andakruti pant
- about devotion ; not sensuality
- veil on face;expression less imp
- Lasya more imp
- Naga bandha mudra : body connected through curves in shape of ‘8’
- Ras leela(radha-krishna love story) main theme
- Thang-ta & sankirtana also influenced by this
Kathak features
- Uttar pradesh
- originated from ras leela of brajbhoomi
- kathika = story teller
- Various gharanas : 1)Lucknow (expressions) 2)Jaipur (speed;rhythm) 3)Raigarh (percussion music) 4)Banaras (floorwork ; symmetry)
- footwork & pirouettes(spinning on one foot) imp
- Elements
1) Anand : introduction
2) Thaat : soft & varied movement
3) Todas/tukdas : small & fast rhythm
4) Jugalbandi : dancer & tabla comepete
5) padhant : dancer recites complicated bol
6) Tarana : rhythm
7) Kramalaya : last ; fast footwork
8) Gat bhaav : without music/chanting ; to outline mythology
Sattriya features
- Assam
- name from vaishnava monastries called ‘sattras’
- combination of ojapali & devdasi(Assam)
- devotional ; vishnu stories
- Lasya + tandava
- usually by male group ; can involve female
- hand gestures & footwork imp
- male : dhoti & pagari(turban)
- Ankia naat : type of sattriya-> involves play / musical drama ; AKA Bhaona
Chhau features
- origin from chhaya(shadow)
- martial movement to narrate mythology stories
- 3 styles : 1) saraikella(jharkhnd)
2) Mayurbhanj(odisha)
3) Purulia(bengal)
Garba feattures
- gujrat
- reffers to ‘garbha deep’ i.e. earthen pot with holes -> lamp is lit,women dance around it
- clapping
Dandiya raas
- gujrat
- sticks used
- shows fight b/w durga & mahishasura
Tarangamel
- goa
- in dussehra & holi
- rainbow like costumes
Ghoomar / Gangore
- bhil women ,rajsthan
- pirouetting movement (spinning on one foot)
Kalbelia
- kalbelia community women,rajsthan
- costume & dance movement like serpents
- been instrument
Charba
- Himachal
- dussehra
Bhangra/giddha
- bhangra by males ; giddha by females
- in punjab
Raslila
- Uttar pradesh
- radha krishna love story
Dadra
- uttar pradesh
- by courtesans of lucknow region
Jawara
- harvest dance,bundelkhand region (madhya prdesh)
- balancing basket full of jowar on head
Matki
- women of malwa region
- solo
- earthen pots on head
Gaur maria
- bison horn maria tribe
- bastar region,chhatisgarh
- imitates movements of bison
Alkap
- rajmahal hills,jharkhand & rajshahi,malda,murshidabad(bengal)
- by 10-12 people together
- @gajan festival,shiva
Biraha/bidesia
- rural bihar
- portray pain of women having pareners away from home
- by males only
Paika
- martial dance(odisha)
- paika signify battle
- bamboo astat tyvar unchavate kartat ani tya bamboovar chaltat
Jat-jatin
- bihar
- tender love ; quarrel of married couple
Jhumar
- harvest dance (jharkhand & odisha)
- janani jhumar & mardana jhumar
Danda-jatra
- mainly odisha
- stories of shiva
- about social harmony & brotherhood
Bihu
- assam
- in group by men & women
- colourful dress
Thang ta
- martial dance ,manipur
- Thang = sword ; Ta = spear
- create mock fight scenes
Rangma/bamboo dance
- war dance of nagas
- enact mock war
Singhi chham
- mask dance of sikkim
- pay tribute to kanchenjunga peak
Kummi
- Tamil nad & kerala
- by women
- absence of music ; beats by clapping
- during pongal
Mayilattam
- kerala & tamil nad
- young girls dressed as peacock AKA peacock dance
- also has bull dance,bear dance,snake dance
Burrakatha
- dance narration from andhra
- purana story
Butta bommalu
- literally means basket toys
- west godavari district (andhra)
- dancers dress like toys
Kaikottikali
- temple dance,kerala
- men & women
- at onam to celebrate rich harvest
padayani
- martial dance in temples of southern kerala
- padayani : rows of infantry
- colourful clothes
- huge masks
Kolkali-parichakali
- martial dance (southern kerala & lakshwadeep)
- kol = stick ; paricha = shield
- inact fight sequence
Bhootha aradhane
- devil worship (karnataka)
- vigorous dance like a possessed person
Pata kunitha
- mysore region
- using long bamboo poles decorated with colourful ribbons,known as pata
- all religion
Chakyar koothu
- kerala
- dresses as snake
- mainly by chakyar community
- black moustache & red spots on whole body
jhoomar
- tribal sikhs in punjab
- harvest season
- arm movement imp
- came from balochistan traders
Karma naach
- during tribal festival of karma by many tribes of eastern india -. mainly chhota nagpur
- in circle with arms around waist
Raut naach
- yadav community ( chhatisgarh)
- diwali
Dumhal
- wattal tribe (J&K)
- Tall hat for man
Fugdi
- konkan,goa
- women
Cheraw
- mizoram
- men tap bamboo in rhythm,girls dance to beats
Dalkhai
- dussehra in odisha
- ramayana,mahabharata,krishna stories
Important dance poses
ex.Tribhanga
a