FINAL-INDIA: BHARATA NATYAM Flashcards
West
progress
conquest of space
East
traditional
space integrated
articulation of body and facial gestures
Mudra.
Language of hand gestures
Hinduism
ancient and varied tradition of religious inquiry and experience
unity of existence
body is a tool for achieving spiritual insight and understanding
Brahma
Supreme eternal deity whose essence pervades the entire universe
Vishnu
Preserver, who rescues the world when it is threatened
Brahma is
the one Creator of all
Brahma gave
the Natya Shastra as the
sacred text of dance to Bharata.
Natya Shastra
is called the fifth veda or bible.
Nataraja
Lord of the Dance.
Shiva
the God of creation and destruction
is often seen in the classical representation of Nataraja (Lord of the Dance.)
Krishna
“the Blue God”
incarnation of Vishnu (the protecting god)
represented as playing the flute
This dance and music helps to transform the soul
Ramayana
exploits of Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu
Mahabarata
approx. 100,000 stanza poem, story of the Pandava brothers
Bhagavata
exploits of Krishna
Bharata natyam frequently interprets these stories
Ramayana
Mahabarata
Bhagavata
Veda is a bible of the Hindu faith.
is a bible of the Hindu faith.
Four Vedas
the fifth Veda is called the Natya Shastra
Natya Shastra
(3rd century A.D.) established norms of theory and practice for communicating through dance/drama.
– Natya –
dance and drama
– Nritya –
expressive dance
– Nritta –
pure dance
– Gita –
song
– Vachika –
speech
– Vadya –
musical accompaniment
Mudra
– language of gesture
– Facial expressions
Karanas
Body movements and postures
Abhinaya: 4 Techniques in NATYA SHRASHTA
Angik
Vachik
Aharya
Satvick
Angik
body gestures
Vachik
poetry, song, music, rhythm,
recitation
Aharya
costume, make-up, jewelry
Satvick
physical manifestation of mental/emotional states
The Surya Deul
This temple honors Surya, god of the sun
features many sensual sculptures
Eight “universal emotions”, or rasas:
– Love, humor, pathos, anger, heroism, terror,
disgust, and wonder
Ninth rasa
serenity.
Rasika
knowledgeable spectator
Bharata Natyam
classical Indian dance
originates from southern India-state of Tamil Nadu, and spread throughout the region
oldest classical dances, dating back more than 2,000 years
Temple dances of South India are the direct link to
Natya Shastra and to the old sage Bharata.
Bharata Natyam
Typically female dancers perform this form in the temple setting.
Devadasis
dedicated trained dancers whose role is as a spiritual offering and voice of deities.
responsible for cleaning and maintaining the statues of the deities in the temple.
Bharata Natyam reputation
Late 19century reputation reached an all-time low
British influence
1927 campaign to ban temple dancing
Early 20th century – resurgence Sadir
Rukmini Devi
Founded the school, Kalakshetra, Madras, 1934
Gave the name “Bharata Natyam” to the dance form previously called Sadir
Balasaraswati
with a career that lasted over forty years
key figures in the revival of Indian dance.
able to dance one line of a poem or song many, many different ways – each with a different interpretation.
Sadir
precursor dance it was renamed by rukmini devi to Bharata Natyam
Kalakshetra
is the school founded by Rukmini Devi in 1934. The school provides training in Bharata Natyam dance and music.
history of Bharata
Natyam
century as the domain of prostitutes.
Great Britain aided in the decline of the art.
Rukmini Devi and Balasaraswati helped to change this condition.
Through their fine example and dedication to dance these two women helped to raise Bharata Natyam to the status of a national treasure. They also helped to establish a higher regard for other dance forms in India as well.
