INDIAN DANCE FORMS Flashcards
Natya Veda was created by?
Lord Brahma created the fifth Veda known as Natya Veda.
The first formal mention of dance is found in?
Bharata Muni’s Natya Shastra.
Define Lasya and Tandava?
- Lasya– denotes grace, bhava, rasa and abhinaya. It is symbolic to the feminine features of dance as an art form.
- Tandava– symbolic to male aspects of dance and has more emphasis on rhythm and movement.
Abhinaya Darpan (famous treatise on dance) was written by?
Nandikeshwara.
Three basic elements of an act as per Abhinaya Darpan?
- Nritta– It refers to the basic dance steps, performed rhythmically but devoid of any expression or mood
- Natya– It means dramatic representations and refers to the story that is elaborated through the dance recital.
- Nritya - Nritya refers to the sentiment and the emotions evoked through dance. It includes the mime and the different methods of expression including mudras in the dance.
Nayaka-Nayika Bhav (Nine rasas or emotions) as per Nandikeshwara?
- Shringara for love
- Roudra for anger
- Bibhatsa for disgust
- Veera for heroism
- Shaant for peace and tranquility
- Haasya for laughter and comedy
- Karuna for tragedy
- Bhayanak for horror
- Adbhuta for wonder.
How many classical dance are there in India?
- As per Sangeet Natak Akademi, there exists 8 classical dance forms in India.
- As per Ministry of culture there are 9 classical dances. They also include Chhau.
Which dance is also called Dashiattam and why?
Bharatnatyam. The origin of this dance can be traced back to ‘Sadir’- the solo dance performance of the temple dancers or devadasis in Tamil Nadu, hence it is also referred to as Dashiattam.
Rukmini Devi Arundale is associated with which classical dance?
Bharatnatyam.
Features of Bharatnatyam?
- Alarippu– includes basic dance postures.
- Jatiswaram– Nritta component and devoid of expressions.
- Shabdam– dramatic element.
- Varnam– Nritya component, most important part of the whole performance.
- Padam– mastery over abhinaya (expression).
- Jawali– short love lyrics at fast tempo.
- Thillana– concluding stage.
What is Tanjore Quartet?
Four Thanjavur teachers, known as the ‘Tanjore quartet’, are:–
1. Chiniah
2. Ponniah
3. Vadivelu
4. Shivanandam
Under them, Bharatnatyam also came to be known as Tanjore natyam.
Which dance is also known as the fire dance?
Bharatnatyam, most of the movements resemble to that of a dancing flame.
Kataka Mukha Hasta is one of the principal mudra of which dance?
Bharatnatyam, in this mudra three fingers are joined to symbolise ‘Om’.
- In this dance equal emphasis is given on both the Tandava and Lasya aspects of dance.
- Knees are mostly bent and the weight is equally distributed across both the feet.
- It is also characterised by the ‘Ekcharya lasyam’ style in which one dancer plays many different roles.
Which dance is this?
Bharatnatyam.
Bharatanatyam is a classical dance of which state?
Tamil Nadu.
Kuchipudi is a classical dance of which state?
Andhra Pradesh.
Who were kusselavas?
Originally Kuchipudi was performed by a group of actors going from village to village, known as Kusselavas.
Bhama Kalapam was authored by?
Siddhendra Yogi. He formalized and systematized the tradition of Kuchipudi.
Central theme of the recitals in Kuchipudi?
Bhagavat Purana.
Kuchipudi dancers are known as?
Bhagavathalus.
Kuchipudi gained prominence under the patronage of?
Vijayanagara and Golconda rulers.
Who revived Kuchipudi?
Balasaraswati and Ragini Devi.
Features of Kuchipudi?
- Difficult foot movement.
- Recitals based on Bhagawata Purana but have secular theme. There is predominance of Shringaara ras.
- Each principal character introduces itself on the stage with a “daaru”, which is a small composition of dance and song.
- All three components Nritta, Natya and Nritya present. It is similar to Bharatnatyam but has its own features.
- Dancer may combine the role of singer into himself/herself as well.
- Both Lasya and Tandava elements present.
- The performance has:–
- Sollakath or Patakshara: the Nritta part.
- Kavutvams: Nritya part. - Has solo elements also.
Solo elements in Kuchipudi?
- Manduk Shabdam– Tells the story of a frog.
- Tarangam– feets on edges of a brass plate and balancing a pot of water on the head or set of diyas.
- Jala Chitra Nrityam– dancer draws pictures on the floor with his or her toes while dancing.
Kuchipudi is accompanied with which music and what are the principal instruments?
Carnatic Music, Violin and Mridgangam.
Famous proponents of Kuchipudi?
Radha Reddy and Raja Reddy.
Kathakali is classical dance form of which state?
Kerala.
What was the source of kathakali?
In temples of Kerala, Ramanattam and Krishnattam, evolved under the patronage of feudal lords, narrating episodes from Ramayana and Mahabharata. These folk drama traditions latter became the source of Kathakali.
Which dance is closely related to Koodiyattam?
Kathakali.
Kathakali was revived by?
Revived in 1930s by famous Malayali poet V.N. Menon under the patronage of Mukunda Raja.
Features of Kathakali?
- All male troupe performance.
- Minimal use of props. Elaborate facial makeup along with a headgear.
- Has both dance and drama.
- Most Kathakali recitals are a grand representation of the eternal conflict between good and evil. It is also called the ballad of the east.
- Language used is Manipravalam, i.e. a mixture of Malayalam and Sanskrit.
- Gestures are perhaps the crown jewel of the entire dance drama. Nine important facial expressions called Navarasas are taught to convey the different emotions.
- Performed in open air theatres.
- The arrival of the dawn, accompanied with a continuous sound of drums, Chhenda and maddala marks the beginning and end of a Kathakali recital.
- Kathakali symbolizes the element of sky or ether.
Mohiniattam is the classical dance form from which state?
Kerala.
Which classical dance is called the Dance of the Enchantress?
Mohiniattam (‘Mohini’ meaning beautiful women and ‘attam’ means dance) is a solo dance performed by women.
Mohiniattam gained prominence under the rulers of?
Travancore in present state of Kerala.
Who revived Mohiniattam?
Malayali poet V.N. Menon along with Kalyani Amma.
Features of Mohiniattam?
- Combines the grace and elegance of Bharatnatyam with the vigour of kathakali.
- Marked absence of thumping of footsteps and the footwork is gentle.
- It generally narrates the story of the feminine dance of Vishnu.
- Has its own Nritta and Nritya aspects.
- Lasya aspect (beauty, grace) of dance is dominant in a Mohiniattam recital.
- Costume– white and off-white principal colours. No elaborate facial make-up. Ghungroo on ankles.
- Element of air is symbolised.
- Atavakul or Atavus is the collection of fourty basic dance movements.
- Musical instruments used are: cymbals, veena, drums, flute etc.
Atavakul or Atavus is the collection of fourty basic dance movements in which classical dance form?
Mohiniattam.
Identify the dance form?
1. The caves of Udayagiri Khandagiri provides some of the earliest examples of this dance.
2. This dance was practiced by the maharis and patronised by the Jain King Kharvela.
Odissi.
Odissi derives its name from?
‘Odra nritya’ mentioned in Natya Shastra.
Who are Gotipuas and what is Nartala?
- With the advent of Vaishnavism in the region, the Mahari system became defunct. Instead, young boys were recruited and dressed as females to continue the art form of Odissi. They came to be known as Gotipuas.
- Another variant of this art, ‘Nartala’ continued to be practiced at the royal courts.
Odissi classical dance gained international acclaim due to the efforts of?
Charles Fabri and Indrani Rehman.