Top 7 Main Dances of India
India is known to be a very diverse country with a number of cultures in it. These different cultures bring with them different set patterns about the festivals, eating habits, religion, language, customs and dances. It has been well researched that celebrating and worshipping the deity was a gesture used by humans. The different cultures are associated with different dance forms. Some of the dance forms of India are as follows.
Kathak
The word ‘Kathak’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Katha’ which means story. The whole dance form is a way of communicating a story like the Greek theatre. It is a form of oral tradition which has been passed on from one generation to another. The dancer performs to the rhythm of a tabla.
Odissi
Since history, Odissi has been performed by women who tell religious stories particularly Vaishnavism through their dance. The dancers and the musicians play a mythical story or devotional poem from the Hindi text. This dance form stands out due to its Tribhangi posture which deals with three parts of the body— head, bust and torso.
Manipuri
Also known as Jagoi, Manipuri dance is one of the major classical dances of India. It is mostly a team performance with a unique set of costumes, conventions and repertoire. It is considered to be a religious art and expression of spiritual value.
Sattriya
One major dance form of India is Sattriya which is a combination of dance-drama in the monasteries of Assam where Krishna is the main focus. A major part of the themes includes stories of Ram and Sita or Krishna and Radha.
Bharatnatyam
The most famous dance form of India is Bharatnatyam which originated in Tamil Nadu. It used to be a solo act which only women performed and expressed the beliefs of the South Indian traditions. Even though until the 19th century Bharatnatyam remained exclusive to the Hindu temples, it is now performed on stage with fusion themes.
Kathakali
Kathakali is one form of Indian classical dance of India which is performed with the purpose of “story-play.” The dance form gains its originality from the fact that colorful makeup is used to depict the characters in the play. While green is used for kings, divinities and heroes, black are used to indicate evil. The dance was mostly perfumed by male members who mainly carry out the story of Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Mohiniyattam
The word ‘Mohiniyattam’ is derived from two different words ‘Mohini’ which means beautiful women and atta means dance. Hence, it is performed by women. The basic themes of this dance form are love and emotion.
Featured Image: Kathak
Featured Image Credit: http://www.taranakathak.com/img/Slide6.png
Team at World Infi