DANCES AND MUSIC OF INDIA

CONCEPTUALISED BY

AMARESH JHA

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Indian Dances

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Dance is a form of art, where the body is used as a medium of communication.

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Indian Dances
The dance heritage of India is at least 5000 years old. The wall paintings of Ajanta and Ellora, the sculptures of Khajuraho stand ample evidence for popularity of Indian dances from ancient times. Nataraja, the dancing Lord Shiva, is the supreme manifestation of Indian dance.

Dance Forms of India

Classical Dance Forms

o Bharatnatyam - Tamil Nadu o Kathak - Uttar Pradesh o Kathakali Kerala o Kuchipudi- Andhra Pradesh o Manipuri Manipur o Mohiniattam Kerala o Odissi - Orissa

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BHARATANATYAM
Widely appreciated dance form of Tamil Nadu. The contemporary form of Bharatnatyam evolved during the late 18th or early 19th century. Bharatanatyam dancers are predominantly women.

BHARATANATYAM

KATHAK
Kathak was initially very similar to Bharatanatyam. Originated in the North. The word kathak derived from "Katha", literally means story teller. Music and dance were used by story tellers to illuminate the story. Kathak focuses more on footwork as compared to the hand movements in Bharatanatyam.

KATHAK

KATHAK

KATHAKALI
Originated in Kerala. Kathakali is embedded in stories from the epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata. Elaborate masks are used by the performers. They wear huge skirts and head-dress. Performed in the temples. The dancers encompass dance with dialogue. There are 3 groups - actor-dancers, vocalists and percussionists, in a Kathakali performance.

KATHAKALI

KUCHIPUDI
Originated from a hamlet in Andhra Pradesh called Kuchelapuri or Kuchelapuram in the 3rd century B.C. Presented at temples. In a Kuchipudi performance, each principal character introduces himself or herself on the stage with a daru.
A daru is a small composition of dance and song specially designed for each character to help him or her reveal his or her identity.

KUCHIPUDI

ODISSI
Originated from Orissa. One of the oldest surviving dance forms. Odissi is similar to Bharatnatyam with respect to the mudras and expressions. It is a soft, lyrical classical dance which depicts the ambience of Orissa. Odissi is based on the popular devotion to Lord Krishna. Odissi dancers use their head, bust and torso in soft flowing movements to express specific moods and emotions.

ODISSI

MOHINIATTAM
Mohiniattam means Mohini's dance. Mohiniattam is the feminine dance form of Kerala. It signifies transformation of Lord Vishnu into a female form. The theme of Mohiniattam is love and devotion to god. Vishnu or Krishna is more often the hero. The basic dance steps are the Adavus which are of four kinds : Taganam, Jaganam, Dhaganam and Sammisram. Mohiniattam maintains realistic make-up and simple dressing. The dancer are attired in a beautiful white and gold bordered Kasavu saree of Kerala.

MOHINIATTAM

MANIPURI
Manipuri is the classical dance from the Manipur region in the North East. The earliest records of this dance form date back to about 100 AD. Slow and gracious movements differentiate Manipuri from other dance styles. Manipuri dance is very much religious and associated to Vaishnav cult of Hinduism. The art form primarily depicts episodes from the life of Vishnu.

MANIPURI

FOLK DANCES
Indian culture includes a treasure of a variety of folk dances. The diversity in culture and tradition is reflected in the variety of Indian folk dances.

Padayani (Kerala)
One of the most colourful and enchanting dances of Southern Kerala. Associated with the festival of certain temples. These temples are formed in the districts of Alleppey, Quilon, Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts. The main kolams (huge masks) presented in Padayani are Kali, Kalan , Yakshi (fairy), Pakshi (bird), etc. The literal meaning of Padayani is military formations or rows of army. The performers consist of dancers, singers and instrumentalists.

Padayani

KAIKOTTIKALI (Thiruvathirakkali)
KERALA

Thiruvathirakali also known as Kaikottikali is a dance performed by women, in order to attain everlasting marital bliss, on Thiruvathira day in the Malayalam month of Dhanu (DecemberJanuary). The sinuous movements executed by a group of dancers around a nilavilakku, embody 'lasya' or the amorous charm and grace of the feminine. The dance follows a circular, pirouetting pattern accompanied by clapping of the hands and singing.

KAIKOTTIKALI

Karakattam (Tamil Nadu)

One of the most essential parts of a ritual, dedicated to Mariamma, the goddess of health and rain. It is performed by men, wherein they balance pots filled with uncooked rice, surrounded by a tall conical bamboo frame covered with flowers. Drums and long pipes form the musical instruments accompanying the dance. Karakattam is popular in villages during temple festivals.

Karakattam

(Karagam)

Kummi (Tamil Nadu)

Kummi means to dance while clapping hands to a rhythm, accompanied by songs in popular tunes. Women form a circle and dance during the Maariamman and Kaanum Pongal festivals for ten consecutive days.

Yakshgana (Karnataka)
Yakshgana is a folk theatre form of Karnataka and it is an ancient art. The original form of Yakshgana involves the use of recitative modes of poetry, melodies of music, rhythm and dance techniques, colourful costumes and graceful make up.

Chhau (West Bengal )

The Chhau dance of West Bengal has originated from the Purulia distrct . Chhau dance is mostly performed in the open space or ground field during the night. The Chhau dance is a mask dance performed only by the male dancers. The masks are made up from the clay and paper. The Chhau dance is mythological, as it is mainly based on various episodes of the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. As the singer complete the invocation song, a host of drummers and musicians start beating the Dhol and the Dhamsa.

Chhau

JAT-JATIN (MITHILA)
The original theme of the Jat-Jatin dance of Mithila region of India and Nepal explains the story of the lovers Jat and Jatin, who were separated and living in difficult situations. But now through "Jat Jatin" many social situations are also discussed; natural calamities situation like droughts and floods. Many socially concern topics like poverty, sorrow, love, arguments between lovers or husband and wife; all find its expression in this dance. In some versions, the performers wear masks to add a reality picture.

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It is the dance of women of the Mithila region of India and is supposed to be performed on moonlight nights during the monsoons. Grown-up girls and young housewives assemble in the courtyard and, accompanied by a drum, dance from midnight to dawn. As they dance, they enact in gestures the epic story of the love of Jata and Jatin. The most dramatic episode of the dance concerns a wicked boatman who breaks through the dancing ring and kidnaps the beautiful Jatin. The lovers undergo many trials and tribulations but all ends well and, as happens in most folk tales, they live happily ever after. Surangan group is performing the Jata Jatin dance.

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Dalkhai (Orissa)
The 'Dalkhai' is a dance performed by women of the tribes from the Sambalpur district of Orissa. It is quite a virile dance rendered during the time of festivals. The men generally play the musical instruments and the drummers often join the dance.

Dalkhai

Namagen (Himachal Pradesh)

The autumnal hue is celebrated in September by a dance performance called Namagen. The most striking dance amongst these is the Gaddis. The costumes are largely woollen and richly studded ornaments of silver are worn by women.

Namagen

Bhangra (Punjab)
One of the most popular dances of India. Performed during Baisakhi usually by the men in Punjab. It includes tricks and acrobatic feats. The songs include recitation of meaningless 'bolis', words, such as hoay, hoay. The drummer usually in the centre of the circle, is surrounded by men dressed in lungis and turbans. The dance performed by the women folk of Punjab is called the 'Gidha'.
In the Gidha, at a time a woman or a pair of women dance while the others clap in rhythm. The dance is performed in the festival of Teeyan to welcome the rains.

Bhangra

Ghoomer Dance (Rajasthan)

The Ghoomer dance is a very famous and a community dance of women in Rajasthan. It is performed on various auspicious occasions like fairs & festivals. It is called as `Ghoomer`, from the `ghoomna` of Ghaghra i.e. the flowing of Ghaghra, a long skirt of the Rajasthani women. Women from any age group, may it be the young or old can participate in Ghoomer dance. While dancing, the dancers move in a circular direction with clockwise and anti-clockwise steps.

Ghoomer Dance

Bihu Dance, Assam

The Bihu dance is performed in the Bihu festival, celebrated for the arrival of spring in the Assamese New Year. The dance is performed in an open space during daytime.

Bihu Dance

TYPES OF BIHU
1.Rongali Bihu The first type of Bihu, which is Rongali Bihu, is the major and the most popular Bihu celebrated in Assam. Celebrated in mid of April, this Bihu marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year, which is the first day of the year according to the traditional Hindu calendar. It is also celebrated in Bengal, Manipur, Nepal, Orissa, Punjab, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, etc. though with different names.

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2.Kongali Bihu Celebrated in middle of October this Bihu is not celebrated with frivolous gaiety, instead it is celebrated with great somberness. The reason behind this is that the paddy crop is only growing at this time of the year and the granaries of the peasants are empty. The festival is supposed to be of the poor. Prayers are said and customary rites are followed during this Bihu in the evening
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3. Bhogali Bihu This Bihu falls in the middle of January and is commonly known as Magh Bihu. The festival is celebrated to mark the paddy harvesting season and that is why the festival is called Bhogali Bihu, derived from the word "Bhog" which means feasting. Bihu songs are sung and dancers sway to the rhythms of these songs. The festivities take place till late at night and the youth of Assam make merry.

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Burra Katha Dance, Andhra Pradesh

Burra' is a special instrument used by two performers who dance encourage the main story teller by exclamation and questions. The Burra katha demands oratory as well as dancing skills on the part of the performers. Burra katha needs three people to enact the story telling. While the main artiste is dressed in a colourful attire with a garland round his neck and a tambura slung across his shoulder, the other two artistes dressed similarly question the narration to alert a sleepy audience. The two accompanying artistes have a drum and hand taal. The theme of the story could be anything that has happened or is happening.

Burra Katha

Garba Dance (Gujarat)

This dance form has connection with ShaktiPuja. It is played in a circular form performed by ladies on the nine nights of Navaratri festival, Sharad Purnima, Vasant Panchami, Holi etc. The word Garba is derived from the word `Garbha Deep` (a lamp inside a perforated earthen pot). In this folk dance, the women place the pot known as Garba with the lamp on their heads and move in circular direction, singing and clap at the same time.

Garba Dance

Dandia-Ras (Gujarat)
Dandia -Ras is also known as the `stick` dance. This dance is also a feature of most welcomed festival, Navratri. The Ras is simple and is generally performed by a group of young people who move in typical style in measured steps around a circle, accompanied by a singing chorus and a host of musical instruments like the dhol, cymbals, zanz and shehnai.

Dandia-Ras

Cheraw (Bamboo) Dance

(Mizoram)

the most popular and colourful dance of the Mizos. Long pair of horizontal bamboo staves are tapped open and close in rhythmic beats by people sitting face to face on the ground. Because bamboos are used for the dance, people sometimes call it the BAMBOO DANCE.

Bamboo Dance

O r g a n i s e d & emotionally expressive sound is called MUSIC

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 In India, there is a vast profusion of folk music which varies according to locality. In Indian music, musical sound is called nada. Indian classical music is based on the ragas. Classical Indian music can be classified into two distinct styles:
North Indian or Hindustani South Indian or Carnatic music.

Carnatic Style employs Shrutis or semitones to create a Raga and thus have many more Ragas than the Hindustani style. Carnatic ragas differ from Hindustani ragas. The names of ragas are also different. The tradition of Indian music practiced and developed is nearly three thousand years old.

 Carnatic music originated in the fertile plains of the Cauvery delta.

The Trinities of Carnatic Music

Saint Thyagaraja, Muthuswamy Dikshithar and Syama Shastri were all born in Thiruvarur near Thanjavur

Sa Re Ga Ma Pha Dha Nee are the seven basic notations called the Sapthaswaras.

Indian Musical Instruments

The Indian musical instruments are classified into four major categories:
Tata vadya Sushira vadya Avanaddha vadya & Ghana vadya

CHENDA

CHIMPTA

The chimpta is actually a fire tong. It has evolved into a musical instrument by the permanent addition

of small brass jingles. chimpta is popular in Punjabi folk music

Bansuri

SHEHNAI

SITAR

NADASWARAM

HARMONIUM

VEENA

DAF

DHOLKI

IDAKKA

MRIDANGAM

SAROD

TABLA

I have Pride to be an Indian!

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HAVE A NICE DAY