Classical Dances of India: Art & Culture for UPSC Exams

 

 

Bharata Natyam  is a classical dance form originating in Tamil Nadu. In ancient times it was performed as ‘dasiattam’ by Devadasis. Bharatanatyam is popularly called  poetry in Motion. E.Krishna Iyer was one  of those who raised the social status of Bharata atyam and greatly popularized it. Ifollows  the  principle  of  Nat ya Shastra. Rugmini devi Arundale gave it  a  new life and revived it by stablishing ‘Kalakshetra’ at Adayar, Chennai.

 

 

Kathak : It is a North Indian Classical dance form. The story of   Kathak begins  in  ancient  times  with  the performances of professional storytellers called Kathakas who recited stories from epics and mythology with some elements of dance. The work of the Maharaj family of dancers (Acchan Maharaj, Shambu Maharaj, Lachhu Maharaj and Birju Maharaj) helped in spreading the popularity of Kathak.

 

Kathakali : This dance form is from Kerala. Kat haka li or iginated from Rama natt am. Traditinally a Kathakali onducted at night and ends in early morning. But now it has been reduced to three hours or even lesser.In Kathakali, the story is enacted purely by the movements of the hands  and by facial expressions and bodily movements. The makeperformance is usually up of Kathakali artists are Pachcha, Kathi, Kari, Thaadi and Minukku.

 

 

Kuchipudi  is the classical form of Andhra Pradesh. The dance is accompanied by song which is  typi cally carnatic music.The technique of Kuchipudi makes use of fast rhythmic footwork and sculpuresque body movements. Kuchipudi is a combination of Natya, Nritta and Nritya.

 

Manipuri dance is a classical dance from Manipur. The dancers feet never strike the ground hard. Movements of the body and feet and facial expressions in Manipuri dance are suitable and aim at devotion and grace.

 

Mohiniyattam is a dance form from Kerala. It is considered a very graceful dance meant to  be performed as solo recital by women. Maharaja Swathi Tirunal, poet Vallathol Narayana  Menon through Kerala Kalamandalam founded by him and Smt.Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma revived Mohiniyattom.

 

Odissi : Classical dance form of Odisha (Orissa). Odissi is the oldest classical dance rooted in rituals and tradition. It is particularly distinguis hed  from other classical Indian dance   forms by the importance it places upon the independent movement of head, chest and pelvis.

Sattriya is a classical dance form from Assam.It was recognized as a classical dance by Sangeet Natak Academi on November 15, 2000. Sattriya Nritya was usually performed in the Sattras (Assam monasteries) in a highly ritialistic manner by male dancers alone. But in the second half of the 19th Century Sattriya Nritya moved from the monastery to the metropolitan stage. The core of Sattriya Nritya has usually been mythological stories.

 

 

Kelucharan Mohapatra, Pankaj Charan Das, Hare Krishna Behera ,  Sonal  Man singh, Kabita Dwivedi, Kiran Sehgal, Madhvi   Mudgal ,   Sharon Lewon, Myrta Barvil. Indarani Rahman, Priyambada Mohanty.

 

Bharata Natyam      Rujkmini   Devi   Arundale(of Kalakhestra Fame) T Bala- sarswathi, Yamini Krishna Mur- thy, Padma Subramaniyam, Mri- nalini Sarabhai, Vaijayantimala Bali, Leela Samson.

 

Kuchipudi              T. Bala sarswathi ,Esther Sherman, Ragini Devi, Indrani Rahman, Swapna Sundari, . Sobha Naidu, Raja  Reddy, Radha Reddy, Vempati Chinna Satyam, Satyanarayanan Sharma ,  Sudha  Sekhara , Rajaram Rao, G. Sarala

 

Kathakali               Mukunda Raja (of Kalmandalam fame), Koppan Nair, V Kunju Kurupu, Gopinathan Krishnan,  VN Menon, Kottakkal Sivaraman.

 

Mohiniattam           Kalyani Amma, Shanta Rao, Roshan  Vejifdar,   Bharati Shivaji, Kanak Rele.

 

Manipuri                Jhaveri Sisters, Charu Mathur, Sadhona Bose, Bipin Singh, Rita  Devi , Savita Ivkihta , Tandor Devi.

 

Kathak                   Bitju Maharaj, Kalka-BindaGharana, Kunudini Lakhia, Damayanti Joshi, Rani Karna, Saswati Sen, Roshan Kumari, Gopi Krishna, Sitara Devi, Sambhu Maharaj ,  Ananda Shankar, Shovna  Narayan, Bhandana Mangal, Kulgrani Bhatt, Gitanjali Lal.

 

Printed Study Material for UPSC PRELIMS EXAM

Printed Study Material for UPSC MAINS EXAM

<< Go Back to Main Page