BHRATNATYAM

It is believed that Brahma, the supreme Creator, created Natya by taking literature from the Rig Veda, songs from the Sama Veda, abhinaya or expression from the Yajur Veda and rasa or aesthetic experience from the Arthava Veda. Natya speaks in great detail of the different kinds of postures, facial expressions, mudra or hand expressions, including the attire and ornaments to be used. All the dance forms are structured around the nine rasas or emotions. They are hasya (happiness), shoka (sorrow), krodha (anger), karuna (compassion), bhibasta (disgust), adhbhuta (wonder) bhaya (fear), vikram (courage) and shanta (serenity). The uniqueness of Indian classical dance, is that they are all devotional in content. In fact Bharata Natyam was till the early 20th century, only performed by `devadasis or maids of God`, in temples. Almost every village has its own folk dance, which is performed by the village folk itself. These are performed on festivals, ceremonies, special occassions, etc. All night dance dramas are popular throughout India and mark all the major festivals. This dance is the oldest of the classical dance forms, and its origin can be traced to Bharatha`s Natya Shastra. It is a very traditional and stylized dance form. Strict about the techniques used in performing, it disallows any kind of innovations except in the repertoire forms of presentation. It developed in South India, in its present form, two hundred years ago. The musicians of the Tanjore court of the 18th and 19th centuries, lent the thematic as well as musical content to the dance. It is essentially a solo dance and has close affinities with the traditional dance-drama form called Bhagvat Mela performed only by men, and folk operettas called Kuruvanji performed only by women.

KATHAKALI

Kathakali has its origin in the courts of the kings of Kerala. It is one of the most refined and most scientific dance forms of Kerala. Its present form is not more than 300 years old. This art demands complete control over every part of the body. Kathakali draws heavily from drama, utilising elaborate masks and costumes. The stories or attakathas, which are depicted via Kathakali are selected from epics and mythologies. These are written in a highly Sanskritised verse form in Malayalam. Here, the dancer expresses himself through highly complicated mudras, closely following the text being sung. The splendour of the costumes, ornaments and especially the facial make-up are absolutely striking.

KUCHIPUDI

This dance of Andhra Pradesh, which originates from Kuchelapuram in Andhra Pradesh, is the corresponding style of the Bhagvata Mela Nataka of Tamil Nadu. Except that the emphasis is on the animation, the grammar is derived from the Natya Shastra. Each principal character in Kuchipudi dance introduces himself or herself on the stage with a brief composition of dance and song, specially designed for the character to help reveal his or her identity and show the performers` skill in the art. These compositions are called dharu, and there are nearly 80 dharus or dance sequences in the dance drama. The most popular dance is the pot dance, where the dancer keeps a pot on her head and on the rims of a steel plate places her feet. She moves on the stage manipulating the brass plate without spilling a drop of water on the ground. The music in Kuchipudi is classical Karnatic. The mridanga, violin and clarinet are the common instruments employed as an accompanient.

MOHINIYATTAM

This dance form too belongs to the Devadasi dance heritage, like Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and Odissi. The word `mohini` literally means the `maiden who steals the hearts of men`. It is believed that Lord Vishnu took the guise of a `Mohini` to enthrall people, during the churning of the ocean as well as the slaying of Bhasmasura. Thus, the Vaishnava devotees gave the name `Mohiniyattam` to this dance form. It is a solo dance which is similar to Bharatanatyam, its movements are graceful like Odissi and the costumes are attractive but sober. The first reference of solo dance is found in the `Vyavaharamala`, composed in the 16th Century. The dance is very popular in Kerala

YAKSHAGANA

The origin of this can be traced to the rural areas of Karnataka. It is about 400 years old and is a blend of dance as well as drama. The language used for the `Gana` meaning `music` is Kannada and the themes are based on Hindu epics. The costumes are almost akin to the Kathakali dance costumes and the style too seems to have drawn inspiration from it. As prescribed in the Natya Shastra, it has the Sutra Dhara (conductor) and the Vidhushaka (the jester).

ODISSI

This is also based on the Natya Sashtra and it can be traced back to the 2 B.C. when the Jain king Shastra ruled. He himself was an expert dancer and musician, who arranged a performance of Thandava and Abhinaya. In the 17th century a class of boys known as the Gotipuas came into being. They dressed as women and danced in the temples. The present Odissi as a solo form, evolved out of all these. Its technique is built round a basic motif in which the human body takes the thrice deflected (tribhanga) position of Indian sculpture. The dances are performed to poetry ranging from invocations of Ganesha to the verses of the Gita Govinda. The dancer has scope to improve within the beats, the framework in the dance patterns and the freedom to interpret the poetic line in a variety of ways to evoke a single mood.

KATHAK

Kathak finds its roots in `katha` meaning 'story'. A band of storytellers attached to temples in Northern India, narrated stories from epics. Later they added mime and gesture to their recitation. The popularity of the Radha-Krishna legend, led to further innovations in the dance form. With the advent of the Muslim rule, it was brought out of the temples and in to the courts of the rulers. Since then it has been commonly identified with the court traditions of the later Nawabs of northern India. It is really an amalgam of several folk traditions, the traditional dance drama forms prevalent in the temples of Mathura and Vrindavan known as Krishna and Radha - Lila. Jaipur, Benaras and Lucknow became the main centers of the dance. While Benaras maintained the purity of the dance, Jaipur gave emphasis to rhythm and Lucknow introduced erotic steps. The Kathak dance goes through a regular format, mostly concentrating on rhythm,its variation being - Tatkar, Paltas, Thoras, Amad and Parans.

MANIPURI

Manipuri is the dance form of Manipur and is inextricably woven into the life of the people of the state. The dance form is mostly ritualistic, which draws heavily from the rich lore of the legend and mythology. The dances known as the rasa dances evolved only as a result of the interaction of the Vaishnava cult and several highly developed forms of ritual and religious dances which were prevalent in the area, in the 18th century. The costumes used in this dance are colourful and bright, and the music is slow as well as rhythmic. The numbers presented are Lai Haraoba and Rasa Leela. The former deals with the creation of the world and the latter deals with the intimacy between Krishna and his consort - Radha. A large variety of intricate rhythmic patterns are played on the drums and cymbals

TAMIL NADU DANCES-

DANCES OF TAMIL NADU- UNBRIDLED EXPRESSIONS

Tamil Nadu has an invaluable heritage and cultural richness that makes every Tamilian proud of their nationality. Tamil Nadu boasts about its scores of folk and classical dances, each dance a pure ecstasy in itself. Be it a dance, which enacts a story, or a dance performed as a worship to Gods, they have this exceptional aura and presence that enchant and motivate each and every spectator to their deepest. These flawless dances that have been preserved through centuries are now an integral part of our present culture and have become a mirror of Indian cultural richness to the outside world. It has gained such an importance in tourism that many tourist like you visit this land of Tamil Nadu just to watch and experience this flowing poetry right in front of their eyes. When in Tamil Nadu, witness any form of dance and rest assured, you will not leave the theater premises without the tickets for next show.

Bharatanatyam

This is the most famous and practiced dance form in the the state of Tamil Nadu that has fascinated one and all. This is one of the oldest forms of performing arts not only in south India but in the entire country. You will find to your amazement that Bharatanatyam is not just a simple dance that is performed just for the sake of entertainment but it is an amalgamation of many different essences. Few of them are Bhava(expression), Tala (rhythm), and Natyam (dance). Take a close look at the flow of the body and discover new definitions for expressions and rhythm. Though the exact time of origin of Bharatanatyam is not known, but reference even in the Natya Shastra written by the great sage Bharata, confirms it as one of the oldest forms of dance. Along the path of its development it has gone through quite a few changes. Earlier, Bharatanatyam was considered the practice of only devdasis in the temples of south India and was not considered a reputed profession. But then it was taken up by Rukmini devi who learned Bharatanatyam from these devdasis, practiced it and perfected this art. She then started performing this divine art form in public and slowly and gradually, Bharatnatyam started gaining recognition and number of people who wished to get trained in this increased drastically. Bharatanatyam was no longer considered the profession of devdasis. It had now become one of the most sought after dance form in the world. Learn the art in one of the many institutes that specialize in the area of Performing arts like the Kalakshetra, which is the most famous of all institutes.

Bommalattam (Puppet Show)

Locally called Bommalattam, this is a dance form that most of you must have seen and enjoyed from your childhood days. Almost all villages have their own puppet show during fest and festivals but one thing is for sure that you would not have seen a puppet show this colorful and with such variation any where else in the world. You will find the most amazing puppets made up of cloth, wood, and leather that are used here. As is every where else, these puppets are controlled by threads from the backstage and all you see is puppets performing in the front. Stories from Indian mythology and epics are enacted in the shows which are full of ideals and morals that prove to be very useful for little kids and sometimes, probably more relevant for the grown ups. Don't miss the puppet show or Bommalattam as these shows are so marvelously performed that they will virtually leave you hypnotized.

Karagaattam

Karangattam is a folk dance, which is accompanied by music. The dance is performed while balancing a pot of water on the head. It is said that the dance is performed as an offering to rain goddess Mari Amman and to river goddess, Gangai Amman as their praise. You will be amazed to see the huge amount of poise, balance and control that is required to execute the difficult steps of this dance, that too while balancing a pot of water on their head and for all the spectators, this turns out to be a breathtaking display of skills. The dancers exemplify the inherent resilience of our dance traditions to cope with new ideas and changing contexts. The dance is classic and contemporary at the same time. You can enjoy a performance of this dance at any theater that is staging a show.

Mayilattam

This is a joyous form of dance as a symbol of prosperity during the harvest festival 'Pongal', which is performed by girls only. In this dance the performers are dressed like a Peacock from head to toe complete with a beak. When in Tamil Nadu, do try to catch a performance of this wonderfully enchanting dance form. Check out the timings for the show from a local tourist center.

Kavadiattam

More than performing art, this is a religious dance done in devotion to Lord Subramanya. The origin of this dance form is said to have been by devotees on pilgrimage. To remove the boredom during the long journey, pilgrims started to sing and dance and this dance form came to be known as Kavadi Attam. This dance is done by carrying a long stick on which pots filled milk or coconut water is balance d on both the sides of the stick and this stick is carried by men on their shoulders. This dance is only performed by men. You are not likely to witness this dance in any theaters but if you are touring Tamil Nadu during, you might just spot a group of pilgrim moving towards Palani hills, absolutely immersed in their devotion to the Lord Subramanya and performing this traditional dance in complete merriment.

Music And Dance - True Expressions of Life

Jammu and Kashmir has few of the most captivating forms of performing arts in India that has captured the imaginations of one and all. These dances have become a non detachable part of this state's culture and are performed at almost all festivals and celebrations. There are special dances for almost all occasions like birth celebrations, wedding ceremonies, crop harvesting. Be it the dances of J&K or the music, they have this special aura about them that make you feel as a part of the performance even if you are just a spectator watching it in front of your eyes or sitting miles away enjoying it through media. There are many shows organized as well where you can witness the mesmerizing art forms apart from watching them in festive celebrations. This makes Jammu and Kashmir a hot favorite destination among tourists.

Ruf Dance

This is one of the most famous dance forms that is practiced in J&K. The dance has been a part of Kashmiri life from ancient times. In the capital city, it is pronounced as 'Row' but in villages, it is pronounced as 'Ruf'. This dance is performed as a welcoming dance for the spring season. You will see most number of performances during the prelude of spring season. The dance is clearly inspired by bee and it is the lovemaking of the bee that is portrayed in the dance. In the dance, two or four groups are formed consisting of 2 to 3 charming women. They stand facing each other and hold the hand of the adjacent partner. The women together sway their feet forward and then to back. The song that is sung during the performance is in the form of question and answer form where one group questionand the other respond to it in a rhythmic way.