Bharatnatyam is one of the most popular classical Indian Cultural dances. Bharatnatyam is more popular in South Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Bharatnatyam Cultural dance is almost 2,000 years old. It is believed that Bharatnatyam was revealed by Lord Brahma to Bharata, a famous sage who then codified this sacred dance in a Sanskrit text called the Natya Shastra. The Natya Shastra is one of the fundamental treatises on Indian drama and aesthetics. Natya Shastra divides dance into two distinct forms- nritta, and nritya. In nritta, focus is on mastery of abstract hand gestures and movements, whereas the cultural dancer employs a complex system of hand signals and body language to depict emotional expressions in nritya.
Bharatanatyam is a classical cultural dance style of South India that combines artistic expression with a sense of spirituality. There are highly trained dancers who perform precise hand gestures, use intricate footwork, vivid facial expression, and fluid movement. The Bharatanatyam cultural dancers wear traditional costumes consisting of specially made saris, jewelry and hair ornaments, and specifically applied facial and body make-up. The dancers generally dance to a traditional south Indian Carnatic orchestra consisting of voice, strings, percussion, and flute.
Kathakali
Kathakali originated from the state of Kerala. One of the most interesting aspects of Kathakali is its elaborate make-up code. Characters are categorized according to their nature. This determines the colors used in the make-up. The faces of noble male characters, such as virtuous kings, the divine hero Rama, etc., are predominantly green.Characters of high birth that have an evil streak, such as the demon king Ravana, are allotted a similar green make-up, slashed with red marks on the cheeks.
Mohiniyattam
Mohiniyattam comes from one of the southern states of India, Kerala. A Mohiniyattam dancer immediately reminds you of this scenic beauty in her cultural dance. The movements are beautiful and lyrical and they are always in an unbroken chain, from one movement very gently and gracefully merging into another. Though the movements are swaying and gentle the presentation comes out with a tremendous and strong impact leaving the spectator in an atmosphere of grace, charm, vitality and a forceful vivacity.
Garba
Synonymous with the state of Gujarat in Western India, Garba dance is a customary affair that goes hand in hand with the navratras (nine nights of worshiping goddess Amba, a part of goddess Durga). The performance is undertaken with dancers dancing in circle with sticks in hand and while doing so they clash each others sticks to create a harmonious sound. Quite jovial in nature and proceedings, Garba is a community dance form that is celebrated openly in the society.
Manipuri
Manipuri dance is purely religious and its aim is a spiritual experience. Development of music and dance has through religious festivals and daily activities of the Manipuri people. Not only is dance a medium of worship and enjoyment, a door to the divine, but indispensable for all socio-cultural ceremonies. From the religious point of view and from the artistic angle of vision, Manipuri Classical Dance Form of dance is claimed to be one on the most chestiest, modest, softest and mildest but the most meaningful dances of the world.
Bihu
Assam is the representative of the entire North Eastern region of India. A naturally gifted part with hills and mighty rivers, the essence of Assam comes in full bloom in form of the Bihu dance which is closely associated with the most popular social festival by the same name. Incidentally, there are three Bihus in Assam, but the dance performance finds a prominent place during the Rongali Bihu celebrated in mid April to mark the advent of the new year.
Bharatanatyam is a classical cultural dance style of South India that combines artistic expression with a sense of spirituality. There are highly trained dancers who perform precise hand gestures, use intricate footwork, vivid facial expression, and fluid movement. The Bharatanatyam cultural dancers wear traditional costumes consisting of specially made saris, jewelry and hair ornaments, and specifically applied facial and body make-up. The dancers generally dance to a traditional south Indian Carnatic orchestra consisting of voice, strings, percussion, and flute.
Kathakali
Kathakali originated from the state of Kerala. One of the most interesting aspects of Kathakali is its elaborate make-up code. Characters are categorized according to their nature. This determines the colors used in the make-up. The faces of noble male characters, such as virtuous kings, the divine hero Rama, etc., are predominantly green.Characters of high birth that have an evil streak, such as the demon king Ravana, are allotted a similar green make-up, slashed with red marks on the cheeks.
Mohiniyattam
Mohiniyattam comes from one of the southern states of India, Kerala. A Mohiniyattam dancer immediately reminds you of this scenic beauty in her cultural dance. The movements are beautiful and lyrical and they are always in an unbroken chain, from one movement very gently and gracefully merging into another. Though the movements are swaying and gentle the presentation comes out with a tremendous and strong impact leaving the spectator in an atmosphere of grace, charm, vitality and a forceful vivacity.
Garba
Synonymous with the state of Gujarat in Western India, Garba dance is a customary affair that goes hand in hand with the navratras (nine nights of worshiping goddess Amba, a part of goddess Durga). The performance is undertaken with dancers dancing in circle with sticks in hand and while doing so they clash each others sticks to create a harmonious sound. Quite jovial in nature and proceedings, Garba is a community dance form that is celebrated openly in the society.
Manipuri
Manipuri dance is purely religious and its aim is a spiritual experience. Development of music and dance has through religious festivals and daily activities of the Manipuri people. Not only is dance a medium of worship and enjoyment, a door to the divine, but indispensable for all socio-cultural ceremonies. From the religious point of view and from the artistic angle of vision, Manipuri Classical Dance Form of dance is claimed to be one on the most chestiest, modest, softest and mildest but the most meaningful dances of the world.
Bihu
Assam is the representative of the entire North Eastern region of India. A naturally gifted part with hills and mighty rivers, the essence of Assam comes in full bloom in form of the Bihu dance which is closely associated with the most popular social festival by the same name. Incidentally, there are three Bihus in Assam, but the dance performance finds a prominent place during the Rongali Bihu celebrated in mid April to mark the advent of the new year.
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