Without a doubt, dance is as much a part of the Indian psyche as spices and curry. Case in point: you can count on a Bollywood movie – regardless of the cast and plot – to have several song-and-dance routines with an ensemble of dozens, even hundreds. Our writer lifts the veil over the millennia-old art form that is still practiced today.
Words: Abby Yao
One mild March night, a group of dance enthusiasts from around the world climbed four flights of steps, left their shoes on racks and entered a dance studio to witness a performance. I was there, too, sitting on the floor close to the action.
Kalakshetra is a leading Bharatanatyam school
Three barefoot young women clad in pink; their saris accented with gold hems, took to the floor. Their movements looked like poses I’d only seen in sculptures. The way they tilted their heads, moved their hands and feet, even blinked their eyes, was filled with emotion. Their expressions spoke in ways more than words could. I was hypnotised.
The Classics
Bharatanatyam is one of the most famous Indian classical dances
The name of the dance: Bharatanatyam, one of the most famous and oldest of the eight Indian classical dances at nearly 2,000 years old. Once performed in Hindu temples by devadasis, or female temple servants, it emphasises BHAva (emotion), RAaga (music), TAala (rhythm) and NATYAM (dance). It is said that the dance was revealed by Brahma, the god of creation, to the sage Bharata, who composed the Natya Shastra, the scripture of Indian theatre.
Of the eight main classical dances of India, Bharatanatyam from Tamil Nadu and three other dances are from the southern states: Kathakali and Mohiniyattam from Kerala and Kuchipudi from Andhra Pradesh. All four use Carnatic music using South Indian instruments.
Kathakali is famous for its elaborate makeup and costumes
If you’ve seen the green-faced man with the circular headdress and big bustle skirt, then you’ve seen a Kathakali dancer. The male-dominated dance-drama re-enacts stories from mythology and takes hours of preparation to put on the distinctive makeup and heavy costume. Watching the performers getting ready is stunning in itself!
Mohiniyattam, the female counterpart of Kathakali, is called the dance of the enchantress for its graceful and sensuous forms, while Kuchipudi shares a number of similarities to Bharatanatyam but has more curved poses.
The rhythmic Kathak dance is distinctive for its foot bells, numbering 100 or 200 per foot
In contrast to the bent legs in Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam, Kathak from the northern states is a standing dance, with Persian influences and Hindustani music.
These classical dances are still taught and performed widely in India. Aside from recitals and formal productions, usually produced by dance academies, there are also plenty of festivals that involve dancing. An arangetram (dancer’s graduation showcase) is also seen as a very important event as this only happens after several years of training.
By the People, for the World
In addition to the classical dances, there are hundreds of folk dances for different occasions and by various ethnic groups. Perhaps the most famous one is Bhangra from Punjab for its lively movements and popularity not only in the subcontinent, but also in the Indian diaspora all over the world. It’s not unusual for American universities to have competitive bhangra teams. These days, modern Bhangra is performed with contemporary hip hop and reggae beats.
Watch the Kalbelia dancer spin!
Chhau from the eastern states and Rajasthan’s Kalbelia, with its floaty skirts, are in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Other iconic folk dances are Karnataka’s epic Yakshagana and Kerala’s ritualistic Theyyam.
Theyyam is rich in rituals
Bollywood and Beyond
For those not living in Indian communities, the most accessible form of Indian culture is the Bollywood film, the “B” standing for Bombay (Mumbai), where many Hindi films are made. Other major Indian film industries are grouped according to language. These include Kollywood (in Tamil, after Kodambakkam, where the studios are located), Tollywood (in Bengali, after Tollygunge), Sandalwood (in Kannada, as the tree is common in Karnataka state) and Telugu cinema, now second after Bollywood.
Living with an Indian family, I see Bollywood music videos on perpetual loop at home. The steps and melodies are catchy and rousing, always inviting the viewer to join in the dancing. Even the toddlers in the house cannot resist getting on their feet and stomping to the beat! The influence of Indian cinema has gone global through the song-and-dance numbers. And it’s not just Slumdog Millionaire but also Moulin Rouge, among others. Even beyond Bhangra and Bollywood, the fascinating variety of Indian dances, classical and folk is worth watching live. The long tradition of Indian dance, from solo temple dance to synchronised group routines, will surely live on. Staying true to the principles of Natya Shastra on the one hand and transforming with outside influences on the other, it will be worth watching and learning for millennia to come.
Now, how do I get invited to an arangetram?
Where to Watch Indian Dances
Aside from popular venues for dance performances, some dance schools receive visitors. Check local listings for festivals.
BENGALURU Nrityagram, Attakalari, Ranga Shankara
CHENNAI Chennai Music & Dance Festival, Kalakshetra, Mamallapuram Dance Festival
GOA Kala Academy
HYDERABAD Shankarananda Kalakshetra
JAIPUR Maharaja Sawai Mansingh Sangeet Mahavidyalaya
KOCHI Kerala Kalamandalam, Kerala Kathakali Centre
KOLKATA Rabindra Sadan, Aurobindo Bhawan
NEW DELHI Ananya Dance Festival, Kathak Kendra
PUNE Nritya Prerana
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Margi Kathakali School, Drisyavedi, Onam Festival
