Dances of India: the history of ancient art

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

India is a country where, despite the global changes in the world, cultural traditions are still cherished and honored. Having originated several millennia ago, they continue to play an important role in the life of Indians. However, not only them. In recent years, all over the world, and especially in the West, interest in the original culture of this country has grown.

Philosophical teachings that have been formed over many centuries, as well as the architecture, music and dances of India, are a synthesis of the religious consciousness of various ethnic groups that make up the Indian nation today. Its culture is based on the desire of man to unite with the deity.

Shiva - the god of destruction and creator

According to ancient legends, Brahma, worried about the disorder on the Earth he created, decided, in addition to the four Vedas, which were kept in the strictest secrecy, to create a fifth one, accessible to all people. To this end, he taught the sage Bharata the dramatic art, which combined music, song and dance. Bharata, in turn, shared his new knowledge with Shiva.

This god-destroyer, if he wanted to, could create. With regard to dance, he showed himself just in the second incarnation. The same traditions claim that Shiva, being an unsurpassed dancer, taught this art to his wife Parvati andsage Bharatu. The latter, combining the knowledge he already had with those he received from Shiva, wrote a voluminous work devoted to theatrical skills - "Natyashastra".

Together with other sages, Bharata distributed his treatise among the common people. As a result, the work "Natyashastra" had a huge impact on the songs and dances of India. Both arts were closely intertwined with religious beliefs. Even today, the choice of song themes and the dances themselves are dominated by mythological content.

Temple culture of India

Dancing has always been one of the main components of Indian art. Originating about five thousand years ago, they eventually reached the highest development, while paying tribute to ancient traditions.

The surviving panels, friezes and sculptural images indicate that the dances of India from the very beginning were part of a religious cult. Until now, in the temples you can see halls intended for ritual dances. In fact, they were accompanied by any religious ceremony.

Temple dancers - devadasis - were considered the guardians of this age-old classical art. The dances themselves were considered as a spiritual practice, which, along with yoga, can harmonize the emotions and the body. True, such spiritual development can be achieved only under one condition: one must dance selflessly.

The ritual temple dances were based on scenes from ancient epic works such as the Mahabharata orRamayana, as well as from the sacred writings of Hinduism. Temple dancers were highly respected, but the British colonial policy towards devadasis led to a gradual decline in the art of ritual dance.

Music as part of "Natyashastra"

Ancient literary monuments indicate that in India there is a specific perception of music, due to religious ideas and the ethnic diversity of the country. On the one hand, it has become a part of everyday life, and on the other hand, it has become a means of connecting physical phenomena with spiritual ones.

Music and dance in India are closely related, in addition, they are united by some form of theatricality. For example, the nature of a particular work determines the gestures, postures and facial expressions of the performers.

The treatise "Natyashastra" described in detail different types of sacred melodies, instruments and songs. Already in antiquity, Indians considered it possible to reproduce the deepest experiences through music and dance.

In the view of the inhabitants of Hindustan, both arts are a gift from the gods, therefore, they have a strong influence not only on people, but also on birds, animals, plants and the forces of nature. They can be used to tame snakes, put out flames, make rain, etc.

Features of Indian dance art

Dances of ancient India from the very beginning had a number of distinctive features. Firstly, it was not just a set of repetitive movements, as can be observed in the folklore dances of other peoples, but a full-fledgeda story told in vivid choreographic language.

Secondly, each performer put his vision of the world and the power of mastery into the dance. Thus, using certain steps, hand movements and facial expressions, he conveyed to the audience a whole range of feelings and even events.

These features of Indian dance art have survived to this day, despite the fact that it has almost lost its religious essence, moving into the category of colorful entertainment.

Folklore

The huge number of nationalities living in India determines the cultural we alth of the country. Each state and region has its own characteristic dances, music, makeup, costumes. Many Indians learn the art of traditional choreography or playing a musical instrument as children.

Religious themes are rarely found in folk dances, besides, virtuosity and grace of movements are not as important as in classical dances, so everyone can perform them.

Although the folk dances of India have absorbed certain elements of traditional choreography, they are still dominated by themes related to everyday life: the cycle of agricultural work, the birth of children, weddings, etc.

Eternal classic

Until the 20th century, dance in India was a part of a temple ritual, in which a sacred meaning was invested. The costumes of the performers included a large number of jewelry: gold bracelets, bronze ankle bells, a nose ring connected to the ear by a chain, a necklace, andthe head was crowned with a hoop with a pendant.

The classical dances of India are a complex choreographic art, the movements of which were canonized in the Natyashastra treatise mentioned above. According to this ancient manual, the triad of elements Natya, Nritta and Nritya constitute the dance classic.

Natya includes certain postures, gestures, facial expressions and speech of the performer. Nritta is actually the dance itself, which consists of repetitive rhythmic elements. Nritya, on the other hand, is a combination of the two previous components, through which the meaning inherent in the dance is expressed. Training in Indian choreography begins with learning and practicing movements, which takes from 5 to 9 years.

The most ancient styles

The dances of India include seven classical styles, four of which are hundreds of years old. The most ancient of them is Bharatnatyam, based on ancient mythology. This prayer dance was performed by Devadasi temple dancers in honor of Lord Shiva.

His movements are carried out along strict geometric trajectories: eyes, hands, head draw either triangles, or straight lines, or circles. All this gives Bharatnatyam linearity.

Another dance, Kathak, was used by brahmin priests to present their teachings about Krishna. It has a very noticeable Muslim influence, as it was popular in the court of the Mughal dynasty that ruled India for two hundred years.

Kathakali is a drama dance that can be performed by young men throughout the night. Home itthe theme is heroism, and the ancient epic Ramayana is used as a source of inspiration.

Manipuri is a graceful, but at the same time close to folk dance style, which tells about the relationship between God Krishna and his beloved Radha.

Bollywood masala

Speaking about the history of Indian dance, it is impossible to ignore the huge interest in it in the modern world. Cinema played an important role in its popularization.

Thanks to him, a new style appeared - Bollywood masala, which combined traditional Indian expression with the achievements of Eastern and Western choreography. This is the most popular dance style among all those who are passionate about the culture of this country.

It can definitely be said that the dances of India, with their ancient history and choreography, which has no analogues in the world, represent the cultural heritage of all mankind. After all, they develop aesthetic taste, discipline, give spiritual strength and help express their feelings through rhythmic movements.