Bharatanatyam, one of the classical dances of India

Indian classical dance is a relatively new umbrella term for various codified art forms rooted in Natya, the sacred Hindu musical theatre styles, whose theory can be traced back to the Natya Shastra of Bharata Muni (400 BC). Bharatanatyam (பரதநாட்டியம்is a classical Dance form originating in Tamil Nadu, India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The Nātya Shastra ( Sanskrit: Nātyaśāstra नाट्य शास्त्र is an ancient Indian treatise on the Performing arts Musical theatre is a form of Theatre combining Music, Songs spoken Dialogue and Dance. The Nātya Shastra ( Sanskrit: Nātyaśāstra नाट्य शास्त्र is an ancient Indian treatise on the Performing arts Bharata was an ancient Indian Musicologist who authored the Natya Shastra, a Theoretical Treatise on ancient These are:

• Dances performed inside the sanctum of the temple according to the rituals were called Agama Nartanam. This was a spiritual dance form.
• Dances performed in royal courts to the accompaniment of classical music were called Carnatakam. This was an intellectual art form.
• Darbari Aattam form of dance appealed more to the commoners and it educated them about their religion, culture and social life. These dances were performed outside the temple precincts in the courtyards.

For lack of any equivalents in the European culture, the British colonial authorities called any performing art forms found in India as "Indian dance". Even though the art of Natya includes nritta, or dance proper, Natya has never been limited to dancing and includes singing, abhinaya, expressive acting, mime acting and movement. The Nātya Shastra ( Sanskrit: Nātyaśāstra नाट्य शास्त्र is an ancient Indian treatise on the Performing arts Dance (from French danser, perhaps from Frankish) is an Art form that generally refers to movement of the body usually rhythmic The Nātya Shastra ( Sanskrit: Nātyaśāstra नाट्य शास्त्र is an ancient Indian treatise on the Performing arts Abhinaya is a concept in Indian dance and drama derived from Bharata's Natya Shastra. These features are common to all the Indian classical styles.

A very important feature of Indian classical dances is the use of the mudra or hand gestures by the artists as a short-hand sign language to narrate a story and to demonstrate certain concepts such as objects, weather, nature and emotion. A mudrā ( Sanskrit: मुद्रा lit "seal" is a symbolic or ritual gesture in Hinduism and Buddhism. A sign language (also signed language) is a Language which instead of acoustically conveyed Sound patterns uses visually transmitted sign patterns

The Sangeet Natak Akademi currently confers classical status on eight Indian dance forms:

1. Bharatanatyam
2. Kathak
3. Kathakali
4. Kuchipudi
5. Manipuri
6. Mohiniaattam
7. Odissi
8. Sattriya

Out of the 8 styles, the most ancient ones and the ones that have their origin in Agama Nartanam are Bharatanatyam and Odissi. Sangeet Natak Akademi ( Devanāgarī: संगीत नाटक अकादेमी or The National Academy for Music Dance and Drama in Bharatanatyam (பரதநாட்டியம்is a classical Dance form originating in Tamil Nadu, See Kāṭhaka for the Vedic school Kathak ( Hindi: कथक Urdu: کتھک) is a classical dance Kathakali (കഥകളി kat̪ʰəkaɭi is a form of highly stylised classical Indian Dance - Drama that is noted for its attractive make-up of characters Kuchipudi ( తెలుగు: కూచిపూడి (pronounced as 'Koochipoodi' is a Classical Indian dance form from Andhra Pradesh, a state of Manipuri dance is one of the major Indian classical dance forms. Mohiniyattam ( Malayalam: മോഹിനിയാട്ടം is a traditional South Indian Dance form from Kerala, India. Odissi is the classical dance form of Orissa in north-east India Sattriya, or Sattriya Nritya, is one among eight principal classical Indian dance traditions Bharatanatyam (பரதநாட்டியம்is a classical Dance form originating in Tamil Nadu, Odissi is the classical dance form of Orissa in north-east India These two most faithfully adhere to the Natya Shastra.

Kuchipudi and Mohiniaattam are relatively recent Darbari Aatam forms, just as Kathakali, and two eastern Indian styles, Manipuri and Sattriya, that are quite similar. Kuchipudi ( తెలుగు: కూచిపూడి (pronounced as 'Koochipoodi' is a Classical Indian dance form from Andhra Pradesh, a state of Mohiniyattam ( Malayalam: മോഹിനിയാട്ടം is a traditional South Indian Dance form from Kerala, India. Manipuri dance is one of the major Indian classical dance forms. Sattriya, or Sattriya Nritya, is one among eight principal classical Indian dance traditions Kathak was influenced in the Mughal period by various other dance forms, including Persian dance. See Kāṭhaka for the Vedic school Kathak ( Hindi: कथक Urdu: کتھک) is a classical dance Persian dance refers to the type of Dancing from Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

Classical Indian dance in the Raj and since 1947

The British Raj in India was a time of cultural hardship where these traditional dances were viewed by the British rulers as debauched and of doubtful morality. Raj may refer to Jaskinia Raj, cave in Poland Ráj, village in the Czech Republic administratively part of Karviná Raj may refer to Jaskinia Raj, cave in Poland Ráj, village in the Czech Republic administratively part of Karviná Furthermore, they were all labelled broadly as 'Indian dance' with no regard to the specifics of style. Later, linking dance with tawaifs and devadasis (both groups whom the government considered to be nothing more than simple prostitutes), British rule prohibited public performance of dance. Tawaif was a Concubine who catered to the Muslim nobility of South Asia, particularly during the Mughal era. The term devadasi originally described a Hindu religious practice in which girls were "married" and dedicated to a deity ( deva or Devi) Prostitution is the act of performing Sexual activity in exchange for Money. In 1947, India won her freedom and for dance an ambience where it could regain its past glory. Classical forms and regional distinctions were re-discovered, ethnic specialities were honoured.

References

External links

• Classical Indian dance at the Open Directory Project -- over 250 links to Classical Indian Dance resources