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Classical Dances
Indian dancing is a highly developed art of pantomime, in
which the dancer is essentially a story teller. Eyes and
eyebrows, hands and fingers, neck and foot, in fact the
whole body, are charged with meaning.
Colorful and fascinating, it is largely religious in
inspiration. Among the well-known schools of classical
Indian dance is Bharat Natym, which was born and nurtured
in the temples of South. It is highly stylized dance,
which relates a story through a language of gesture and
expression, accompanied by song. It takes about ten years
of intensive training to become accomplished Bharat Natym
dancer.
Kathakali is another ancient dance, born in Kerala. It is
characterized by elaborate make-up and rich and elaborate
costumes. Unlike Bharat Natym, Kathakali is performed
almost entirely by men. The theme is usually derived from
the great epic stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata,
portrayed through gestures and expressions, to the
accompaniment of drums and changing of songs.
Kathak, confined to Northern India, was developed under
Mongol patronage from traditional form into highly
sophisticated dance style. Lightening footwork and
unerring rhythm are its outstanding characteristics.
Eastern Manipuri dance is graceful, enhanced by beautiful
and distinctive costumes.
Folk Dances
There is rich diversity of folk dances in India and almost
every region has evolved its own style. Folk dancing is
often connected with the seasons and the harvest.
Music
Indian Music is esoteric and perhaps, the oldest of
India's art. It unfold in intricate rhythmic patterns with
variations on a theme.
The base or fame for the improvisation is a
"Raga". Give this scale and mood, the artist
moves with ease and ingenuity that caused Yehudi Menuhin
to say of Indian Music "A mathematical exercise
becomes an ecstatic kind of astronomy".
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