The Arts - South India and Kerala - page 994

Dance
The ancient Indian art of dance is traditionally linked to mythology and classical literature.
Dance can be divided into two main forms: classical and folk.
Classical dance is essentially based on well-defined traditional disciplines. Some classic-
al dance styles:
» Bharatanatyam , which originated in Tamil Nadu, has been embraced throughout India.
» Kathak has Hindu and Islamic influences and was particularly popular with the Mughals. Kathak suffered a period of
notoriety when it moved from the courts into houses where nautch (dancing) girls tantalised audiences with renditions of
the Krishna-and-Radha love story. It was restored as a serious art form in the early 20th century.
» Kathakali, which has its roots in Kerala, is sometimes just referred to as 'dance' but is essentially a type of classical
dance-drama.
» Kuchipudi is a 17th-century dance-drama that originated in the Andhra Pradesh village from which it takes its name.
The story centres on the envious wife of Krishna.
» Odissi, from Odisha (Orissa), is thought to be India's oldest classical dance form. It was originally a temple art, and was
later also performed at royal courts.
India's second major dance form, folk, is widespread and varied. It ranges from the high-
spirited bhangra dance of Punjab to the theatrical dummy-horse dances of Karnataka and
Tamil Nadu, and the graceful fishers' dance of Odisha.
Pioneers of modern dance forms in India include Uday Shankar (older brother of the late
sitar master Ravi), who once partnered with Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova. The dance
you'll most commonly see, though, is in films. Dance has featured in Indian movies since
the dawn of 'talkies' and often combines traditional, folk, modern and contemporary cho-
reography.
Get arty with Indian Art by Roy C Craven, Contemporary Indian Art: Other Realities edited by Yashodhara Dalmia,
and Indian Miniature Painting by Dr Daljeet and Professor PC Jain.