Indian Classical Dancers

Indian classical dance has a distinct character that reflects the great cultural and traditional endeavor. The forms of Indian dance have transcended beyond the fences and socio-cultural hindrances. Exponents of the Indian classical dance believe that it has the caliber of creating a new and disciplined lifestyle. The Indian Classical Dance is often regarded as the form of worship and meditation. The performers of Indian Classical Dance, despite of the background and forms, have played a crucial role in presenting India to the forefront of the World stage. It has helped in ending the erstwhile artistic isolation. Here, in the following lines, we provide the profile and biography of those great artists who made the country proud. 

Mallika Sarabhai
Mallika Sarabhai, a multifaceted personality, is a noted Kuchipudi and Bharatnatyam dancer. She has immensely contributed to the fields of acting, writing and publishing. She is a social activist and has participated in many socio-developmental projects initiated by the United Nations. Mallika Sarabhai has also received the "French Palme D'or'', the highest civilian award of France. 

Pandit Birju Maharaj
Birju Maharaj is a leading exponent and torch-bearer of the Kalka-Bindadin gharana of Lucknow. He is the only son and disciple of Shri Achhan Maharaj and is a familiar face of Indian Kathak dance all over the world. He has performed in almost all the countries of the globe.

Rukmini Devi Arundale
Rukmini Devi Arundale was a reputed dancer and choreographer of Bharatnatyam, an Indian classical dance form. Her charismatic personality and contribution to the renaissance of Indian Classical music attained her niche in the arena of Indian culture. It is believed that Rukmini Devi had declined the chair of the President of India, once offered by Morarji Desai, the then Prime Minister of India.

Shovana Narayan
Shovana Narayan is a Kathak Maestro and an outstanding dancer. She is an incarnation of the great artistic and social traditions of India. She created a new and innovative style of performing arts by enriching it with a deeper and wider canvas of expression and dimensions.

Sonal Mansingh
Sonal Mansingh is an eminent Indian classical dancer and a leading exponent of Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, and Chhau. Besides being a dancer, Sonal Mansingh is a well-known choreographer, teacher, orator and a social activist. For her contributions in the field of "Classical dancing" she has received accolades from many national and international organizations.

Uday Shankar
Uday Shankar initiated a unique movement of revival of classical dances in 1930. Though he had no formal training in any classical form, his presentations were creative. Uday Shankar used the essence of various traditions and techniques in his dance dramas and succeeded in presenting an integrated composition.

Yamini Krishnamurthy
Yamini 'Poornatilaka' Krishnamurthy, better known as Yamini Krishnamurthy is a renowned Kuchipudi and Bharatnatyam dancer. She is also considered as the torch-bearer of the Kuchipudi form of dance. She started her career with a dance performance in 1957, at the age of seventeen years.

Jammu & Kashmir Bachha Nagma Dance

The Bacha nagma dance is one of the major folk dance forms which are very prevalent in the valley of Kashmir. The Bacha nagma dance is one of the popular forms of dance which is performed in social gatherings and parties by the young boys who disguise themselves as women in long skirts. The dance form is performed in a stage where the music is quite loud and the dancers clad themselves in colorful costume. This folk dance form is one of the most prevalent ways of entertainment in the olden days. With the passage of time, there are a lot more ways that has come up by which people entertain themselves. But this Bacha nagma dance has still existed as a folk dance form and is considered as a prime component of the Kashmir culture.

History

The valley of Kashmir is one of the places in the country of India which is really a great place to be due to the extreme natural beauty and the rich and diversified culture that has developed over the passage of time. The valley of Kashmir is always remembered and appreciated for the rich culture and the various folk dance forms which are being practiced out here. The Bacha nagma dance is also one of the famous folk dances which is being performed in Kashmir. The history of the dance form says that the dance form evolved many years ago as a dance form which is being performed during the harvest season to celebrate the joy of harvesting.

Description

The Bacha nagma folk dance form of Kashmir is being very well performed by the young boys of Kashmir during the harvest season and also sometimes in other cultural get together in the valley of Kashmir. In this folk dance form, the young boys dress as women in long colourful skirts and they perform on the stage with a lot of grace. In this dance form, the music used is quite loud and the dancers perform with extreme joy. The joy is not at all stipulated to the dancers but the audience also enjoy themselves equally watching the excellent performance of the Bacha Nagma dance. This dance had evolved a lot of years ago and has very well become a symbol of the culture among the Kashmiri communities. The Bacha nagma dance is still very much recognized as a form of folk dance but with the availability of others forms of entertainment, the prevalence of the dance have minimized to a large extent.

Behand Pather Dance




The main theme of Bhands could be visualized from the active folk form which is obtained from the various age old folk forms as well as the typical Sanskrit theatre of India. However, with the passage of time various features have been vanished and dramatic changes have taken place in others. The plays which are played in the Bhands are known as Pather and the meaning of the word is dramatic character. Bhand originates from a realistic and satirical drama or the bhanna, which is usually a monologue included in Bharata’s Natya Shastra. Although Bhand Pather is not considered as monologue, however, it is a type of social drama consisting of social satire and mythological legends. After tenth century number of foreign invasion took place in the J&K valley and as a result many disturbances had taken place in the social fibre for which Kashmiri people became slave in their own motherland. They had to live and adapt with alien socio-political, religious and cultural systems. A reflection of this cross exchange can be found in the J&K valley folk tradition. The anguishes of the people could be found in the plays in humorous or absurd form. The character of the king within Darza Pather or the royal soldiers within Shikargah speaking in Persian language with the illiterate and poor Kashmiri take the resort of whipping when they fail to understand their language. Big puppets using masks portray the characters of the witch or the king in the Gosain Pather which is regarding Saivites of Kashmir and Shiva to show the oppressive nature. All these plays ultimately make the local character victorious in conclusion.

Music

With the tune of a particular mukam and the orchestra consisting of dhol, nagara, swarnai and the thalij the Bhands dance. The swarnai is very bigger in size in comparison to the shehnai having a metallic and strong sound which has a great impact when played in the open space. This instrument has the capability of attracting local people from the nearby areas. It is a very special kind of wind instrument which consists of three parts. The first part is the wooden pipe or the nai prepared by carpenters having special skills, the second part is the barg which is made from a special type of grass procured locally and the third part is a copper disc where the barg is attached. Before playing for the first time the swarnai player usually makes an offering in the dargah. Every Bhand Pather has its own composition which is known as mukam. The music continues with a set kind of pattern like salaam, dubitch, thurau, salgah and the nau patti. The music is performed with the codified and intricate patterns of sufiyana kalaam which is based upon the classical mould. The central figure in the orchestra is the person who operates the dhol. Various taals in many combinations are being played on this dhol, however, very few persons are found in this job nowadays. The dhol is accompanied by nagara which helps the rhythm to double in intensity when activated. Number of nagara is utilized while performing to make the sound impact of the instrument perfect. The thalij is a kind of metal cymbal which is a little bigger in comparison to other type of musical instruments.

Dance

A short bamboo stick and a whip are the two things must for each pather. The long whip or the koodar is made from the stem of the plant (bhang) and appears like a fat rope that is forked to its tip. While using, it creates a sound that resembles to gunshot. At the time of performance, whipping of a character can be done number of times without making any injury since this has not the property as a whip possesses, however, it appears deadly. It is utilized to change all the essentials which show oppression into vivid dramatic images. The bans on the contrary are utilized by the maskhara or jester. Split sticks of bamboo are being utilized to create a sharp sound.

Jammu & Kashmir Rauf Dance

The Rauf is a folk dance form which is mainly practiced by the women folk of the Kashmir valley. There are several folk dance forms which have particularly originated and flourished in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. In this beautiful dance form, there are women who line up in two rows facing each other and perform this beautiful dance during the spring time in beautiful costumes.

History

The Rauf is a folk dance which originated in the Muslim community of the state of Kashmir in India. The dance originated several years back in order to celebrate the good weather of the spring season and also for the purpose of merriment in the various festivals like Id-ul- Fitr. The dance is being performed by the women in beautiful costumes and in a characteristic music. The dance is simple footwork which is also called Chakri in the local language.

Description

The Rauf dance is a highly appreciated and acclaimed folk dance form of the Muslim community in the beautiful valley of Kashmir in India. In this form of folk dance, the women who are dressed in colorful costumes make two rows and face each other to dance. The Rauf dance mainly involves the footwork which is also termed as the Chakri in the local language. The dance is usually performed in all auspicious occasions and festivals. Also this dance is particularly practiced in the spring season when the weather is good and the nature is blooming to glory. The dance form is practiced with the help of the mystical poetry which is being sung and the dancers dance to the rhythm of this poetry. During the major festival of the Muslims during the Ramzan month, the streets of Kashmir become pleasant with the help of Rauf songs and dance which are being performed by the Kashmiri women. This dance is also associated with the joy of harvesting. The harvesting season brings a smile to the farmers’ face and they usually celebrate the occasion in a very grand way. There are good food, songs and dances which are being observed in a special manner. Rauf dance in one of the major folk dances which is being showcased by the women of Kashmir belonging to the Muslim community. Kashmir is one of the major tourist destinations of the world and millions of tourists visit the valley every year. This dance form has earned huge appreciation nationallyand internationally.

Jammu & Kashmir Dumhal Dance

The Dumhal dance of Kashmir is one of the famous forms of folk dances in the state of Kashmir. This is a dance which is being performed by the men folk of Kashmir in a unique and characteristic manner. The performers of this dance wear extremely colorful dresses ofattractive design and also wear ornaments of beads etc which are being beautifully flaunted and are a treat to the eyes for the audience who are watching the dance. In this particular dance form, there is the party of the dancers who move in a procession and is highly appreciated for the elegance they extrude through this particular folk dance form.

History

Kashmir is a state which is much disputed and had several tensions in the past as well as in the present. The state of Kashmir which lies at the Line of Control (LOC) between the countries of India and Pakistan has undergone numerous tensions. But all these tensions did not stop the state from flourishing its culture. The valley of Kashmir is well-known for the natural beauty and the various kinds of the culture that the residents portray in this region. This is really astonishing to see the way the different folk dance forms have evolved in this particular state. Dumhal dance is one of the most popular folk dance forms in the state of Kashmir and is highly appreciated and is performed in auspicious occasions.

Description

The Dumhal dance is a form of folk dance which is being performed by the men in the state of Kashmir. This form of folk dance is highly appreciated for the uniqueness and the rich tradition that they portray. The dance originated and flourished among the Wattal tribe of the Kashmir region. The performers of this dance look stunning as they wear long colorful robes andornaments made of beads and other materials. The dancers move in a procession extruding charm and depicting the culture of the region in a major way. The men who perform the dance also carry a banner which bears a desired message and also is dug into the ground. The music for the dance is produced with the help of drum and the vocal singing which makes it really interesting. The Dumhal dance is performed in various auspicious occasions and at various locations and this is a really good thing which has attracted the interest of the various art and culture enthusiasts.

Top 10 dance academy of India

 Dance is a much worshiped and respected form of art in India. The history and dignity of dancers range back to the very beginning of man’s existence. Dance today has evolved from its finite ethnic cults to evolve into a radiant and vibrant form of communication. The following enlists and elaborates some of the best dance academies of India.

1) Delhi Dance Academy, Delhi

Established in 2008 by Shri Bhupinder Singh, Delhi Dance academy provides one of the best dance courses in the country. As of date, the institute provides specialised education practise in a variety of dance forms and won many accolades in the category of dance. The institute provides various dance and fitness programmes as well. The academy blends the authentic flavour of ethnic and western dance forms and its education as well.

2) Film academy, Mumbai

One of the best dance academies India that boasts of its brilliant choreography featured in the Bollywood industry and its stunning fashion statements and grooves, Film Academy situated in Mumbai is infamous for the film loving nation. The academy provides quality practise and education of the bollywood dance forms, evolution and progress as well.

3) Noor-Wellness Within, Bandra

The firm ground of dance is the human ability of being born with a rhythm. The institute aims at a progressive form of dance is the country with its primary focus on nurturing the wellness within. There are personal as well as group sessions provided by the institute.

4) Veve Dance, Andheri

Located on the Charni road in Andheri, Veve Dance academy has its prime focus on the dance form of belly dancing. The school is an official and genuine representative of the Egyptian Embassy. The institute boasts of its qualified excellence in the category of belly dancing and the only competent and standard dance academy for the same, in the country.

5) Ballet Repertoire Acdemy of India, Dadar

Located in Dadar in Mumbai, Ballet Repertoire Academy of Dance boasts of its finite ground in the western dance form of ballet being the only representative in the respective category with quality working. The dancing ballerina of India, Eva Bharucha who is also, India’s finest ballerina runs the institute. She has been practising ballet since the tender age of three.

6) Government College of Music and Dance, Hyderabad

Situated in the metropolitan busy city of Hyderabad, Government College of Music and dance ahs a rich history in being one India’s best dance institutes. The institute offers a variety of courses in the ethnic dance forms. The dance form mainly focussed by the academy is kuchipudi.

7) Strut- The Dancemakers, Bandra

Located in the busy city of Mumbai in Bandra, Strut- the Dancemakers is basically a dance programme that was triggered by Electric Apples Entertainment. The academy now provides various forms of western and contemporary dance forms.

8) Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bangalore

One of the finest dance academies of India, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan boasts of its education programmes in the ethnic dance forms of Bharathnatyam and Kathak. Anyone interested with a pass in matriculation can apply for the diploma courses of the institute.

9) Verve Dance academy, Grant Road

Providing personal and group classes on Grant Road, Verve Dance academy is one of the reputed dance academies of India. The institute focuses on a new generation dance of performing the dance based on the voice within and its visualization of art.

10) SBR College of Music and Dance, Andhra Pradesh

One of the oldest institutes of dance in India, SBR College of Music And Dance situated in Andhra Pradesh boasts of its indulgence in the ethnic dance forms. The prime focus of the institute is on the dance forms of Kathak, Kuchipudi and Bharatnatyam. The institute is affiliated to Osmania University.

Pack your bags and join one of the aforementioned colleges the beat within your has spelt a new generation art of dance, already.

Kud Dance

You must have had already known that Jammu and Kashmir is hailed as the Switzerland of Asia and the Paradise on Earth because of the beauty of nature found here. However, it is not just the land of sheer natural splendour. It houses some of the finest cultures that can be found in India. The cultures of Jammu and Kashmir are quite rich because of the influence of diverse ethnic groups, religions, races, sub-races, etc. Just for example, a huge number of dance forms exist among the traditions of Jammu and Kashmir, which is the contribution of the various groups of people living here. For example, the Hafiza and the Bacha Nagma are said to be influenced by Persian cultures, due to the singing of songs in Sufiana Kalam or lyrics. Similarly, Kud is another form of dance that is practiced mainly near the middle mountain areas of Jammu. It is worth watching the locals participating in this form of dance putting on their extremely beautiful and bright colour clothes. So if you want to discover some unknown culture and their lifestyle then you would definitely have to tour Jammu and Kashmir.

Purpose

The Kud dance, which is performed by the local people of Jammu’s middle mountain ranges, is basically a ritual to honour the Lok Devatas or the Gods of the people. The Gods are sometimes also referred to as Gramdevatas meaning the Gods of the village. Whatever, the gods may be called as; the real motive is to thank the eternal power for protecting the life of the people, their crops and cattle and also their children. Thus, the participants of this ritual are generally farmers who thank God for protecting them against all sorts of natural calamities. That is why, this is also a ritual that takes place as a celebration for the successful harvesting of the crops, especially the maize.

Performers

The people performing in the Kud dance are all local members of Jammu middle mountain range areas. Most of them generally belong to the farmer class. The performers are not professional dancers but they are just the local people and almost all of them take part in the night long ritual of Kud dance. There is no age barrier on the performer’s age and people of all age group are free to participate in the dance form. Furthermore, there is no restriction with the gender of the performers, where all men and women are free to take part.

Costumes

All men and women get dressed in the best possible manner while they come for participating in the Kud dance rituals. Male and female performers have difference in the kind of attires they wear. The men are generally seen in while Kurtas and Churidars (tops and bottoms) along with turbans on their head with a piece of cloth tied near the hip. Generally, the Kurta and the churidaar are of the same colour, generally white. While the turban and the lace or piece of cloth tied at the hip are generally of the same colour, which is a bright one such as yellow or red, contrasting well with white. Sometimes, these performers are also seen playing shinghas or trumpets as they dance.

Style

The Kud dance form is simple as it is performed by the village farmers of the Jammu middle mountain range people. It is not a dance form that necessarily requires professional dancers. This is the reason why, many tourist who visit Jammu during the monsoon or during the harvest season also gets themselves matching steps with the Kashmiri locals. This is one of the exciting events because it is performed during the night by the bonfire. This takes the participants of this simple dance form to the summit of enjoyment.

Music

The Kud dance form is practiced in accompaniment of playing of traditional musical instruments such as Narshinghas or big trumpets, chhainas, drums and flutes. The combined sounds of these instruments are able to give birth to an amazing musical rhythm, which suits the night chilly atmosphere of these mountainous regions perfectly for grooving around the bonfire. Since, it is one of the simplest traditional folk dance forms in Kashmir tourists are able to learn it quite easily from the locals before they start matching steps with them. So, if you are also interested to spend some days of your Kashmir tour in the traditional Kashmiri way then make it a point to be a part of the harmonious event where Kud dance is performed.