Classical Dances of India

Mohiniyattam (element Air)

• from kerela
• Indian classical dance form
• Mohini – who enchants onlookers , attam – graceful boby movements
• Solo dance
• Two stories

o Vishnu appears as Mohini to save Lord Shiva from the demon Bhasmasura.
o Lord Vishnu disguised as a Mohini to lure the asuras (demons) away from the amrita (nectar of immortality) obtained during the churning of Ocean

• This dance which has influences and elements from two South Indian dance forms, the Bharatanatyam and Kathakali
• Approx 40 basic movements
• costume includes white sari embroidered with bright golden brocade

Bharatanatyam (Element Fire)

• from Tamil Nadu
• Indian classical dance form
• Bharatanatyam comes from the words Bhava (Expression), Raga (Music), Tala (Rhythm) and Natya (Classic Indian Musical Theatre).
• inspirations from the sculptures of the ancient temple of Chidambaram. Many of the ancient sculptures in Hindu temples are based on Bharata Natyam dance postures
• Bharatanatyam is considered to be a 'fire dance' — the mystic manifestation of the metaphysical element of fire in the human body. It is one of the five major styles (one for each element) that include Odissi (element of water), Mohiniattam (element of air), Kuchipudi (element of earth) and Kathakali (element of sky).
• In ancient times it was performed as "dasiattam" by mandir (Hindu temple) Devadasis.
• Solo dance , lasya, the graceful feminine lines and movements, and tandava (the dance of Shiva), masculine aspect
• Tamil, Telugu and Kannada are traditionally used in Bharatanatyam. , and carnatic music

Kathakali (element of sky)

• classical Indian dance-drama
• attractive make-up of characters, elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements
• It originated in the country's present day state of Kerala
• Kathakali originated from a precursor dance-drama form called Ramanattam and owes it share of techniques also to Krishnanattam. The word "attam" means enactment. In short, these two forerunning forms to Kathakali dealt with presentation of the stories of Hindu gods Rama and Krishna.
• International Centre for Kathakali at New Delhi has taken up a continuing project since 1980 of producing new plays based on not only traditional and mythological stories, but also historical stories, European classics and Shakespeare's plays. Recently they produced Kathakali plays based on Shakespeare's Othello
• Carnatic music
• Kathakali is usually performed in front of the huge Kalivilakku (kali meaning dance; vilakku meaning lamp

Kuchipudi

• name of a village in the Divi Taluka
• resident Brahmins practicing this traditional dance form
• begins with some stage rites, after which each of the character comes on to the stage and introduces him/herself, set the mood, of the character in the drama. The drama then begins.
• Carnatic Music , Yamini Reddy

• Ornaments worn by the artists are generally made of a light weight wood called Boorugu
• There are also subtle differences in the costumes of both types of dances. Generally, Bharatanatyam dresses have three fans of differing heights that form the illusion of the spreading pleats of a sari. However, in Kuchipudi there is typically only one fan which tends to be longer than the longest of the three fans present on Bharatanatyam dresses.

Odissi

• from orrisa
• oldest surviving dance form of India on the basis of archaeological evidences
• distinguished from other classical Indian dance forms by the importance it places upon the tribhangi (literally: three parts break), the independent movement of head, chest and pelvis
• mainly associated with temple dance eg: jaganath puri
• a decline and degradation occurred in all the Indian classical dance styles during the British period, especially when a bill was passed prohibiting temple dancing. Most of these dancers associated themselves with prostitution to survive
• Odissi dance accompanied by Odissi music
• The jewelry is made from intricate filigree silver jewelry pieces
• The crown, or mahkoot, worn by the Odissi dancer

Sattriya Nritya

• originates from Assam
• The core of Sattriya Nritya has usually been mythological stories
• Traditionally performed by male monks in monasteries
• The dresses are usually made of pat, a type of silk produced in Assam, woven with intricate local motifs. The ornaments, too, are based on traditional Assamese designs.

Manipuri Dance

• Originates from Manipur
• Radha and Krishna, particularly the raslila, is central to its themes
• dancers' feet never strike the ground hard
• instrument called the Pung

Kathak

• originated from northern India. This dance form traces its origins to the nomadic bards of ancient northern India, known as Kathaks, or storytellers
• three major schools or gharanas of Kathak i.e Jaipur, Lucknow and Banaras
• more commonly, the costume is a lehenga-choli combination, but sometimes it could be saaree.
• The traditional costume for men to be bare-chested. Below the waist is the dhoti, usually tied in the Bengal style
• Ghunghru or ghunghroo are the small bells the dancer ties around his or her ankles. The Kathak bells are different from those of other Indian dance styles, as they are not affixed to a pad or strip of leather, but rather are individually woven along a thick string. The usual number of bells is 100 on each ankle
• Went to decline in British Raj by associating Kathak solely with the tawaifs and then associating the tawaifs with out-and-out prostitution, Kathak acquired an unwholesome image.