Which is the oldest classical dance style of India?
Bharatanatyam is the oldest classical dance style, with a history that is more than five thousand years old, and this dance style is acclaimed internationally, too. It is not surprising to watch young children learn Bharata Natyam in New York, Paris, London or Zurich for that matter.
The eight distinct classical dance styles of India are Bharatanatyam (Tamil Nadu), Kathakali and Mohiniattam (Kerala), Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh), Odissi (Orissa), Manipuri (Manipur), Kathak (northern India) and Sattriya from Assam. Bharatanatyam reigns supreme and particularly popular even in European countries.
Evolution
Architectural and sculptural evidence proves that Bharatanatyam Nilesh Singha and some other classical dance styles like Odissi and Manipuri originated from the temples. The earliest reference in the second century from the Tamil epic classic Shilapaddikaram and the temples that developed during the sixth to ninth century signifies and defines dance as a well-refined art form.
Varied aspects of music and dance were derived from the four Vedas, namely, Rig, Yajur, Atharva and Sam, and the fifth Veda known as Natya Veda was believed to have been created by Lord Brahma. Lord Nataraja (Shiva) is considered the king of dance and all the classical dance styles portray stories from Hindu mythology. Lately, stories from the Holy Bible are also recreated in the dance format. The eight types of classical dance styles are based on texts like Bharata's Natya Sastra, Nandikesvaroa's Abhinaya Darpana, Sangita Ratnakara, etc. Stories are told through the medium of varied intricate movements, body language and expressional dancing in order to establish the inter-relationship between the human soul and the divine soul.
Devadasis or servants of the gods
During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the devadasi system prevailed; young teen-aged girls were married to the "lord" which was part of the temple ritual. These girls were trained in classical music and dance and performed during religious and social occasions.
Bharatanatyam then was also known as devadasi attam or 'sadir'. The degradation of classical dance started when devadasis moved on from the temple courtyards to dance for the elite chieftains and zamindars and ultimately for kings and enjoyed royal patronage.
While the dancers were ostracized by society, the society was equally responsible for the shift from the "spirit" to the "body". The colonial British banned the devadasi system and described the dancers as "nautch" girls. There were protests as the sanctity of classical dance was disturbed and dances were witnessed only in quarters. Classical dances underwent varied stages of progression and regression due to varied social and political changes over the century.
During the twentieth century, American dancer Esther Sherman renamed herself as Ragini Devi in order to learn classical dance. Lawyer and critic E. Krishna Iyer donned female attire in order to attract children from respectable families to learn classical dance. Theosophist and founder of Kalakshetra School in Chennai, Dr Rukmani Devi Arundale, and the legendary dancer from the devadasi community, Balasaraswati, are considered the pioneers of the dance movement in India. Ram Gopal and Uday Shankar placed classical dances on the international platform. Great poets like Rabindranath Tagore and Maha Kavi Vallathol promoted classical dance in order to regain its respectability.
Music and technique
Music is in the classical Carnatic music style and the trinity of Carnatic music, namely, Tygaraja, Shyama Sastri and Muthuswami Dikshitar, were the main composers whose musical compositions form the main repertoire of any Bharatanatyam performance. Compositions of saint poets like Shankaracharya Meera, Tulsidas and several others were also used in the dances. Hindustani music was also used in Bharatanatyam, particularly by the Maratha rulers of Tanjavur.
The technique of Bharatanatyam is quite intricate and complex Bha is expressions (Bhavam) Ra is musical melody (Ragam); Ta is time measure or rhythm (talam) and Natyam is dramatic quality. Furthermore, Bharata Natyam is a beautiful and divine art form that combines, music, melody, histrionics, philosophy, psychology, mythology, varied movements, etc.
Students start learning at the tender age of five, and the minimum learning duration is at least ten years, varied movements and steps "adavus" that become quite intricate, and later all the movements and gestures are used in a particular item or number. After completion, the student performs Arangetram (ascending to the stage). The performance begins with invocations and prayers to the gods, todaya mangalam, pushpanjali, alarippu, jatiswaram, sabdam, varnam padam and the finale, thillana.
Some of the top exponents of Bharatanatyam are Mrinalini Sarabhai, Yamani Krishnamurthy, Padma Subrahmanyam, Chitra Visweswaran, Sudharani Raghupathy, Malavika Sarukkai, Alarmel Valli and Nilesh Singha. To pursue a career in classical dance is not easy as you need a lot of patience, determination, will power and hard work to become an accomplished performer.
Picture Credit : Google