Dance in Ancient India

DANCE IN ANCIENT INDIA

EXPLORING THE MELODIES, POSTURES AND RHYTHMS OF THE AGES

INTRODUCTION

"The truest expression of a people is in its dance and in its music. Bodies never lie. "

-Agnes de Mille

Dancing is the natural expression of human feelings. It is a rhythmic movement of body in pace with the music accompanied. Many religions like Hinduism and Buddhism use dance postures in the shrines, which itself depict the importance of dance in worship.

In its truest sense, Indian classical dance is an expression of life, involving the body as well as the emotions. Indian dance is based on texts from Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language – also thought to be the mother of not only Indian languages but also modern European languages. Indian classical dance is one of the oldest dance traditions associated with any of the world's major religions. It has evolved with the concepts of self and world.

THE BEGINNING

The dance heritage of India is at least 5000 years old. More realistically, dance was part of the art of dramatic theatre in Ancient India, particularly in non-Aryan, primarily Dravidian societies. There is evidence of the popularity of dance in Indian society right from the Mesolithic period. A dancing girl figurine was found in the ruins of Mohenjodaro and is dated approximately 2nd Century B.C. Many group dancing sequences are depicted in exquisite rock paintings of Bhimbetaka caves of Madhya Pradesh. The APSARAS (Celestials) dancers are carved at the gateways of Sanchi. The wall paintings of Ajanta and Ellora, the sculptures of Khajuraho, the temple walls of Hoysala dynasty, stand ample evidence for popularity of Indian dances from ancient times. Ancient Indian history reveals that several centuries before Christ, India's art forms of dance, music and theatre were fairly well-advanced. Moving into the Vedic age, we once again find evidence of the continuing tradition of dance with the Vedas speaking eloquently on the art form. Dance was respected as a profession as well as a social activity. Even the Gods have been shown to appreciate dance, with Lord Krishna known as the Supreme Dancer. The performing arts, i.e. dance and music reached the acme of their glory, during the reign of the Chola dynasty in Southern India.

The Portuguese traveler, Domingo Paes visited the Vijayanagar kingdom in 1520-22 A.D. and has left behind a vivid description of the dancers he saw in the kingdom. His original chronicles have been preserved in the BIBLIOTHEQUE NATIONALE DE FRANCE, in Paris. He visited special dancing halls where young female dancers were given intensive training. The walls were decorated with paintings depicting various dancing poses which helped the dancers to correct their steps. The king, Krishna Devaraya himself took very keen interest in their dance education and periodically visited these halls. During the Navaratri festival celebrations the dance performances were given great importance. The dancers were adorned with innumerable ornaments, made out of gold, pearls, and diamonds. "At times the jewelry they wore use to be so heavy that the dancers were supported by the other women who accompany them".

Essentially one can divide the history of dance in India into two periods, the first one from the 2nd Century BC to the 9th Century BC and the second from the 10th Century BC to the 18th Century BC. During the first period, Sanskrit was the premier language for arts and hence had an influence on dance as well. This resulted in the dances being more or less uniform throughout the country. This period followed the NATYASASTRA with very little deviation from the principles it set down, and hence during this period dance, drama and music were one. The second period is characterized by regional diversifications and experimentations with newer ideas. Regional languages which had come up played an important role in diversifying the dance traditions, as did the inclination to deviate from the principles of the NATYASASTRA. They however still followed the essential concepts of the NATYASASTRA. The classical dance forms of Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Orissi, Kathakali and Manipuri began developing during this period. Another notable literary work on dance that was written during this period is the ABHINAYA DARPANA.

LITERARY REFERENCES TO DANCE

When we trace the history of Indian literature, we find references to dancing from the very earliest times. From the vague inspiration that the dancer provides to the imaginative poet to the symbolism that dance provides