India is a country where until now, despite global changes in the world, cultural traditions are treasured and respected. Born several millennia ago, they continue to play an important role in the life of Indians. However, not only them. In recent years, all over the world, and especially in the West, interest has grown in the original culture of this country.
The philosophical teachings that have been formed over many centuries, as well as the architecture, music and dances of India, are a synthesis of the religious consciousness of various ethnic groups that make up the Indian nation today. The basis of its culture is the desire of man for unity with the deity.
Shiva is the destroyer and creator god
According to ancient legends, Brahma, worried about the disorder on the earth he created, decided, in addition to the four Vedas, which were kept in the strictest secrecy, to create a fifth, accessible to all people. To this end, he taught the sage Bharath the dramatic art in which music, song and dance were combined. Bharata, in turn, shared new knowledge with Shiva.
This destroyer god, if he wanted, could create. With regard to dance, he proved to be just in the second incarnation. The same traditions claim that Shiva, being an unsurpassed dancer, taught this art to his wife Parvati and the sage Bharata. The latter, combining his knowledge with those that he received from Shiva, wrote a voluminous work devoted to theatrical mastery - Natyashastra.
Together with other sages, Bharata distributed his treatise among the common people. As a result, Natyashastra's work had a tremendous impact on India's songs and dances. Both arts were closely intertwined with religious beliefs. Even today, mythological content prevails in the selection of song themes and in the dances themselves.
Temple Culture of India
Dancing has always been one of the main components of Indian art. Originating about five thousand years ago, they eventually reached the highest development, while paying tribute to ancient traditions.
The surviving panels, friezes and sculptural images indicate that the dances of India from the very beginning were part of a religious cult. Until now, in the temples you can see the halls intended for ritual dances. In fact, they accompanied any religious ceremony.
Temple dancers - Devadasis - were considered the guardians of this centuries-old classical art. The dances themselves were seen as a spiritual practice, which, along with yoga, can harmonize emotions and body. True, to achieve such spiritual development is possible only on one condition: you need to dance selflessly.
The basis of the ritual temple dances were stories from ancient epic works such as Mahabharata or Ramayana, as well as from the scriptures of Hinduism. Temple dancers were highly respected, but British colonial policies regarding devadasi led to a gradual decline in the art of ritual dance.
Music as part of Natyashastra
Ancient literary monuments indicate that India has developed a specific perception of music, due to religious beliefs and the ethnic diversity of the country. On the one hand, it has become part of everyday life, and on the other, a means of combining physical and spiritual phenomena.
The music and dances of India are closely interconnected, in addition, they are united by a form of theatricality. For example, the nature of a work determines the gestures, poses, and facial expressions of performers.
The treatise "Natyashastra" described in detail different types of sacred melodies, instruments and songs. Already in ancient times, Indians considered it possible to reproduce the most profound experiences through music and dance.
In the view of the inhabitants of Hindustan, both arts are a gift of the gods, therefore, they have a strong effect not only on people, but also on birds, animals, plants and the forces of nature. With their help, you can tame the snakes, extinguish the flame, cause rain, etc.
Features of Indian Dance Art
The dances of Ancient India from the very beginning had a number of distinctive features. Firstly, it was not just a set of repeating movements, as can be seen in the folklore dances of other nations, but a full-fledged story set forth in the vibrant language of choreography.
Secondly, each performer invested in his dance his vision of the world and the power of mastery. Thus, using certain steps, hand movements and facial expressions, he conveyed to the audience a whole gamut of feelings and even events.
These features of Indian dance art have survived to our days, despite the fact that it has almost lost its religious essence, moving into the category of colorful entertainment.
Folklore
A huge number of nationalities living in India determine the cultural wealth of the country. Each state and region has its own characteristic dances, music, makeup, costumes. Many Indians in childhood learn the art of traditional choreography or playing a musical instrument.
Religious subjects are rarely found in folk dances; moreover, virtuosity and grace of movements are not as important as in classical ones, therefore everyone can perform them.
Although the folk dances of India have incorporated certain elements of traditional choreography, they still dominate topics related to everyday life: the cycle of agricultural work, childbirth, weddings, etc.
Timeless classic
Until the 20th century, dance in India was part of the temple rite, in which the sacred meaning was invested. The performers' costumes included a large number of jewelry: gold bracelets, bronze ankle bells, a nose ring connected to the ear by a chain, a necklace, and a hoop with a pendant crowned the head.
Classical dances of India is a complex choreographic art, the movements of which were canonized in the Natyashastra treatise mentioned above. According to this ancient manual, the triad of elements of Natya, Nritta and Nritya constitute a dance classic.
Natia includes certain poses, gestures, facial expressions and speech of the performer. Nritta is actually the dance itself, which consists of repeating rhythmic elements. Nritya is a combination of the two previous components, whereby the meaning embedded in the dance is expressed. Education of Indian choreography begins with learning and practicing movements, which takes from 5 to 9 years.
The most ancient styles
The dances of India include seven classical styles, four of which are hundreds of years old. The most ancient of them is Bharatnatyam, based on ancient mythology. This prayer dance was performed by Devadasi temple dancers in honor of the god Shiva.
His movements are carried out along strict geometric trajectories: eyes, hands, head draw either triangles, then straight lines, or circles. All this gives the Bharatnatyam linearity.
Another dance, Kathak, was used by the Brahmin priests to present their teachings about Krishna. Muslim influence is very noticeable in it, since it was popular at the court of the Mughal dynasty, which ruled India for two hundred years.
Kathakali - dance-drama, can be performed by young men throughout the night. Its main theme is heroism, and the ancient epic of Ramayana is used as a source of inspiration .
Manipuri is a graceful, but at the same time close to folk dance style, telling about the relationship between the god Krishna and his beloved Radha.
Bollywood masala
Speaking about the history of Indian dance, it is impossible to ignore the huge interest in it in the modern world. Not the last role in its popularization was played by cinema.
Thanks to him, a new style appeared - Bollywood Masala, which combined traditional Indian expression with the achievements of eastern and western choreography. This is the most popular dance style among all who are passionate about the culture of this country.
One can definitely say that the dances of India with their ancient history and choreography, which has no analogues in the world, are the cultural heritage of all mankind. After all, they develop an aesthetic taste, discipline, give spiritual strength and help express their feelings through rhythmic movements.