DANCES OF INDIA

Bharatanatyam is poetry in motion, a solo dance originating in the temples of South India. It is a highly traditional dance form performed to repertory of Carnatic music and comprises items such as the alarippu, varnum, padam, thillana, and so on. Earlier, variedly known as Dasi Attam and sadir, it was practised by devadasis in the South Indian temples. Its present form was evolved in Tanjore by Poniah Pillai and his brothers. T. Bala Saraswati the queen of Bharatanatyam.

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SOME OF THE DANCE FORMS

1. Odissi- Odissi is a dance form developed in Odisha during the second century. It is also based on the principles of Natya Shastra. Odissi is woven around the basic tribhanga pose typical of Indian sculptures.

2. Manipuri- Manipuri is a dance form, mostly ritualistic, popular in the north east. It is a highly lyrical dance but lacks dramatic facial and gestural expression. The ragas comprise five different types of ballets based on the Radha-Krishna-Gopis theme.

3. Kuchipudi- It is a solo dance popular in Andhra Pradesh. It is originated in a place called Kuchelapur. It is traditionally performed by men attired like women. It has a style that corresponds with the Bhagavata Mela Natak of Tamil Nadu.

4. Kathak- This dance form originated in North India. It has its root in katha meaning story. The storytellers who were attached to the temples in North India narrated stories from the epic in the form of Radha Krishna lilas.

Read more: Indian dance forms