InsightsIAS Art and Culture- Dance and Music APEC- Art and Culture

Indian Dance
Definition: Dance is a performing that intends to evoke emotions amongst its spectators.
Dance in India has a long artistic history that can be traced back to pre-historic times. Dance
can also be defined as rhythmic movement of body to music.
Some of the textual references that talk about dance are: Bharata Muni’s Natyashastra,
Nandikeshvara’s Abhinaya Darpana, Abhinavabharati of Abhinavagupta, Dasarupaka of
Dhananjaya, Natya-darpana of Ramacandra and Gunacandra.
Basic elements of dance:
1. Natya: Dramatic element in a dance.
2. Nritta: pure body movements that are devoid of any expressions or emotions.
3. Nritya: dance with expressions to convey the idea behind a dance.
Note: A performing artist can convey nine emotions, such as- love (shringaara), mirth (haasya),
compassion (karuna), valor (veera), anger (roudra), fear (bhayanak), disgust (bibhatsayam),
wonder (adbhuta) and peace (shaanta).
Characterization of a Dance: Dance is often characterized as either Tandava or Lasya or
sometimes both, based on the nature of performing:
1. Tandava: It is a dance characterized by vigorous, masculine, and passionate movement
of body.
2. Lasya: It is a dance characterized by grace and feminine movement of body.
Basic tools of a dance:
1. Abhinaya: Expressive element.
2. Angika: movement of body and limbs.
3. Vachika: speech or sound.
4. Aharya: costume.
Classification of dance: Dance can be classified in various ways, but the popular amongst them
are- Classical dance (systematized, dictated by scriptures and rigorous), folk dance (simple,
family link, rooted in the society), western dance forms (ballet, waltz) etc.
Classical dances in India:
As per Sangeet Natak Akademi, there are eight classical dance forms in India- Bharatanatyam,
Mohiniattam, Kathakali, Kathak, Manipuri, Odissi, Sattriya and Kuchipudi. However, as per
Ministry of Culture, even ‘Chhau’ is considered as a classical dance.
Serial Dance Features
Number
1. Bharatanatyam  From the state of Tamil Nadu.
 Textual source: Silapaddikaram

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InsightsIAS Art and Culture- Dance and Music APEC- Art and Culture

 Alternate names: Chinna Melam, Sadir,

Daasiaattam, Bharatam etc.
 It was initially performed by Devadasi.
 As both Tandava and Lasya elements in it.
 It is a Ekaharya dance.
 King Serofji II patronized this art form extensively.
 It is accompanied by Carnatic music.
 Carnatic musical instruments used here are:
mridangam, south Indian veena, flute, cymbals.
 Nattuvanar is the person who conducts the dance
recitation here.
2. Mohiniattam  From the state of Kerala.
 History: Silapaddikaram or 18th century court of
Maharaja Svati Tirunal of Travancore
 It is usually performed as a solo dance.
 Lasya based dance.
 Carnatic music is accompanied with Sopaana
sangitam (a regional variation of Carnatic music)
 Manipravalam lyrics are used here (a mix of
Sanskrit and Malayalam).
 Borrows knowledge from ‘Hastalakshana Deepika’
 It has borrowed from folk dances, such as- Nangiar
Koothu, Kaikottikali and Tiruvatirakali
 Circular movement in this dance is called
‘Aandolika’.
3. Kathakali  From the state of Kerala.
 History: Kutiyattam, a Sanskrit theatre practiced by
Chaakkyaar community.
 Tandava dance form.
 It is costume intensive.
 It is inspired by Marital arts like, Kalarippayattu
 Religious themes are enacted in this art form.
 Characters here can be divided into- satvika (noble
characters), rajasika (anti-heroes) and tamasika
(pure evil)
 In no other dance style is the entire body used so
completely as in Kathakali.
 Kalasams are pure dance sequences
4. Kathak  From the state of Uttar Pradesh.
 It originated in travelling stories of Kathakars.
 Dance traditions influenced by Persian traditions as
well

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InsightsIAS Art and Culture- Dance and Music APEC- Art and Culture

 Solo performance with emphasis on foot

movement
 Kathak maintains the samabhanga
 Chakkar is a unique step of Kathak
 Juggalbandi is characteristic feature of this dance.
 It is accompanied by Hindustani classical music
5. Manipuri  From the state of Manipur.
 A Vaishnavite-based dance form.
 Pamheiba and Maharaja Bhagyachandra
patronized this art form.
 It has both Tandava and Lasya elements
 Drums (pung) represents the Tandava elements of
the dance
 It is accompanied by local variation of Hindustani
music.
6. Odissi  From the state of Odisha.
 It was performed by Maharis.
 Evidence of this dance form can be found in
Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves.
 Abhinaya Chandrika and Abhinaya Darpana
Chandrika are important texts related to this dance
form.
 Introduction of Gotipuas introduced Tandava
element.
 This dance is famous for its ‘Tribhangi’ and ‘Chowk’
pose
7. Sattriya  From the state of Assam.
 Introduced by Shankaradeva in 15th century.
 It is generally performed by male monks called
Bhokots.
 It is a Vaishnavite-based dance form.
 The play of Ankia Naat is associated with this
dance.
 The performance of Bhaona in Assam is also
associated with this dance form.
 It is accompanied by Hindustani music and musical
instruments such as- Khol (drum), Bahi (flute),
Violin, Tanpura, Harmonium and Shankha (Conch
Shell).
8. Kuchipudi  From the state of Andhra Pradesh.
 Dancers also sing here as well.
 Created by Siddenra Yogi in the 17th century

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InsightsIAS Art and Culture- Dance and Music APEC- Art and Culture

 Blend of both Tandava and Lasya elements

 Dance on a brass plate
 Dance accompanied by Carnatic music
 Musical instruments:
Mridangam, cymbals, veena, flute and
the tambura

Note: Please refer the slides for some folk dances and CCRT website for folk dances in detail.
Indian Music
Definition: Music is a creative arrangement of tones to produce sound capable of conveying
varied emotions through the elements of raga, tala and Shruti. Music in India can be classified
broadly into- Classical, Folk, and popular music (commercially-produced music), western music
etc.
The earliest textual reference of music in India is Samaveda which deals with music in detail.
Other textual references that speak about Indian music system are:
Textual reference Features
1. Natyashastra  It was written by Bharata Muni.
 It is believed to have been written
between 200 BCE- 200 AD.
 It deals with drama, music, and
dance.
 It systematically classifies musical
instruments
1) Tata Vadya (Stringed instruments)
2) Sushira Vadya (Wind instruments)
3) Avanaddha Vadya (Percussion
instrument)
4) Ghana Vadya (Solid instrument)
2. Sangeeta Ratnakara  It was composed by Sarangadeva.
 It was written around 13th century.
 He explains about ragas.
 Explains about ancient music and the
current prevalent practices.
3. Brihadeshi  It was composed by Matanga.
 It was composed around 10th century.
 It is the first text that classifies music
into Classical and folk music.
4. Swarmamela  It is the sixteenth century text written
by Ramamatya

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 It is considered as one of the

important texts related to Carnatic
music.
5. Sangeeta Sudhakara  It was written around 14th century by
Haripala.
 It is the first text which spoke about
Hindustani and Carnatic music.

Basic terminologies related to Indian music.

1. Nada: It is the basic sound that every entity produces in the world.
2. Shruthi: It is the smallest interval of pitch that the human ear can detect and a singer or
musical instrument can produce.
3. Swara: It is the musical sound which is continuous and uniform and which by itself
creates a charming sensation on the ear is called Swara. The basic scale (grama) of India
music is heptatonic and it has seven notes. It has seven notes or svara- saa, re/ri, ga, ma,
pa, dha, ni which Indian musicians collectively designate as saptak or saptaka.
4. Raga: A raga is a musical mode in the Indian classical music tradition
5. Tala: Taal is the measurement of Musical time. Thus, Taal is music meter; a strike or
beat that determines the flow of music.
Classification of Classical music in India: it can be classified into- Hindustani music and Carnatic
music. This classification started to appear after the advent of Persian traditions in India.
Hindustani Music Carnatic music
 This system developed in North India.  This system developed in South India
 Hindustani music places more  Here, unity of Raga, Tala and Shruthi
emphasis on improvisation and needs to be maintained strictly.
exploring all aspects of a raga
 No strong emphasis on kriti as in  It is strongly kriti-based
Carnatic
 Note by note Raga development  Phrase by phrase raga development
 Significant sub-schools  Less sub-schools due to less freedom
and flexibility.
 More usage of musical instruments  Less usage of musical instruments
 Main styles in Hindustani music-  Some of the important Carnatic music
Dhrupad, Khayal, Tappa, Chaturanga, compositions are- Gitam, suladi,
Tarana, Sargam, Thumri and svarajati, Jatisvaram, varnam,
Ragasagar, Hori and Dhamar. kritanam, kriti, pada, javali, pallavi
etc.

Note: Please refer the slides for some folk songs and CCRT website for folk songs in detail.

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Current affairs related to this:

Rukmini, according to beliefs, was the consort of Lord Krishna and belongs to Idu Mishmi tribe
of Bhismaknagar, an ancient city in Arunachal Pradesh. Under ‘Ek Bharat Shrest Bharat’
activities, including songs, plays, and storytelling sessions are being planned and they will be
organized at the mythological sites associated with Rukmini and Krishna in each other’s states.

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