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FM
Former Member
CLASSICAL DANCING:


Indian classical dance is a misnomer, and actually refers to Natya, the sacred Hindu musical theatre styles. Its theory can be traced back to the Natya Shastra of Bharata Muni (400 BC).

* Dances performed inside the sanctum of the temple according to the rituals were called Agama Nartanam. This was a spiritual dance form.

* Dances performed in royal courts to the accompaniment of classical music were called Carnatakam. This was an intellectual art form.

* Darbari Aatam form of dance appealed more to the commoners and it educated them about their religion, culture and social life. These dances were performed outside the temple precincts in the courtyards.

The Sangeet Natak Akademi currently confers classical status on eight "dance" forms:[citation needed]

1. Bharatanatyam
2. Kathak
3. Kathakali
4. Kuchipudi
5. Manipuri
6. Mohiniaattam
7. Odissi
8. Sattriya

For lack of any equivalents in the European culture, the British colonial authorities called any performing art forms found in India as "Indian dance". Even though the art of Natya includes nritta, or dance proper, Natya has never been limited to dancing alone. At its best, has the most powerful means to lead its worshippers – the artist – to the Divine. It is a sincere depiction of the Divine. It is a sincere depiction of the realities in life, an embodiment of the imagination and gracefulness, the very soul which thereby creates as it were the "Idol of the Beautiful".

Out of the 8 styles, the most ancient ones and the ones that have their origin in Agama Nartanam are Bharatanatyam and Odissi. These two most faithfully adhere to the Natya Shastra.

Kuchipudi and Mohiniaattam are relatively recent Darbari Aatam forms, just as Kathakali, and two eastern Indian styles, Manipuri and Sattriya, that are quite similar. Kathak bears a strong influence of the Persian dance.

A very important feature of Indian classical dances is the use of Mudras or hand gestures. Mudras are used by the artists to express their feeling or even the whole story.

Courtesy: Wikipedia:
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CLASSICAL DANCING: VIDEOS:

In the classics, directors not only exploited the talents of great actresses like Madhubala (Mughal-e-Azam), Meena Kumari (Pakeezah), Hema Malini (Razia Sultan) but used their classical awareness potently to awaken interest in the art and make Indians conscious of the vast and enviable heritage of Kathak. They were instrumental in giving a new dimension to this dance form simple natural "Abhinaya" on celluloid is always conductive to the film form.

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FM
CLASSICAL DANCING: VIDEOS:

The versatility of an artiste like Rekha whose 'tawaif' in Muqaddar Ka Sikandar or Suhaag could give us moments directed for the sole purpose of giving pleasure to the general audience. But her role in Umrao Jaan brought to life the heart rending powerful, sensual sentiments of the theme and won her the National Award. The film showed that dance is a divine form of beauty, society has relegated its votaries and practitioners to the lowest place in its hierarchy. This aspect of the dancer's life was worse in the case of Kathak which emerged from the temple like other classical dance forms but flourished under the patronage of the Mughal court.

NEXT WE WILL FEEATURE SOME OF THE CLASSICS FROM UMRAO JAAN:

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FM
CLASSICAL DANCING: VIDEOS:

Dil Cheez Kya Hai - Umrao Jaan

DIL CHEEZ KYA HAI

dil chiiz kya hai aap mere jaan liije
What's a heart, after all? Take my very life!
bas ek baar mera kahaa...maan liiji'e
But just once, heed what I say.
dil chiiz kya hai aap merii jaan liiji'e
What's a heart, anyway? Take my life!

is anjuman mein aapko...aana hai baar baar
You must come, time and again, to this assembly
diiwaar-o-dar ko gaur se... pahachaan liiji'e
Learn to recognize every inch of the establishment.

dil chiiz kya hai aap merii jaan liiji'e
What's a heart, after all? Take my life!


maana ki dostoon ko nahiin
I accept that friends don't...
dostoon dostoon ko nahiin
that friends don't...
maana ki dosto.n ko nahii.n dostii ka paas
I accept that friends don't keep watch over friends;
lekin yeh kya ki gair ka...ehasaan liiji'e
but does that mean you will accept this favor from a stranger?

dil chiiz kya hai aap merii jaan liiji'e
What's a heart, after all? Take my life!

kahi'e to...aamaan ko
If you tell me to...
kahi'e to aasmaan ko zamiin par utaar laa'ein
if you tell me to, then I shall draw the sky down to the earth.
mushkil nahiin hai kuchh bhii
Nothing at all is difficult;
mushkil nahiin hai kuchh bhii agar THaan liiji'e
nothing is difficult if you put your mind to it.

dil chiiz kya hai aap merii jaan liiji'e
What's a heart, after all? Take my life!
bas ek baar...
Just for once...
bas ek baar mera kahaa maan liiji'e
Just once, heed what I say.
maan liiji'e...
Accept it...

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FM
quote:
Originally posted by chameli:
really nice asj bhaiya.

everynite,(except tues) i spend an hr or so listening and viewing songs and dances from this forum.

who sang this song: Gori tori paijaniya


Hi Dids, that song was done by Manna Dey, Rajesh did a wonderful job in enacting the scene, gosh look at Hema Moving to the tabla sounds.

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FM
quote:
Originally posted by Terry Ishmael:
ASJ
Do you know where i can get hold of some good DVDs on classical dances?
My -ex boss is interested in opera and some of these white people never saw classical indian dancing. I want to send him a dvd to amaze him.



Terry,
Will check out Jackson Heights and give you a feed back. Do not know of any DVD's off hand.

.

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FM

Uma Muralikrishna is a dancer of unprecedented and graceful intensity, of the Kuchupudi and Bharatya Natyam Schools of Classical Indian dance.

She began her training as a child of 5 in Bharatanatyam under Padmasri K.N. Dhandayudhapani Pillai and pursued her passion with Padmasri Adyar K. Lakshman's tutelage. Subsequently, she devoted herself to the Kuchupudi style with the renowned master, Padmabhushan Mr. Vempatti Chinna Sathyam.

Dance lovers and critics have lavished praise and tributes to the purity and grace of her skill.

Uma is popularly acclaimed in dance circles as "Poetry in movement". The titles bestowed on Uma by cultural associations include- Natyakala Rama (Jewel of art and dancing), Singarmani (Jewel of expression), Yuva Kala Bharathi (talented young dancer), Nadanamamani (Greatest of lady - dancers), Kalaimamani (a great exponent of art).

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FM

List of Performances in Major Festivals in India and Abroad

1. Tamilnadu Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram performances (1981)

2. Palavotsava Festival at Mysore (1984)

3. Performed at the Inauguration of DD2, Chennai (1988)

4. Performances for International Dance Alliance (1985/91/92 and 1997)

5. Sangeet Natak Academy performances in Bangalore (1991) and Goa (1998)

6. Bharat Cultural Integration Festival at Delhi, Mumbai and Vizag (1987-89)

7. Music Academy, Spirit of Youth 1987.

8. Kajaraho Festival - 1992

9. Music Academy, December Season 1993

10. Soorya Festival in Trivandrum - 1994

11. Navarathri Festival at Trivandrum - 1995

12. Krishna Gana Sabha, December Festival 1997 / 2003 / 2004

13. National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) Performance at Mumbai (1999)

14. Malabar Festival at Calicut (1999)

15. Deccan Festival at Thirupati (2000)

16. Brahmothsavam at Thirupati (2000)


17. Kinkini Festival at Bangalore (2001)

18. Shilparaman Dance Festival by Andhra Pradesh (2001)

19. Mahabalipuram Dance Festival (2000 / 2005 / 2006)

20. Tour of Australia (1997)

21. Tour of Dubai (1999)

22. Indian Festival of Classical dances at Muscat (2002)

23. Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) performances in Germany 2004

24. Le oriental Festival in France 2005

25. Tour of Portugal 2005

26. Tour of Switzerland 2005

27. Tour of Singapore 2005

28. Kinnara Festival at Hyderabad 2005.

29. Tour of Canada-2006,Khajraho Dance Festival-Feb-2007,

30. Sura Sundari Vaibhavam-a Thematic group production supported by Cultural Dept,Govt Of India -April 21,2007,

31. Music and Dance Summer Festival at Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan, Coonoor-May -12,2007.

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FM
quote:
Originally posted by Terry Ishmael:
Beautiful! Beautiful!
There is nothing more graceful than classical dance. There was a demo at Lincoln Center a few years ago, and the white people were lapping it up. A few of them asked me to explain the intricacies of the movements and what they meant and I lied my teeth off!Big Grin
I really need to get dem DVDs man!


Will try to Terr, as I really do want people to appreciate the Classical Dancing and the more the merrier.
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FM

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