Dance Styles
BHARATNATYAM
Bharatanatyam is one of the oldest and the most popular of classical Indian dance forms, not only within the country but also outside it. Its origin dates to more than 2500 years. It is considered the epitome of Indian cultural expression.
The grammar and aesthetics are elaborated in detail in the dance treatise, NATYA SHASTRA. The technique and vocabulary of this dance form can be used to depict a variety of themes and artistic conceptions. The themes which are basically from Indian mythology, the Epics, and the Puranas, can also incorporate modern themes.
Bharatanatyam has two aspects to it, namely NRITTA, pure rhythm, which is confined to footwork and the movements of the body and hands with geometrical precision and ABHINAYA or mime, conveyed through gestures and facial expressions otherwise known as "the suggestive language of imagination."
KUCHIPUDI
Kuchipudi is one of the nine major classical dance forms of India. This dance form took its birth in a village called Kuchelapuram in the state of Andhra Pradesh. It derives many of its present-day features from the earlier dance drama traditions of Andhra Pradesh.
The technique of Kuchipudi closely follows the tenets laid down in the ‘Natya Shastra.’ There is some mingling of the folk idiom, which makes it highly appealing to a wide spectrum of viewers.
There are four traditional concepts of ABHINAYA (expression) as mentioned in the Natya Shastra, which aims at invoking rasa (emotion) in the spectator. These four abhinayas, ANGIKA, VAACHIKA, AHARYA and SATHVIKA constitute the nritya in a Kuchipudi repertoire for solo exposition.
