What Are The Classical Dance Forms In India
Origin
Excavations, inscriptions, chronicles, genealogies of kings and artists, literary sources, sculpture and painting of different intervals grant substantial evidence on dance in India. Contemporary classical dance varieties have evolved out of the musical play or sangeet-nataka: carried out from the 12th century to the 19th century. The Indian classical dances have two simple elements - Tandava (movement & rhythm) and Lasya: (grace, bhava & rasa). The three predominant components are-
Natya: (the dramatic factor of the dance i.e. the imitation of characters)
Nritta: (the dance actions in their simple form)
The nine rasas are - Love, Heroism, Pathos, Humour, Anger, Fear, Disgust, Wonder and Peace. The Natya Shastra written by means of Bharat Muni is the most prominent source for the Indian aestheticians for establishing the traits of the dances.
