Indian Dance

Indian classical and folk dance are full of emotion and grace. Documented Indian dance was found in archeological artifacts which dates back from 6000 BC. Indian dance influenced a lot of other artforms like poetry, sculpture, literature and even architecture to name a few.

The Hindus believe that the divine Brahma, the Creator of the World, combined the songs, the expressions and aesthetic experience in the form of the natya or the dance. The mudras or the hand formations and their meanings and the emotions that the dancers show demonstrate all of these things. The Indian classical dance focus the nine rasas or emotions: Hasya means happiness, Krodha means anger, Bhibasta means disgust, Bhaya means fear, Shoka means sorrow, Viram means courage, Karuna means compassion, Adbhuta means wonder and Shanta means serenity.

Most regions in the counrty have their own folk dance. The dance from each region tells the history and the culture of the place. I myself love the art of dance and all kinds of body movement and everytime I see an Indian classical dance or folk dance it just draws my attention to its fancy steps, the movement of the head and the twitching of the dancer's face, her eyes and makeup and the rich jewelry. Indeed, these Indian artform will be here forever to appease the divine and to please the eyes of mortals like you and me.

Photo Credit: Arushi Mudgal-Odissi Classical Dance
Photographer: Prasad R.N.
Photo Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31555277@N06/