Kuchipudi Dance Overview

Kuchipudi

• Costumes: Rakudi (head ornament), Chandra Vanki (arm band), Adda Bhasa, Kasina Sara (necklace)
• Material: Light wood called Boorugu
• History: Traced to early times in Kuchipudi, Margi and Desi styles, referenced in Nrittaratnavali by Jaya Senapati.
• Focus: Primarily Shingara rasa (love)
• Music: Classical South Indian Carnatic music, Mridangam, cymbals, veena, flute, tambura
• Solo Pieces (Shabdam): Dasavatharam, Manduka, Krishna, Ramayana, Mandodari
• Solo Performances: Tarangam (feet balancing), Jala Chitra Nrityam (floor drawing), Manduka Shabdam (frog's story)
• Famous Dancers: Guru Smt. Vijaya Prasad, Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam, Kalpalathika, Raja and Radha Reddy, Kaushalya Reddy, Yamini Reddy, Bhavana Reddy, Atisha Pratap Singh, Sreelakshmy Govardhanan, Smt. Vyjayanthi Kashi, Haleem Khan, Prateeksha Kashi, Yamini Krishnamurthy, Arunima Kumar, Achuta Manasa, Shobha Naidu, Uma Rama Rao, Vedantam Satyanarayana Sarma

Mohiniyattam

• Origin: Kerala, honoring Hindu God Vishnu as Mohini
• Style: Lasya-style based on Natya Shastra.
• Elements: Nritta, Nritya; facial expressions, hand gestures
• Seven Portions: Cholkettu (invocation), Jatisvaram (dance on notes), Varnam (mimicry), Padam (song), Tillana (melody interpretation), Shlokam (hymn), Saptam (expressions introduced)
• Steps and Gestures: Adavus (steps: Thaganams, Jaganams, Dhaganams, Samishrams), Mudras (hand gestures), codified by Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma in the 20th century.
• Music: Carnatic style, "Cholu" (gaps in rhythm), Manipravalam lyrics (Sanskrit and Tamil/Malayalam), flute, veena, Mridangam, Maddalam, Ildakka, Kuzhitalam (cymbals), Sopana style songs
• Costume: Kasavu saree (white/off-white with gold brocade)
• Basic Movements: Atavakul (40 basic movements)
• Early References: Vyavaharamala (1709), Gosha Yatra, Balarama Bharatam
• Famous Dancers: Sunanda Nair, Smitha Rajan, Gopika Varma, Jayaprabha Menon, Pallavi Krishnan, Vinitha Nedungadi

Manipuri

• Origin: Manipur, Hindu Vaishnavism themes, Radha-Krishna's Rasleela
• Music: Classical Hindustani music
• Instruments: Pena (bamboo/coconut drum), Khol (two-sided drum), Pung (cylindrical drum), Jhal (large cymbals), Ramkartal (small cymbals), Dahpi (big gong), Dah Cha (small gong), Theile (bamboo flute), Selki (horn), Goshem (bamboo pipe), Esraj (string instrument)
• Dance Categories: Jagoi (Lasya), Cholom (Tandava)
• Dance Forms: Raas, Sankirtan, Dhola Cholam, Kartal Cholam, Pung Cholam (drum dance), Thang ta (martial art)
• Sankirtan: Ritual singing, drumming, and dancing, UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
• Raas Leela: Eternal love of Radha and Krishna, three types: Tal, Danda, Mandal
• Pung Cholom: Prelude to Ras Lila, elements of Manipuri martial arts Thang Ta, traditional Maibi Jagoi dance
• Dhol Cholom: Performed in spring (Yaosang)
• Kartal Cholam: Tandava dance of cymbals
• Thang ta: Manipuri martial art, Huyin Lallong (unarmed & armed combat)
• Famous Dancers: Hanjaba Guru Bipin Singha, Jhaveri Sisters, Nirmala Mehta, Savita Mehta

Odissi

• Origin: Odisha, Hindu temples,Valshnavism (Vishnu as Jagannath)
• History: Oldest surviving classical dance form in India (2nd century BCE)
• Styles: Primarily performed by women (maharis) focused on temple dance, boys dressed as girls (gotipuas), athletic and acrobatic movements.
• Performance Elements: Invocation, nritta (pure dance), nritya (expressive dance), natya (dance drama), moksha (spiritual release)
• Music: Hindustani classical music, Kalyana, Nata, Shree Gowda, Baradi, pakhawaj, singer, flutist, sitar/violin, manjira (cymbals)
• Mudras: 24 in Natyashastra, 28 in Abhinaya Darapana
• Dance Positions: Samabhanga, Abhyanga, Tribhanga, Chowk (square masculine stance) & Tribhanga (feminine stance)
• Costumes: Sambalpuri saree, Bomkai saree, Odissi silver jewellery, halir-do
• Famous Dancers: Sonal Mansingh, Jhelum Paranjape, Mayadhar Rao, Gangadhar Pradhan, Ileana Citarasu,Leena Mohanty, Chitra Krishnamurti, Bijayini Satpathy, Madhavi Mudgal

Sattriya

• Origin: Assam, part of the neo-Vaishnavite movement by Srimanta Sankardev
• Styles: Ankiya Nat (one-act plays), Paurashik Bhangi (male), Stri Bhangi (female), influenced by folk dances (Ojapali, Devadasi, Bihu, Bodos)
• Performance: Monasteries (Bhokots), stage by both genders
• Basic Dance Unit: Mati Akhara (64 foundational sets)
• Subdivisions of Mati Akhara: Ora, Saata, Jhalak, Sitika, Pak, Jap, Lon, and Khar
• Styles: Paurashik (masculine), energetic jumps, Stri (feminine), Lasya, delicate
• Anga (Limb types): six types; Pratyanga (types of Limb): six types; Upanga (Lower Limb type): six types; Gatived (Movement type): nine types; Dristived (Eye Movement type): eight types; Shiraved (Head Movement type): nine types; Gribaved (Neck Movement type): four types
• Costume: Pat silk saree (colorful motifs), Kesa Sun (raw gold jewellery), Kopali (forehead ornament), MuthiKharu, Gam Kharu (bracelets)
• Music: Khol (drum), Bahi (flute), Violin, Tanpura, Harmonium, Shankha (Conch Shell), Borgeets (comprising Sankaradeva's songs)
• Repertoire: Bhaona-related (Gayan-Bhayanar Nach to Kharmanar Nach), Dance numbers (Chali, Rajagharia Chali, Jhumura, Nadu Bhangi)
• Famous Dancers: Gunakanta Dutta Barbayan, Manik Barbayan, Jogen Dutta Bayan, Anita Sarma, Sarodi Saikia, Haricharan Bhuyan Borbayan, Ramkrishna Talukdar, Ranjumoni Saikia

Kathak

• Origin: Uttar Pradesh, Sanskrit, "Katha" (story), "Kathakar" (storyteller)
• Influence: Mughals
• Golden Age: Wajid Ali Shah (last Nawab of Oudh)
• Fusion: Hindu and Muslim creativity in art
• Performance Sections: Invocation, Nritta, Nritya
• Invocation: Prayer to guru and god (mudras for Hindu, "salami" for Muslim)
• Nritta: Pure dance, slow/graceful movements of neck, wrists, eyebrows, fast sequences ("bols")
• Nritya: Story/theme through gestures, expressions, slow movements, vocal/instrumental music
• Recitals: Ananda (introductory), Todas/Rukdas (short fast rhythms), Padhant (reciting bols), Jugalbandi (dancer/tabla play), Tarana (pure rhythmic movements), Kramalaya (concluding intricate footwork), Gat bhav (dance without music)
• Music: Hindustani music (tabla, pakhavaj, harmonium, sarangi, talam)
• Famous Dancers: Pandit Birju Maharaj, Lachu Maharaj, Shambu Maharaj, Shovna Narayan, Kumari Kamala, Sunanya Hazarilal Agarwal, Pandit Durgalal, Prerana Shrimala, Rani Karna, Sitara Devi, Rupa Rani Das Bora

Kathakali

• Origin: Kerala, Sanskrit, "Katha" (story), "Kali" (performance)
• Form: Dance-drama
• Elements: Literature, Music, Painting, Acting, Dance; Abhinaya (Angika, Aharya, Vachika, Satvika); Nritta, Nritya, Natya
• Characters: Satvika (noble), Rajasika (evil), Tamasika (beard)
• Makeup Codes: Pacca (gods), Minukku (virtuous female), Teppu (special), Kari (hunters), Tati (evil), Payuppu (ripe), Kutti (knife)
• Female/monk color code: yellow
• Music: Five Basic Taalas (athata, muriatantha, chempa, chempata, triputa, panchari), Chenda, Maddalam, Chengila, Ilathalam, Idakka, Shankhu
• Costume: "Aharya Abhinaya" (costumes, ornaments, makeup), intricate makeup, costumes, face masks, head dress
• Performance: Kelikottu (audience attention), Thodayam (formal announcement), Vandanaslokam (prayer), Purappad (introduces character), Melappadam (musicians/drummers), Dhanasi (pure dance), Tiranocku (all characters debut).
• Famous Dancers: Kalamandalam Gopi, Haripriya Namboodiri, Kalamandalam Krishna Prasad, Kottakal Sivaraman, Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair, Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharody, Kavungal Chathunni Panicker

Chhau

• Origin: West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, martial traditions
• Styles: Purulia Chhau, Seraikella Chhau, Mayurbhanj Chhau
• Themes: Hindu epics (Ramayana, Mahabharata), Puranas, Shaivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism.
• UNESCO: UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
• Music: Mohuri, Shehnai, Dhol, Dhumsa, Kharka, Shadhadi, Mukhis, Kalindis, Ghadheis
• Vocabulary: Khel (mock combat), chalis/topkas (stylized gaits), uflis (village housewife movements), masks (Purulia & Seraikella)
• Communities: Mundas, Mahatos, Kalindis, Pattnaiks, Samals, Darogas, Mohantys, Acharyas, Kars, Dubeys, Sahoos
• Famous Dancers: Jagannath Choudhury, Mousumi Choudhury, Biren Kalindi, Binadhar Kumar, Kartik Singh Mura, Baghambar Singh Mura

Explore the rich tradition of Kuchipudi dance, including its unique costumes, musical accompaniment, and historical significance. Discover famous solo performances and renowned dancers who have contributed to this classical South Indian art form. This quiz will enhance your understanding of the Kuchipudi style and its essence.