Natyashastra & Classical Dances of India

Unlike other forms of dance from all over the world, what differntiates Indian classical dance is, the spiritual side of it. While some of them tells us the stories of 'Devis', 'Devas', some tells us how to please God. When most forms of dance from other parts of the world is merely for entertainment / leisure, Indian classical dances is all about Spiritual need of every human being.

Natyashastra is the most detail and elaborate of all treatises on dramatic criticism and acting ever written in any language and is regarded as the oldest surviving text on stagecraft in the world. Written by the great dramatist of ancient India, Bharata, Natyashastra is reckoned as the poetics of Indian drama.The background of Natyashastra is framed in a situation where a number of munis approach Bharata to know about the secrets of Natyaveda. The answer to this question comprises the rest of the book. It is also a text of drama. The whole text is in the form of dialogue and various forms of enactments, gestures, music etc. have been visually presented to its readers or more appropriately to its viewers.

Bharathanatyam is perphaps the oldest among the contemporary classical dance forms of India, which arouse somewhere around 500 BC. Bharatanatyam is thought to have created by Bharata Muni, who wrote the Natya Shastra. It is said to be originated in Thanjavoor of Tamil Nadu. This dance form cannot be adequately danced by anyone without reverence for technique and for spiritual life. It is an art that lifts one from temporal to eternal values. The intimate association of dance with religion and as a ritual, a form of worship in the temples is well established.

Sangeet Natak Academy confers classical status on eight Indian dance styles. They are :

Bharatanatyam - Tamil Classical Dance

Odissi - Orissa Classical Dance

Kuchipudi - Telugu Classical Dance

Manipuri - Manipur Classical Dance

Mohiniaattam - Kerala Classical Dance

Sattriya - Assamese Classical Dance

Kathakali - Kerala Classical Dance

Kathak - North Indian Classical Dance