Indian Classical Dance Forms

Bha: Bhava which means emotions.
Ra: Rag meaning musical notes.
Ta: Taal meaning the Rhythm.
Natyam: The Sanskrit word for Drama.

Immense and charismatic makeup (hair as a single bun is tied just before the plaits).
The eye-catching costume (bright coloured Sari- today the costume comes in 7 pieces that are worn simply, for men – dhoti).
Glowing ornaments.

Carnatic Style, Vocalists Called – Nattuvanar (normally Guru).
Verses are usually in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Sanskrit.
Mridangam, Nadaswaram, Nattuvangam, Flute, Violin veena etc.

Starts with Vandana (Worshipping God).
Uthaan.
That.
Aamad (sequence of That Aamad Uthaan may be different in different gharanas).
Salaami.
Toda Tukdas.
Tihai.
Paran
Gatnikas.
Gatbhaav (Story)
Ladi-Tatkaar (Footwork)
End with a Bhajan, Thumri, Tarana or Ashtapadi, Kajri, Chaiti, Chaturang etc.

Traditionally, Sari, Ghagra-Choli, Chudidar Frock – Jacket, Dupatta for women and men can wear Chudidar Kurta and Dupatta tied at the waist.
This dance-drama may have costumes as per the character.
Makeup is not much heavy but is quite sharp and Fine to reflect the expressions. A bun or long plaits with garland looks beautiful.
Mostly white—yellow pearl ornaments are used.

Hindustani Music: Lyrics may be in Hindi, Brij, Sanskrit or any other regional language.
Instruments like Pakhavaj, Tabla, Sarangi, Sitar, Harmonium, Flute, Sarod, etc. are used.

Maharis (Devadasis or Temple Girls).
Gotipua (Performed by Boys).

Managalacharan (Worshipping Lord Jagannath).
Pushpanjali (Offering of flowers) and salutation to mother earth. This also includes Trikhandi Pranam- Devas, Gurus, and Rasikas.
Batu Nritya—Fast dance.
Ashtapadis—Dashavtar, Ardhanari etc.
The Dance Drama in sequence.

It is made up of traditional material (Dhoti for men- Sari for women) from Odisha. Today fully stitched costume is available.
A crown is worn by female dancers which are prepared in Jagannathpuri.
White coloured flowers are adorned on the bun.
Like every other dance form, jewellery remains the same but is of silver coloured. Ghunghroos too form part of this dance.
Mostly white—yellow pearl ornaments are used.

The South Indian, as well as North Indian Music, is employed for the dance.
The Pakhavaj, Tabla, Swarmandal, Harmonium, Sitar, Flute, Violin.

The makeup is similar to that of Bharatanatyam.
A dancer in a female role would wear a Sari with light makeup. Today the stitched costume is available.
The traditional Kuchipudi was performed by all males and their attire was quite simple ‘Angivastra’ also known as Bagalbandi and a dhoti.

Based on Carnatic music the language is usually Telugu.
Mridangam, cymbals, veena, flute and Tambura.

1. Raja-Radha Reddy.
2. Yamini Reddy.
3. Vaijayanti Kashi.
4. Uma Rama Rao etc.

Mythological themes include Ramayana, Mahabharat, Bhagvat Purana, etc.
Also, modern day Kathakali dancers present stories and plays of Shakespeare.

According to the role of the dancer, his face is coloured/painted.
The colours are made in rice paste with vegetable colours and applied on the face.
The Green for Noble characters.
Tati (Red) for evil like Ravana.
Kari (black) for hunters and monsters.
Yellow for women etc.

Kalamandalam Krishna Prasad.
Kalamandalam Kesavan Namboodiri.
Kalamandalam Gopi etc.

Invocation.
Jatiswaram.
Varnam.
Shlokam.
Shabdam
Padam.
Tillana.

Mohiniyattam has a unique White/Off-White Costume.
The prominent one-sided hairstyle (bun) also called as ‘Kuduma’.
Adorable ornaments make it unique.

Raas.
Nata-Sankirtan.
Pung Cholam.
Dhola Cholam.
Kartal Cholam.
Thang ta (a Martial art of Manipuri) etc.

Pung and small kartals are employed in dance.
Other instruments include Harmonium, Pena, Flute, and Shankh.

The female dancers wear decorative barrel-shaped drum like long stiff skirt till bottom with decorativeembellishments.
Dark coloured velvet blouse covers the upper part of the body and a traditional veil is worn over hair that falls over the face.
The male dancers adorn themselves with dhoti kurta white turban, a folded shawl over the left shoulder and the drum strap over the right shoulder.

1. Guru Bipin Sinha.
2. Nirmala Mehta.
3. Savita Mehta.

The themes performed are mostly on Radha-Krishna and other myths.
Dramas written by Sankardev are typically presented.
Sattriya performance integrated two styles: One Masculine and Feminine.

Male – Dhoti, chadar, paguri (turban).
Female – Ghuri, chadar, Kanchi (waist cloth) made up of materials manufactured in Assam.
The play and Character specific costumes are also seen in Sattriya.
Masks are used for special characters sometimes.

Borgeet of Sankardev and Madhavdev.
Khol
Cymbals- Manjira Bhortal.
Flute, Violin, Harmonium etc

Guru Indira P. P Bora.
Late Pradip Chaliha.
Jatin Goswami.
Anita Sarma etc.