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Dance is an enigmatic activity that brings body, mind, and soul together and provides a magical end result. For adults, it can be soothing & refreshing for the soul, and for kids, it’s the best way to express their emotions & feelings. Starting a dance journey from an early stage has numerous benefits in the long run. Online dance classes can help kids achieve their dancing capability in no time.
When talking about the Indian Classical dance form, it has a charm that engulfs the dancer into a trance of contentment. It makes them drown in the story and embellish it with their hand & feet movements and facial expressions. There are a total of eight Indian classical dances that represent the rich culture of the state from where they belong.
Popular Indian Classical Dance Forms:
1) Bharatanatyam, Tamil Nadu
Belong to the Southern part of India, Bharatanatyam of Tamil Nadu was an art form of dancers dedicated to temples. During that time, it was known as Sadir or Dasi Attam. Also, it is one of India’s first traditional dances that got the opportunity to be refashioned and exhibited at home & foreign lands.
Bharatanatyam’s present-day format was created by the “Tanjore Quartet” in the nineteenth century. Tanjore Quartet is the amalgamation created by four brothers Ponniah, Chinnaiah, Vadivelu, and Sivanandam. Bharatanatyam represents abstract dance that unfurls the narrative.
2) Manipur Dance, Manipur
Manipuri dance is anchored around the faith of Vaishnava, the Meiteis, or the people who reside in the Manipur valley. The principal theme of this classical dance form is devotion and the fable of Radha & Krishna in serialized content. Manipuri dance is often considered a bashful form compared to others, since dancers don’t make eye contact with the audience while performing.
Manipuri dance has two main divisions, jagoi and cholom. One is gentle, while the other is a bit vigorous. In this particular form, you won’t get to hear footwork compared to other classical dance forms. It uses calm facial expressions.
3) Kathak, Northern India
Kathak is perhaps the most popular classical dance form in India, specifically in the northern part. This dance form connects the narrative art and explains the story of ancient times. Kathak has magnificent involvement of footwork and pirouettes, which are eminently the best part of the rhythmic play.
The traditional music of Kathak includes Thumri & other lyrical songs, and musical instruments contain Tabla, Sarangi, and Pakhawaj. Sometimes people use Sitar too.
4) Odissi Dance, Odissa
Originally, the Odissi Dance was performed by female servants of temples or “maharis” as part of the temple services. Though with time, its structure has been changed to be performed at theatres and other places. Odissi dance form represents Orissa’s medieval sculpture, painting, and literature. The faith of Vaishnava is inherent in this classical dance form, with the lore of Krishna & Radha adding intricate elements to it. Odissi dance involves hand gestures and footwork to make it more alluring, technical, and engaging.
5) Kathakali, Kerala
Also known as “story play”, Kathakali originated in Kerala in the seventeenth century under the reign of the prince of Karnataka. He wrote performant plays based on the Ramayana in Malayalam. In Kathakali, the dance is categorizes as per nature and puts makeup & costume to turn the dancer into metaphorical personalities.
5) Mohiniyattam, Southwestern India
The name of Mohiniyattam comes from the mythical temptress Mohini. This classical dance represents feminine elegance. Since the dance form represents femininity, it does not include any heavy steps. The footwork is soft & gentle to magnetize the audience.
Benefits Of Indian Classical Dance For Kids
Classical dance involves movement from head to toe. That’s why it keeps the mind, body, and soul refreshed & rejuvenated. Here are some of the benefits of Indian Classical dance for kids:
1) It Connects Them To Indian Heritage & Culture
The amount of classical dance India has, each representing a different state, culture, and story, makes kids understand the importance of learning them. Each classical dance represents a story that is hard to explain but easy to show to the world. In the process of connecting with Indian culture, kids will get the opportunity to learn storytelling skills.
2) Dance Keeps Kids Fit
Indian classical dance expects dancers to maintain the coordination between movements of different body parts. When kids regularly practice Indian classical dance, it will be like a physical workout, making them fit in the process.
3) Classical Dance Improves Their Concentration & Focus
Performing classical dance has enormous benefits. One of them is it enhances kids’ concentration and focus span. The classical dance form, be it Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Mohiniyattam, etc., prepare their body & mind for learning and remembering the complexity of dance steps & facial expressions. It also hones their memory and helps them to excel in life.
4) Dance Makes Kids Disciplined
Without discipline, no one can learn classical dance effectively. It is an essential element. While learning any classical dance form, the process requires perfect body movement, expressions, and so on, which do not come to anyone overnight. Kids can learn it only by regularly practicing it with sheer dedication and disciplined effort.
Final Thoughts:
No matter which Indian classical dance form your kid has opted for. The key to learning it gracefully, is to practice it regularly, with discipline and dedication. And if you are looking for a platform to seek out different classical dance options for a kid, Piggy Ride is perfectly suited for you. It has an extensive list of varied programs suitable for kids of different ages. It has weekly workshops, quizzes, and much more. Not only that, the platform offers parental guidance to help make parenting an easy task.
