SangeetKalaKendraKolkata

Error : This page is under maintenance         MannargudiTemple Artist : Smruti  Tons of discussions happen in relation to the margam. But to get involved in the discussions  one has to know the true meaning of Margam. Margam literally means " the path ".  To many it is merely a framework that has been laid down by the gurus. But carefully analysis of Margam will tell you that Margam is a well sort out plan that a dancer needs to adopt to master a particular style of dance. It has been carefully laid out after understanding the human's ability to master dance. RBU Campus Picture The concept of Margam is very relative and extremely flexible to incorporate variety of Bharatnatyam dance compositions. But in order to churn the benefit of the path laid by the gurus, one has to understand in depth the principals of Margam. The dance numbers are so intelligently sequenced that it brings out the perfect Rasika or Rasa by end of the Margam. Th...

Error :  This page is under maintenance

Error :  This page is under maintenance

Error :  This page is under maintenance

Error : This page is under maintance. Kathakali - The story of Keral                                 It is the classical dance form of Kerala, in South India. Kathakali is said to be influenced from Kuttiyattam and religious drama of southwestern Indian peninsula, which are traceable to at least the 1st millennium CE. The traditional themes of this dance are folk mythologies,legends,spiritual & religious teachings from epics and Puranas. The song is ideally Sanskrit or Malayalam. It was mainly performed by male dancer for both male and female characters. Kathakali performance is long, starting at dusk and continuing through dawn, with interludes and breaks for the performers and audience. The stage is mostly bare except for the musicians and singers. Kathakali has very elaborate make-up code, head dress, face masks and vividly painted faces. Its one of the most difficult acts to ex...

Error :   This page is under  maintenance Orissi  -- The classical dance forms of Oriya region Orissi as the name suggests comes from the Oriya region or from the state of Orissa in modern India. Till the 1960s it was not considered as Classical dance, however Guru Smt. Sanjukta Panigrahi had gone down to south India and had extensively worked on the same to get this dance form a Artist : Subhomita Maitra Classical status. Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda can be considered as the base book of this dance form. The main deity is Jaganatha, Subhadra Rani and Balarama, though other Hindu Gods & Godesses have been given tons of importance as well. The antiquity of this dance form is evident from its roots that trace back to the ancient Sanskrit Hindu text called ‘Natya Shastra’ which deals with different performing arts.The history can be traced between 8th and the 11th century, when the kings took pride in excelling in art, music and dance. Quite a few stories ...

Manipuri  -- The classical dancce of the North Eastern state of Manipur Ancient sculptures Jagoi or Manipuri dance was the only classical dance from the Northeastern states, till the state of Assam came up with its own form of dance. Themes included in this art form associate with Shaktism, Shaivism and on the sylvan deities called Umang Lai during Manipuri festival ‘Lai Haraoba’, however the main theme hovers around Vaishnavism. During “Lai Haraoba” festival quite a few tandava steps are performed in order to honour Shiva, the ‘Khamba Thoibi’ dance is performed (a duet dance of male and female partners that is dedicated to the sylvan deity, Thangjing of Moiran, and associated with the Manipuri folklore of two lovers an orphan boy Khamba and a princess Thoibi, daughter of King Chinkhuba, from the epic ‘Moirang Parba’.) . Female Costume Costume : Costume is very elaborate particularly for women are quite unique from other Indian classical dance forms. The female danc...

Kuchipudi  -- The classical dance of Andhra & Telengana region      Kuchipudi  developed as a religious art linked to traveling bards, temples and spiritual beliefs, like all major classical dances of India.   Evidence of Kuchipudi's existence in an older version are found in copper inscriptions of the 10th century, and by the 15th century in texts such as the  Machupalli Kaifat .  aspect of the dance is thoroughly placed through variety of items such as Tillana, Kavuttam. It is both a solo and group performance.  It originated in the Kuchipudi village situated in the Andhra Telengana region of India. Artist: Esha Banerjee Story of the Origin :  It is said that there was once an orphan of Srikakulam who was raised by the village.  These kin After a time he returned to Srikakulam.  However, the village elders ordered him to go to his wife's house to assume his family responsibilities.  On the journe...

             India is a very large country with variety of culture and dance forms. Each and every dance be it classical or folk is very colorful and has tons of grace. The features that differentiate classical dances with the folk dances are extremely important. Each Classical dance comes with specific grammar and rules and history. May I mention that all the dances have tons of influence of the cultural and economic and social surroundings. The costumes, ornaments, songs, movements are all totally depends on the area of origin. It can very well be concluded that the source of inspiration might have been the same however each  and every dance form have adapted in its own way. Defination of Classical Dance It implies a set of rules that are rigid, that have developed over a period of time like that of a language and consists of complex techniques. the daily repetition of the same exercise, the surrender to the Guru, the mastery of the body--...

                                Error : This page is under maintanance.    It is interesting to know about the dress that is worn in Bharat Natyam.

                The importance of make-up and ornamentation related to Aharya Abhinaya as Rangabhusa aspect cannot be denied at any stage. Each and every Indian classical dance form has its own specific ornaments which is heavily influenced by its surrounding culture. For example in Orissi, silver ornaments are worn as the region produces abundance of silver. Exclusive use of Eye Make Up Diamonds and Rubies or semi precious stones are used in Bhartanatyam, known as Temple Jewellery. Mohiniattam uses Gold as its main metal. The ornaments that are exclusively worn in BharatNatyam are mentioned below with illustrations. Make Up  :   Make up is also given much importance. Curving the eyebrows and brightening the eyes are integral part of the facial make up. The straightening and high lightening the nose and the cheek bone are equally important. There are particular techniques to highlight different features. It is very i...

               The Four Slokas relate to the 4 deities – Ganesha, Saraswati, Lakshmi & Shiva. The verses of these Slokas with their meanings are as follows :                                      Mushika Vahana Modaka Hasta Shamala Karna Bilambita Sutra                                       Bamana Rupa Maheshwara Putra Bigna Vinayaka pada Namahaste One who rides on Mouse, with Modak in his hand, ears that of an elephant, the one who wears thread or Janeyu, who has the body structure as that of a drawf, who is the son of Masheswara or Shiva, the one who end all the Vigna , I humbly bow at his feet.                                        Saraswati...

Bharat's Instruction regarding Bhava and the strory behind it Samudra Manthan Samudra Manthan       Once Bharat Muni and his sons along with the Apsaras had perfected the art of Dance, Drama and Music, Bhrama thought it would be a good idea to put a performance in front of the whole world. It was decieed that the incident of Indra defeating the demons would be an apt drama that can be performed putting the principals and learning from Natya Shastra. It is believed that all were to perform the episodes of Samudra Mathan.         An auspicious day was selected for the performance and everyone was invited for entertainment. After the performance all the Devas were extremely happy with Bharat's hard work and started gifting him out of the happiness. The specific Gifts Samudra Manthan        It is believed that Bhrama was very happy with the part played by the Vidhushak or the Narrater or the Clown and gift...