indian dancing

 

Social, religious and spiritual significance and functions of dance 

in India have already been discussed in the T' chapter. The said 

description is well enough to explain that dance is a part of Indian 

culture and traditions and it has achieved its own space in Indian 

society. However the history of Indian dancing helps to know more 

about it. 

A Brief History of Indian dance 

A History of Dancing that can be Traceable in Myths: 

In India, art has been always considered as a means of 

understanding of the ultimate reality. It is considered as spiritual, 

idealistic and inspiring in nature. Every art has its own features and 

the ways of expression and interpretation. It is not only a matter of 

sensuous enjoyment. Not a luxury to be enjoyed by the leisured rich, 

powerful people and not something to amuse oneself with. It has a 

deeper moral and spiritual basis. It has emerged as an effective means 

of worshipping god. It is considered to be as vital for human progress 

as devotion or knowledge. An art is believed to be a path to leading to 

something good and for achieving salvation. Great sages in ancient India have been great artists; many great sages were the authors of 

some of our art traditions. Almost all art expressions in India had a 

spiritual background. 

In ancient India art and religion were interrelated. Temples have 

been the centers for all performing arts. The great works of art were 

not made to order, they came as a result of a deep inner urge and 

hence art maintained its unique greatness. 

Traditional Indian classical art has been idealistic, spiritual and 

symbolic rather than realistic. The so-called realism in art is alien to 

Indian art expression. A work of art is to express one's feelings about 

God. The classical dance had also emerged out of devotion. 

There are some Indian myths about the emergence of dance. One 

of the famous stories is as follows. 

It is believed that Sage Bharata who is considered as a father of 

Indian traditional dance forms, who wrote the 'Natya Shastra', staged 

his first play with his hundred sons and Apsaras (celestial dancers 

who came out of by Amrita Manthana, the churning of the divine 

ocean). The play was staged in the Himalayas. Lord Shiva, the 

greatest dancing God, was so enchanted that he sent his disciple 

Tandu to Bharata, to teach him the true elements of dance. These elements are described in the Natya Shastra, in its chapters 

collectively named Tandava Lakshana.