CLASSICISM IN INDIAN DANCE STYLES: NATYA, NRTTA AND NRTYA

Abstract

BharataNa̅tyam , Kathak, Kathakali, Mohini Attam, Manipuri, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Sattriya are considered as the Indian classical dance forms. It has a long established timeline of its origin, history and development. And there are several factors affecting the structure of the current format of these classical dance forms, however, each dance form which falls under the classical genre, does have a great source of base from the Natya Shastra and later, influence from Abhinaya Darpana and the latter books on dance. Classicism in Indian classical dance is non-obsolete as in India people follow the traditions, mythology and cultural aspects closely. Indian dance of the classical genre is not confined any more to the boundaries of being strictly religious in nature however, one cannot identify Indian classical dance without the Indian philosophical ideologies and has socio-spiritual substance.