Kathakali
- Kathakali is one of the most attractive classical Indian dance-drama performed by well-trained artist.
- It is associated with storytelling
- A dance drama from the south Indian state of Kerala.
- The story is also communicated to audience through excellent footwork and impressive gestures of face and hands complemented with music and vocal performance.
- It can be distinguished from the others through the intricate and vivid make-up, unique face masks and costumes worn by dancers as also from their style and movements that reflect the age-old martial arts and athletic conventions prevalent in Kerala and surrounding regions.
- Traditionally performed by male dancers.
- It developed in courts and theatres of Hindu regions contrary to other Indian classical dances which predominantly developed in Hindu temples and monastic schools.
- The classical dance form is considered to have originated from temple and folk arts that traces back to the 1st millennium CE or even earlier.
Bharatanatyam
- Bharatanatyam is considered to be oldest form of dance and mother of all other styles of classical dance in India.
- According to the Hindu tradition the name of the dance form was derived by joining two words, ‘Bharata’ and ‘Natyam’ where ‘Natyam in Sanskrit means dance and ‘Bharata’ is a mnemonic comprising ‘bha’, ‘ra’ and ‘ta’ which respectively means ‘bhava’ that is emotion and feelings; ‘raga’ that is melody; and ‘tala’ that is rhythm.
- It originated from the art of temple dancers in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
- Bharatanatyam is a reworked form of dance from the traditional sadir and a combination of expression, music, beat and dance.
- Also known as fire dance, one of the most popular styles of dance performed by male and female dancers.