Healing the World Through Dance: Celebrating World Dance Day

World Dance Day is celebrated on 29th April every year to promote the art of dance and its ability to bring people together. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the therapeutic value of different types of dances. One such type is Indian classical dances that have been practiced for centuries in India. These dances are not just a form of entertainment but also a powerful tool for physical and mental well-being. Indian classical dances such as Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Manipuri, Kathakali, Odissi, Kuchipudi and Mohiniattam are rooted in the ancient Indian text of Natyashastra. These dances incorporate mudras, body positions and dramatic or expressive acting, known as abhinaya. Indian classical music tradition provides the accompaniment for the dance, with percussion being an integral part of the tradition. The therapeutic value of Indian classical dances was recognized in ancient times, where they were considered a form of healing and inner awareness.  Indian classical dances involve total body movement, with facial expressions created by moving the muscles of the face. The eyes and eyebrows are used to portray a variety of moods and emotions during the performance. This establishes a relationship between the body and mind. The prolonged practice of Indian classical dances not only gives physical fitness but also strengthens mental power, self-esteem, and helps to relate the body-mind relationship. In recent times, the therapeutic value of Indian classical dances has gained popularity in the Western world as well, with the introduction of Dance Movement Therapy (DMT). DMT uses dance and movement to support the psychiatric, intellectual, emotional and physical functions of the body. Renowned Kathak dancer Jigyasa Giri believes that these dances embody the rich heritage and culture of India and help the dancer stay happy and develop a positive attitude towards life. This World Dance Day, let's celebrate the ancient art of Indian classical dance and its therapeutic value for physical and mental health. Let's embrace the power of movement and dance to heal, create inner awareness, and promote a positive attitude towards life.

World Dance Day: Dancing Is A Way To Depict A Tale And Express Yourself

Through dance, you can create a sculpture, through dance you can tell a story, through dance you can express joy and agony, through dance you can win hearts. On this World Dance Day let’s appreciate how bewitching it is. Be it a contemporary form of dance or classical, it has an immense power to rejuvenate you. And when you perform in front of a huge crowd, the understanding of why it is the hidden language of the soul comes into the picture.  Indian classical dance which is also known as Shastriya Nritya is performed as drama-dance which is extremely expressive. A lot of stupas in Indian temples depict the history behind the evolution of dance through which a lot of things can be understood. Each and every form of classical dance is recognized at an extensive rate today and even the western culture is getting an insight into it. Several renowned classical dancers get an invitation at international events to showcase their talent and they garner appreciation from all over the world. Bharatnatyam was performed by the devadasis in the temples of South India and is a major part of classical dance. Kathak has three significant forms, Jaipur Gharana, Banaras Gharana, and Lucknow Gharana and the dancers are called storytellers. Kuchipudi was originated from Andhra Pradesh while Odissi was initiated from the Hindu temples in Odisha. Coming to Kathakali, it is a medium of story play and the face mask is one of the significant things in this dance form. Talking about folk dance, each and every ethnic dance cannot be labeled as folk dance. It is a dance form through which dancers portray the life of people residing in a particular region or part of the world. Bideshiya, Bagurumba, Jhumri, Faguna and Raut Nacha are some of the types of Indian folk dance. When a group of creative dancers performs in front of a huge crowd, the entire audience gets hooked to it. The power of dance is immense, it has the ability to depict a certain thing not only through facial expressions but, also through eyes. So, be it folk or classical dance, every form has evolved in these years.