History of dance in India

In Asia, India is a vast country surrounded by many other countries. But what makes it different from the rest? There is a rich culture and art embedded in India that makes it unique. Dance, theatre, and paintings are the essence of our spiritual culture. The oldest dance tradition in the cultural world is Indian dancing, which dates back at least 2000 years. But how did dance as a whole arise in India? How and who invented it?

As per Hindu mythology, dance was invented by the Gods. It is believed to have been conceived by Brahma. The sage Bharata Muni was inspired by Brahma to write the Natya Shastra, a treatise on performing arts. From it, dance and drama became codified practices. Shiva's famous tandav, Kali's destructive dance, and Krishna's dance with the Gopikas are typically represented dancing all throughout India. Ancient dance was usually a ritualistic activity dedicated to worship, entertainment, or leisure. Festivals, festivals, and seasonal harvests were occasions for dancers to perform. Despite its modern status, religious folk dance forms have been used to invoke deities for thousands of years. Prior to the development of language, facial expressions, hand gestures, and movements of various limbs served as means of expressing emotion. By synchronizing with the sound, these movements symbolically represented ideas, emotions, themes, and even abstract concepts.

For hundreds of years, Indian dance styles have included traditional, classical, folk, and tribal styles. There are many incredible classical dances from the country, but Bharatanatyam is the oldest and most famous. The 15th August 1947 marked the end of slavery in India, resulting in a popular awakening in many areas, including the fine arts. Therefore, Indian dances gained popularity among the masses. In major cities of the country, dance institutes were built to introduce the subject in schools and universities.

Despite India’s vastness, diverse natural resources, frequent invasions, and external influences, Indian dance has retained its identity in the cultural realm of the Indian psyche. Although dance has evolved over the years, all these art forms have a common objective; their thematic sources are supported by Hindu thought and mythology.