Category: Dancing

The southern zone of India is one of the richest territories that have some magical places and rich cultures associated with it. This region is known as one of the marvelous destination Indian tourism. Fun, adventure and dance are the inseparable part of celebration. Here, is dance is the most ancient and highly admired art form of India. It typically shows the vibrant side of the life. Though, the diversity of southern zone is extended by the distinctive culture, which has its roots associated with the old Dravidian culture.

To explore the most ancient dance form of South India, lets look into the rich institution of Indian traditional and classical dance form. The classical dance forms are the key element that keeps the Indian culture alive. It has its own elegance and grace that are embellished by the pre-set patterns of dominantly colorful costumes & make-up. This entire attributes adds more charms and elegance in the entire dance form. Out of many classical dance styles of south India, here we have the 5 prominent dance forms of south that are globally acclaimed. The very first dance form is Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Theyyam and Kuchipudi. The dance styles of south India reveals the soul, emotions, creativity, colors and positivity in it that ultimately inspires the onlooker.

The very first classical dance form is Bharatanatyam. It is a pure classical dance that is derived from ancient dance forms. This dance form is accompanied by the classical Carnatic music. The authentic dance moves of Bharatanatyam is a treat for eyes they look same as flame.

Second name is Kathakali, one of the most famous dance forms of South India. Its a rich cultural representation with a profound facial make-up, colorful attires and various designed ornaments. They facial expression is the dominant part of the dance style. Kathakali showcases the music, painting, acting, dance and beauty of literature. The basic theme of this dance form depicts the both the Hindu Holy Scriptures of Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Third is Mohiniyattam, a classic dance form that is regarded as the most graceful dance. This dance form is only performed by female as a solo recital. The term Mohiniyattam inherits from the word of Mohini that means, a woman who charms onlookers towards her with her powerful expressions. And the word aattam says the elegance, grace and sensuous body movements that lure everyone.

Fourth is Theyyam, this dance form is even renowned as as Kaliyattom. This dance form is associated with ritualistic folk dance of North Kerala (India). The basic root of this art form is in divine and is methodically conceded to ensure the safety and well being of everyone from families to community till entire humankind.

Fifth is Kuchipudi, this dance form is even called as Koochipoodi. Its a major south Indian dance style. The actions are quicksilver and sparkling, rounded and fleet-footed. The devotion and dedication of the performers reflects in the moves they perform during the dance. Kuchipudi dance style is performed with heart and soul that can be easily seen on the faces of dancers.

This is really true that the most pleasurable moment of any wedding is that the dance. Dance lessons Nassau County studio can be the only platform where you can show your ability and power by learning the best deal of dancing lesson. There may be your family and friends. But, when doing all the formalities, build the flooring wild for an instant and luxuriate in together with your special one. Learning dance lessons for wedding is really a beautiful decision taking by a newlywed man and woman. And after all it will help the special couple to point out their love for each other.

By taking dance lessons for wedding, the wedded couple can then consider and even astonish their visitors with a great wedding dance schedule. This can be also a chance for a few nice photos. Basically it will be the best time when you are getting into the wedding dance with your spouse. Actually this is a tradition that the bride and groom are going to be the first to dance. According to them the parent dances follow.

Now the father of the bride can dance together with his new daughter in law. At the same time the groom can also ask his mother to join him in a wedding dance. This dance could be a symbolic choice of the groom’s family that welcoming the bride into the new family. So after follow these discipline, the parents dance with each other and then swap dances with the other couple.

Basically ball room dancing lessons is all time favorite for dance lovers. Actually there are few performances that can complete with ballroom for sensual beauty for the elegance and for romantic expression. Like all the other performing arts you would also need to learn the all formation and the moves that go into mastering this art would take a lot of work. These lessons can never be just about to learn the step needed to carry off a specific dance. For the best result you need to learn the every step with artistry and expressively.

While you are accounting with the dance form you will get the combining grace, timing, rhythm, and also get the get the sense of co-ordination. Besides this it will be appear to you as a great exercise and really it is better than sitting around watching television. And if you have joined a group lesson in dance lessons Nassau County studio then you can feel dancing from the heart. But for that you must learn the basics and there are no easy tips to join social dancing. Dancing is refreshing and fun and even so with greater confidence.

On the other hand these ball room dancing lessons are affordable and are a good way to try out new dance and meet new friends. Since these lessons have a tendency to focus on steps and patterns slightly than on technique. So it is specifically suggested for male students to take a private lesson in every week and use that time to learn the technique involved in it. It also includes that how you effectively lead your partner throughout the teachings in the group classes.

Basically ball room dancing lessons is all time favorite for dance lovers. Actually there are few performances that can complete with ballroom for sensual beauty for the elegance and for romantic expression. Dance lessons Nassau County studio can be the only platform where you can show your ability and power by learning the best deal of dancing lesson.

Bharata Natyam

Bharatanatyam is the most popular of Indian dances and belongs to the South Indian state of Tamilnadu. Its antiquity is well established. In the past it was practised performed in the temples by a class of dancers known as the devadasis. It was a part of the religious rituals and has a long and hoary past. The kings and the princely courts patronised the temples, as well as the various traditions sustaining the dance form.

The salient features of Bharatanatyam are movements conceived in space mostly either along straight lines or triangles. In terms of geometrical designs, the dancer appears to weave a series of triangles besides several geometrical patterns. The accompanying music is classical Carnatic. The themes are from Indian mythology, the epics and the Puranas.

Chakiarkoothu

This dance form is believed to have been introduced to Kerala by the early Aryan immigrants & is performed only by the members of the Chakiar caste. A highly orthodox type of entertainment, it can be staged inside temples only & witnessed by the Hindus of the higher castes. The theatre is known as Koothambalam.

The only accompaniments are the cymbals & the drum known as the mizhavu, made of copper with a narrow mouth on which is stretched a piece of parchment.

Chhau

With origins shrouded in mystery, the Chhau dancer communicates inner emotions and themes through cadences of body flexions, movements and kinetic suggestions. The word Chhau is interpreted differently by scholars. ‘Shadow’, ‘Disguise’ and ‘Image’ are the most common interpretations due to the extensive use of masks in this dance form. The martial movements of Chhau have led to another interpretation of the word as meaning ‘to attack stealthily’ or ‘to hunt’.

Combining folk, tribal and martial traditions and yet covering the three aspects of Nritta, Nritya and Natya as well as the Tandava and Lasya aspects of classical dance, the Chhau dances are complex combinations of Folk and Classical motifs.

Kathak

Prevalent in the North as a classical dance form, Kathak has a long history. Nurtured in the holy precincts of the Hindu temples, Kathak has over the centuries attained refinement and enriched itself with various hues and embellishments. Kathak means a story teller and it developed as a dance form in which a solo dancer tells and interprets stories from mythology. The themes of Krishna, Radha, Shiva, Parvati and mythological characters find a prominent place in the Kathak dancer’s repertoire. Nowadays, experiments are being carried out with group choreography exploring the dance form. Both men and women perform Kathak which is also used to present dance dramas of historical tales and contemporary events.

Kathakali

Kathakali means a story play or a dance drama. Katha means story. Belonging to the South-Western coastal state of Kerala, Kathakali is primarily a dance drama form and is extremely colourful with billowing costumes, flowing scarves, ornaments and crowns. The world of Kathakali is peopled by noble heroes and demons locked in battle, with truth winning over untruth, good over evil. The stories from the two epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, as well as the Puranas constitute the themes of the Kathakali dance dramas.

The macro and micro movements of the face, the movements of the eyebrows, the eyeballs, the cheeks, the nose and the chin are minutely worked out and various emotions are registered in a flash by a Kathakali actor-dancer. Often men play the female roles, though of late women have taken to Kathakali.

The most striking feature of Kathakali is its overwhelming dramatic quality. But its characters never speak. It is danced to the musical compositions, involving dialogues, narration and continuity.

Koodiyattam

Practised and preserved by the Chakyar community in Kerala, Koodiyattam is the oldest surviving link with ancient Sanskrit theatre. A precursor of Kathakali drama, Koodiyattam has several conventions which reflect the aesthetic conventions of the Natyashastra. Performances are traditionally held in the Koothambalam which are special theatres attached to temples. The Sanskrit play selected for the performance usually takes over several days. Female dancers called Nangiars deliver the invocatory songs and also participate.

The use of the tirashila or curtain, different colours for the face to depict characters and elaborate ornaments are all similar to Kathakali. The mizhavu is a special drum used as an accompaniment for Koodiyattam performances.

Krishnattam

It is intended for presentation on eight successive nights to unfold the entire story of Lord Krishna, the style is almost akin to Kathakali. It is a dance drama and presents the story of Krishna in a series of eight plays and was created by Manaveda , the then Zamorin Raja of Calicut in northern Kerala. The eight plays are: Avataram, Kaliyamardanam, Rasakrida, Kamsavadham, Swayamvaram, Banayuddham, Vividavadham and Swargarohanam.

Kuchipudi

Kuchipudi, like Kathakali is also a dance-drama tradition and derives its name from the vilage of Kuchipudi in the Southern State of Andra Pradesh. In recent years, it has evolved as a solo dance for the concert platform and is performed by women, though like Kathakali it was formerly the preserve of men. The female roles were enacted by men and even today, the tradition boasts of gifted male dancers enacting female roles with such consummate artistry that hardly anyone would notice them as male dancers.

The songs are mimed with alluring expressions, swift looks and fleeting emotions evoking the rasa. A special number in the Kuchipudi repertoire is called tarangam, in which a dancer balances herself on the rim of a brass plate and executes steps to the beat of a drum.At times she places a pot full of water on her head and dances on the brass plate. The song accompanying this number is from the well known Krishna Leela Tarangini, a text which recounts the life and events of Lord Krishna.

Manipuri

Manipuri dances originate from the North Eastern state of Manipur and derives its name from its native state.Intensely devotional in mood, the Manipuri dances are a part of the daily life of the Manipuri people. Essentially presented as a group dance with gorgeous, colourful costumes and gentle, swaying petal-soft movements, Manipuri dances create a hypnotic impact. The dances are influenced by the religious movement of Vaishnavism, the worship of Lord Vishnu, and have flowered in exquisite Rasalila performances, the favourite dance in a circle by Krishna with his milkmaids. Various types of Rasalilas are performed on special occasions and festivals. From the corpus of Manipuri dances, one sees on the contemporary stage solo, duet and group performances. The music is typical of the region and is influenced by the kirtan school of Bengal due to the influence of Vaishnavism. However, to enjoy Manipuri, one should see the dances in their natural setting. Gossamer veils, cylindrical mirrored skirts and ornaments dazzle the audiences with their colourful costumes which create a dream-like effect.

Mohiniattam

Mohini Attam as a dance form has developed in Kerala. Performed by women it has graceful, gentle bobbing movements. Mohini means an enchantress and a dancer with enchanting movements, dressed in a typical white saree with gold border, hair gathered in a bun on one side and with golden jewellery epitomises the image of a beautiful maiden. Apparently it resembles the Bharatanatyam dance form but is quite distinct in its execution of movements, usage of hand gestures and its stark, simple costume. In nritya, the padams are mimed with facial expressions and hand gestures and the themes are drawn from mythology. The nayika or heroine longs for union with her beloved. A confidante goes and conveys the message to the lover and the nayika describes the pangs of separation. A varnam follows the structure of a Bharatanatyam varnam dwelling upon the narration, impersonation and alternating with pure dance. Though the dance units in Mohini Attam are limited, the quintessential grace and the measured movements are its distinct features.

Odissi

Odissi has been revived in the past fifty years and can be considered as the oldest classical Indian dance on the basis of archival evidence. The form belongs to the East Indian state of Orissa. Odissi has a close association with the temples and its striking feature is its intimate relationship with temple sculpture. Tribhanga, the three-body bend characterises this dance form. It has a vast range of sculptural body movements which gives one the illusion of the sculptures coming to life. The exquisite Sanskrit poetry and the sculptural movements to the typical Odissi music almost cast a spell on the spectators. Songs of other Oriya poets are also danced with subtle expressions, replete with emotions. In recent years, group choreographic presentations and dance dramas are also attempted in order to bring out the full glory and sculptural wealth of Odissi which is truly a visually fascinating performance style.

Ottan Thullal

It is performed solo and because of its ready mass appeal, it is also known as the poor man’s Kathakali.The dialogue is in simple Malayalam & therefore ensures mass appeal. Ottamthullal or Ottanthullal is a performance art from Kerala, India. This art was founded by kunjan nambiar one of the prachina kavithrayam in Malayalam. The art form was created during the 18th century by legendary Malayalam poet Kalakkaththu Kunchan Nambiar .

Yaksha Gana

This belongs to Karnataka & has a rural origin. It is an admixture of dance & drama. Its heart lies in Gana meaning music. It is about 400 years old. The language is Kannada & the themes are based on Hindu Epics. The costumes are almost akin to the Kathakali ones & the style seems to have drawn inspiration from Kathakali. As prescribed in the Natya Sastra, it has the Suthra Dhara (conductor) and the vidushaka (the Jester).

Bloch Pointe Shoes

The Bloch pointe shoe is available in different styles including Sylphide, Sonata, Suprima, Serenade, Aspiration, Concerta, Triomphe, and Alpha Sole. Beginner dancers will be suited to the Sylphide, Sonata, or Suprima. The Sylphide has broader widths than other Bloch pointe shoes and helps beginners with untrained feet roll up onto pointe more easily.

The Suprima will feel comfortable to beginners and advanced students as it provides good flexibility while maintaining good arch support. Note that some Bloch pointe shoes have the narrower box shape and snug heel which is not suited to a fleshy foot. Shoes such as the Aspiration and Alpha pointe shoe are designed with the advanced student in mind. These shoes offer better arch flexibility but should not be worn if you do not have strong feet and ankles.

Capezio Pointe Shoes

Capezio Pointe Shoes includes several styles, each intended for specific needs. The original Gliss features a hard shank, broad toe-box and a U-shaped vamp to allow dancers to roll up to pointe comfortably. The Gliss ES offers the same, but with a harder shank. The Gliss Pro and Pro ES are intended for more experienced dancers and feature a lower side and back height, with a medium and hard shank respectively. The shankless Demi Soft is based on the Gliss design, and intended for pre-pointe students.

The Pli style is best suited for dancers needing a vamp that extends beyond the toe. Pli I offers a medium shank, and Pli II features a harder #5 shank. The Tendu style offers a medium shank and boasts a quick break-in time. Tendu II has a broader box and wider platform. Both Aerial and Pavlowa shoes feature a Russian-styled tapered box. The Aerial is best to support high arches, while the Pavlowa offers a harder shank, longer vamp and heel height. The Contempora is an American-style wide-platform shoe with a longer vamp and lower heel.

Freed Pointe Shoes

Freed Pointe shoes are available in the Classic, Studio and Studio Pro styles. The various lines are designed for a specific level of dancer, as well as their physical requirements. The handcrafted Classic is particularly designed for the needs of the experienced or professional dancer. It features a deep, round vamp, but those needing more support will favor the deep V-cut vamp and stronger insole of the Classic Wing Block.

The Studio line is intended for the younger dancer and offers extra support. The Studio II style features a wider platform and lower profile than the original. The Studio Pro is also designed for the younger dancer, but it includes a V-shaped vamp and shank for greater flexibility.

Grishko Pointe Shoes

The line of Grishko Pointe shoes features Eleve and Releve models. The Eleve include the Ulanova I and II. These shoes are intended for dancers instructed to roll up on pointe. You can find out more about dancing en pointe at www.balletdancestudio.com . Ulanova I has a medium height vamp and versatile box for dancers with toes of an even or slightly varied length. Ulanova II has a deep vamp and is best suited for dancers with longer toes or narrow feet.

The Releve styles, Fouette and Vaganova, are designed to accommodate the Russianstyle of springing on point. The Vaganova has a deep vamp and tapered box. This style is particularly suited for dancers with a flexible arch, longer toes or narrow feet. The Fouette has a broad box and wide platform best suited for dancers with shorter toes or wider feet.

Gaynor Minden Pointe Shoes

Gaynor Mindon Pointe shoes differ from many brands. While manufacturers commonly feature a variety of styles, Gaynor Mindon instead designs shoes over six fitting options; shank, vamp, heel, regular fit, sleek fit and size. So many variations can feel confusing, but the benefit of this brand is that dancers essentially custom fit their shoes. The entire line is designed to minimize the shock of impact and comfortably fit every type of foot. Shank options run from flexible/little support to hard/ample support. In order from flexible to hard shanks, options are Pianissimo, Featherflex , Supple, Extraflex and Hard. Vamp options include Regular, Deep and Sleek.

A deep vamp is best for dancers with pronounced arches, while the sleek vamp is best for feet wider along the ball and narrower towards the heel. High, Regular, Low and Sleek heels are available. Choosing between them is a mainly a matter of comfort. The Regular and Narrow fit shoes differ only in width, but less heel and vamp options are available with Narrow Fit shoes.

Suffolk Pointe Shoes

Suffolk Pointe shoes includes the Solo, which features a slightly tapered box and longer vamp. It is available with a range of shoe types, Standard insole, Hard insole or Light insole. All but Light feature a standard box which provides uniform support appropriate for most dancers. The Light version is a flexible choice designed to help dancers go on pointe more easily. Hard insoles are available with either a full or shank, so dancers have the choice of greater flexibility along with ample support. No matter the variation, the Solo Pointe shoe features a low profile to provide comfort throughout the metatarsal area without sacrificing support or function.

How do you choose?

There is not one shoe that overall is considered better than every other shoe. It really is a matter of individually fitting the right shoe to your foot. Be wary of other dancers recommendations because your feet will differ from theirs, and their shoes may feel very uncomfortable on you. You now know the major brands of pointe shoes and their different characteristics. You should have a good understanding of which style of shoe and which brand will fit best on your feet. I recommend finding a good retail dance store with a good shoe fitter. Get them to take you through the process of fitting different shoes and working out which shoe will best fit your feet.

Anita Leembruggen is a dance teacher and avid dancer herself. She has written many guides and articles for young and old dancers alike. Anita spends a lot of her time helping students overcome obstacles in their way to dancing success. http://www.balletinfo.com

If you are fond of dancing ballroom dances like salsa, jive, rhumba, samba et al or if you want to learn any of the popular ballroom dances, you would be delighted to know that dancing provides a range of health advantages. To begin with, dancing enhances blood circulation and it is also noteworthy that salsa and other ballroom dances like jive, foxtrot et al assist in burning calories and triggering off weight loss.

Now let me throw light on some of the other benefits of dancing. Dear friend, it is notable that regular dancing reduces the risk of dementia, a particular mental ailment that can result in memory loss and it can further cause harm to the mental process. However, it is also known that if you practice jive, samba, tango, waltz and other ballroom dances on a regular basis, you are less prone to develop dementia and similar other ailments.

To add on, ballroom dancing helps in bending as well as stretching your body in different ways and this makes your body highly flexible. So buddy, now it is evident that dancing offers an array of health benefits and you can learn how to dance by getting in touch with a reputed dance instructor. But this may be a bit costly for you and therefore, you should look for the cheapest ways of learning salsa, jive and other ballroom dances.

Dear friend, it is worth-mentioning that you can avail the best ballroom dance lessons just by getting hold of a cost-effective dance dvd or dance instruction dvd available in the market. Louis Van Amstel, the renowned master of ballroom dancing, brings to you cost-effective dance cds, dance instructional video, dance video et al and after obtaining any of the Louis dance videos, it becomes quite easier for you to gain expertise in any ballroom dancing.

It is also possible for you to learn dance online by enrolling at one of the well-known online dance schools. The popular online dance schools offer comprehensive courses on salsa, jive, samba or other ballroom dances and you can obtain dance lessons straight from home by logging into any of these online dance schools.

Max Luther has written extensively on different types of dances including ballroom dancing and also penned numerous articles covering topics such as how to learn dance online, dance dvd, dance instruction video et al