Facets of Indian Classical Dance- Proceedings of the National Seminar on "World Dance Day"

Foreword The Universities are not only custodians of knowledge. They not only have to open the treasure of human knowledge to new generation, it is their bounden duty to help expand the stock of knowledge.

The Vidyapith, aware of its duties, has always been keen to contribute its mite to research efforts and it feels honored to host the NATIONAL SEMINAR ON "WORLD DANCE DAY".

Proceedings of the Seminar are being published with the hope that it will create wider awareness of the work being currently done in the field and help in further work.

Preface The quest of the Classical Indian dances is the pursuit of the absolute. It tries, through its grateful movements and expressions, to reach the ultimate state of being that would transcend the transient the chaotic, and the subjective and the personal in the man.

From the appreciation of Dance sparks off other forms of art; sculpture" painting etc.

India has a rich repertoire of classical dances. It is something unique to it something which we do not have in very many countries.

The reason for it is obvious. India has been cradle of many cultures; Dravidian, Aryan and later on Muslim and many others. India is a vast country with so many languages, customs, in fact so many sub- cultures from North to South, West to East.

Aesthetic is central to the Art of Dance. The concept of 'aesthetic' in classical Indian music and dance is closer to beauty. It is generally believed that the concept of beauty is natural to human being. In the Hindu sense the meaning of aesthetics comes out when we look at beauty spiritually. In the Western sense the meaning of aesthetics comes out when we look at beauty intellectually. Music and dance; like all cultural manifestations, are the expression and mirror image of certain attitudes of consciousness.

A National Seminar on Indian Dance was organized at Banasthali Vidyapith on the World Dance Day, 29th April, 2006 with the support of the Sangeet Natak Academy Delhi.

This is a collection of the various papers read at the Seminar.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages