Bharathanatyam
Bharathanatyam is the oldest form of classical dance in India. It is most widely practiced in South India, although it is well known everywhere. This form of dance can be used to express a variety of emotions, beliefs, and stories. It is an artistic yoga for which an immense amount of concentration, dedication, and endurance is required. It is now a well known form of art that has, since the birth of Bollywood, played a major role in Bollywood dance choreography.
Left: Award winning Bollywood actress and famous Bharathanatyam dancer Shobana
Right: Her dance crew on tours
Kathak
Kathak originated in northern India. This form of dance was originally used to portray mythological and moral tales from the scriptures. Unlike Bharathanatyam, the costumes are less elaborate but beautiful all the same. Another difference is that there are fewer muthras (hand gestures) in this form of dance as most of the movements require a flat palm.
ABOVE: Madhuri Dixit dances in the song "Mara Dala" in Devdas invoking classical Kathak styles into her dance.
ABOVE: Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje starring Sandhya (II) and Gopi Krishna
Kuchipudi
Kuchipudi is a classical indian dance that originated in Andhra Pradesh in South India. The dance is typically accomponied by a song (usually Carnatic music--same for Bharathanatyam). The prominence of the Kuchipudi art form is widespread and is well known in North America and Australia. Unlike Bharathanatyam, and Kathak, the Tarangam of Kuchpudi requires the dancer to dance upon a brass plate while balancing a kundi (small vessel holding water) on his or her head.
Above: Vanisree Rao, and Jaya Rama Rao--famous Bollywood Kuchipudi dancers
ABOVE: Kalanidhi-a famous Kuchipudi dancer
References
Bharatha-Natyam. 17 Mar. 2009 <http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/ 2861/Bharaeng.html>.
Birju Maharaj, Indian Classical Dancer. 17 Mar. 2009 <http:// images.google.com/
imgres?imgurl=http://www.indianetzone.com/5/images/
devdas1_2278.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.indianetzone.com/5/
birju_maharaj.htm&usg=__FCqfwrR70ubKcwreEzRVvw6PiIE=&h=167&w=2 50&sz=28&hl=en&start=17&um=1&tbnid=V3hjQ-V0K1H7HM:&tbn h=74&tbnw=111&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dkathak%2Bdevdas%26hl%3Den %26sa%3DG%26um%3D1>.
Jaya Rama Rao & Vanisree Rao. 17 Mar. 2009 <http:// www.indiansarts.com/ramaraopage.htm>.
Jhanak Jhanak Payal Bhaje. 17 Mar. 2009 <http://www.uppe rstall.com/films/1955/jhanak-jhanak-payal-baaje>.
Kuchipudi. 17 Mar. 2009 <http://www.kuchipudi.com/home.cfm>.
Kuchipudi Kalanidhi. 17 Mar. 2009 <http://www.geocities.com/ Vienna/2861/Bharaeng.html>.
PAST EVENTS : 1999-2000. 17 Mar. 2009 <www.rasika.org/Portland/pastevents1999_2000.htm>.