Tashi Morup and Rigzin Chodon
The historic Old Town of Leh is generally called Kharyog (mKhar-yog), referring to the residential houses and community spaces directly below the seventeenth century Leh Palace. The Old Town bears testimony to the architectural heritage and socio-cultural history of Ladakh, which demonstrates an…
in Module
Dr Veena Murthy Vijay
In India, dance is considered to be divine in origin. The gods and goddesses not only take great delight in dance, drama and mime but many are great dancers themselves.
(Anonymous)
Introduction
The dance traditions of Andhra are divided into two distinct styles—the Nattuva Mela and the Natya Mela.…
in Overview
Savithri Shastry
Chikkamela means mini troupe and is a variant of Yakshagana, practised in off-seasons in Coastal Karnataka. In Chikkamela, the troupe, consisting of a couple of actors and accompanying musicians, go from house-to-house to perform select scenes from Yakshagana plays.
Surendra Pai started Chikkamela…
in Interview
Dr Manorama B.N.
In Coastal Karnataka, a typical Yakshagana season lasts for only six months, from November to May. The rainy months would mean a period of scarcity for those artistes who had no other means of sustenance. Chikkamela, literally meaning mini mela or troupe, was born out of the livelihood concerns of…
in Module
Dr Manorama B. N.
The concept of jewellery is an ancient one as is evident in the excavation samples from the sites of ancient civilisations, such as the Dancing Girl bronze statue belonging to the Indus Valley Civilisation. This desire to adorn oneself with jewellery is, however, not confined to any given class or…
in Overview
Surya N. Rao and Madhulika Srivatsa
Kuchipudi is one of the prominent Indian classical dances that originated in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It evolved as a dance-drama, connected to temples and practised by men who did the stree veshas (female roles) as well. In the twentieth century, gurus like Vempati…
in Article
Shama Krishna
In this elaborate lecture-demonstration, performer and guru Shama Krishna explains different aspects of angika abhinaya in Kuchipudi, as prescribed in Bharata Muni's Natyashastra. She demonstrates the adavus or body movements that are a combination of movements of limbs and torso, and the position…
in Video
Madhulika Srivatsa
A descendent of the Natuva Mela dance traditions of Andhra Pradesh, the modern version of Kuchipudi was founded and structured by Siddhendra Yogi in the seventeenth century. Rooted heavily in the dance traditions of Yakshagana, Kuchipudi was male-oriented and was the exclusive domain of Vaidiki…
in Module
Ram Bhat N.
Ram Bhat (RB): Namaskara Radhamma. The gejje (anklet) is a significant part of both Bharatanatyam and Yakshagana, and generally we use the anklets available in the market. You and your husband, the late Raghavacharya, mastered the art of making these anklets traditionally. Could you tell us how it…
in Interview
Dr Manorama B.N.
For any Indian classical dancer, except may be for the Manipuri performer, his or her ghungroo is a special and sacred ornament. This is particularly true of Yakshagana artistes in Coastal Karnataka. Every year when their annual tour begins, the Yakshagana artistes gather at the temple of their…
in Video