Personality in dance
Subashini PATHMANATHAN
The role of personality in dance is an important factor in dance. In
any dance form, whether it is a modern dance form, folk dance form,
fusion dance form, a classical dance, or even if it is a ritual dance
form to some extent, the personality plays an important role. For dance
body and personality are the part and parcel of the art. In any dance
form body is an instrument.
Make-up enhances the personality of the dancer |
Hence maintaining the figure is an important factor for dance. Each
dance form has its unique make up and distinctive costumes. Most of the
oriental classical dance forms, folk dance forms, and ritual dance forms
have their old age links, traditions and historical background, and
religious affiliations. To enhance the personality of the dancers they
should put suitable make up, whatever they have their natural beautiful
features. It is very much needed for the classical dance artistes. Any
performing artiste, whether it is a dancer, drama artiste, teledrama
artiste, or silver screen artiste, at least a particular extent of the
personality plays an important role.
However for drama artistes, teledrama artistes, or silver screen
artistes, the selective role and the make up factor are chosen according
to the need and necessity of the character. However the oriental
classical dances, folk dances and ritual dance forms have selective and
distinctive makeup of their own. The folk dance forms and the ritual
dance forms, belong to Desi dance forms. That means it is confined to a
particular limited Pradesha or area. Yet most of these dance forms do
not gain the worldwide recognition.
The folk dances and ritual dances are mostly performed in open-air
theatres. In these folk and ritual dance forms, the personality of the
artistes is not considered serious. But on the other hand, any classical
dance form, in spite of its distinctive makeup and costumes, has certain
basic personal qualities needed for a classical dancer.
The classical dance form is much more polished by numerous factors as
well as by sophisticated numerous techniques, which gained the worldwide
recognition. Basic attraction for these classical dance forms is the
dancers' personality.
Numerous ancient dance scripts still describe and provide the
aesthetic values and guidelines to the classical dance forms. Among the
instructions given in the ancient scripts the quality and the duties of
the teachers, and the nature and the personality of the students are
well defined. The professional performers are less, as compared to the
stage dance performers. Today the students are mostly stage performers.
Hence, the stage performers must have the suitable figure for the dance.
The type and the nature of the personality of the dance students are
given in the ancient dance scripts. According to the ancient spiritual
dance scripts, the dancer must be of fair complexion. The face must be
beautiful like a lotus flower. She must not be too fat or too thin. As
for intelligence the dancer should be so sharp. Further, she should have
a thorough knowledge in the theory and the practical side of the dance,
mainly about the thala (rhythm), kala (speed), and laya (balancing the
thala and kala ) scales.
The dancer should be very obedient and able to interpret the meaning
smoothly through hand gestures and facial expressions. The dancer is
supposed to have a good voice and knowledge in the classical vocal
music; she must cultivate and inherit such good qualities and habits
such as humbleness. She must be polite respecting the God, Guru, elders
and hermits.
The first appearance of the dancer should be very attractive to the
audience like a full moon with full brightness in the stage. Yet these
qualities are given in the ancient dance scripts but at this present era
one cannot expect all these qualities and guidelines given in the
age-old scripts. Unfortunately today parents and students are involved
in dance, without considering their personalities. To certain extent
numerous pancake makeup colour base can improve basic complexion.
However the size of the figure cannot be changed. It is necessary
that whether a dancer or dance teacher must maintain their figure
throughout their life. Personality is the part and parcel of the art
form. |