Female contribution in the development of dance
Subashini PATHMANATHAN
In most classical and folk dances, females play a dominant role. Yet
in some folk dances and in the classical dances the females and the
males play an equal role. For instance in the oriental classical dance
forms such as North Indian classical dance, Kathak and the East Indian
classical dance Manipuri, Sri Lankan classical dance Kandyan dance and
some Sri Lankan folk dances the males and females play an equal role.
Similarly even in the Russian classical ballet, Western dances, Red
Indian dances and South East Asian dances, males and females play an
equal role.
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The female
contribution means more than their male counterparts |
In some dances earlier the males dominated the scene but now the
females play important role, such could be seen in the Indian classical
dances such as in the Odissi, and Kuchupidi. Meanwhile Mohini Aatam is
only practised by the females alone, and Kathakali is still only
practised by the males.
In almost all Indian classical and Indian folk dances the females
play the important role in the cultural life of the Indian masses. In
any country culture reveals the pattern of lifestyle, the customs and
the traditions relating to regional practices, religious practices and
historical background of the society.
Earlier practically the females were the dominating figures in the
field of fine arts, especially in the field of dance, music, sculptures
and paintings. From the very beginning the female temple dancers and
female court dancers enjoyed prestigious positions in the society.
Earlier temple dancers were called Devar Adiyarkal, or Devadasis or
Sathirkaaris or Pathiyealalar. In Vaishnava temples the dancers were
called as Sri Vaishnava Manikam.
The females contributed their contributions to the dance in different
forms. Their contribution mainly depicted in the temple mandapa
sculptures, temple pillar sculptures and temple gopura sculptures, even
the dancing female figures were depicted in the general architectural
sculptures. Similarly even in the paintings, we could see the female
contribution to the dance, mainly in the temple walls and roof
paintings, temple pillar paintings dance hall curtain paintings, and in
the stage decoration cut out paintings. Even the names and the
contribution of the female dancers could be seen in the evidence of
several inscriptions. This could be seen in the copper plate
inscriptions and stone plate inscriptions.
These inscriptions describe the names of numerous female dancers and
their awards, awarded to the female dancers, the titles conferred upon
them and the details of the awards and the titles were well defined.
Even earlier, as well as today, in the field of classical and folk
dances, the most attractive and the most out-standing performing
artistes are females. Even the decorations adopted by the female dancers
such as hair dressing and facial makeup are more elaborate than the male
counterparts. The female dancers wear different variety, and different
designed costumes, than the male performers.
Certain classical items are only performed by the female dancers such
as Meenakshi Talaadu, Andal Thirukalyanam and Kurathi. They adopt the
costumes, makeup and hair dressing, according to the needs of the role
of the selective dances.
The female folk dancers are generally called koothukaris or Koothier
in Tamil, and by different names in different states. The colourful
glittering costumes are selected by the females, simple beautiful makeup
is always adopted by the female folk dancers, and majority of the female
dancers wear colourful shawls over the heads.
Most of these dancers, dance with decorated sticks or with decorated
pots, or holding the decorated shawls in the hands, or holding lamps in
the hands. The folk dances are mainly performed by groups, with mixed
and variety of colourful costumes. Some folk dances are only performed
by the female dancers, and some are performed by the females and males
together, and some are performed by the males alone.
In both classical and folk dances, beautiful, graceful movements,
beautiful stands, curving and bending positions, could be seen more
among the female dancers, than in the male dancers.
The contribution and the role of the female dancers in the practical
dance field, as well as in the dance research field, are much more than
that of the male members of the dance society.
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