Regional and geo-cultural connections in dance

Subashini PATHMANATHAN

India and Sri Lanka are closely bound by historical, geographical, cultural and religious ties. The formation of Sinhala letters of Sri Lanka resembles the Letters of Telugu and Kannada languages of India. 'Silapathikaram', the Tamil classic describes Santhi Koothu which consists of four main Koothu forms: Chokam, Mei Koothu, Abinaya and Nadakam. Chokam is the pure Nirtha dance.

Affinities between Sri The Mei Koothu consist of three main categories: Desi, Vaduku and Sinhalam. Desi was a dance form belonging to Tamil country. Vaduku was a dance form belonging to Telugu Desam, and the word 'Sinhala' was apparently a reference to a dance form belonging to Sinhala country. Unfortunately apart from the word Sinhala, there is nothing about the dance form in Silapathikaram. The great Tamil poet Maha Kavi Subramaniya Bharathi spoke of constructing a bridge to Sinhala Deepa (Sri Lanka) from India.

Pure dance

Kandyan dance is a very popular dance form among the Sinhalese population of Sri Lanka. The traditional Kandyan dance is a pure Nirtha dance firmly based on thala, laya and Thandava karna stances are based on rhythm. In Sri Lankan the traditional classical dance form is regarded as Kandyan dance. Kandyan dance is the predominant dance in Sri Lanka and also this is the pre dominant dance form among the Sinhalese Population all over the world. This dance is still practised in Buddhist temple festivals, (peraheras) street processions, for public entertainments to welcome the leaders, visitors and foreign dignitaries.

Most Indian and Sri Lankan classical dance forms are based on Natya Sastra, but these dances developed and were influenced by regional, religious, cultural and social traditions of each region. Kandyan dance appears to have close links between Natya Sastra, as there are discernible similarities between the classical dance forms of India and Sri Lankan dance forms. Kandyan dance form was protected and fostered by the Kandyan gentry who managed and maintained the Kandyan dance troupes. There are five important categories in Kandyan dance, Ves Netuma (dance), Naiyandi, Udekki, Pantheru and Vannam.

The Ves dance started as a ritual dance form, it is traced back to Kohomba Kankaria. Kohomba Kankaria was a ritual dance form among the Sinhalese population in Sri Lanka. Earlier sixty four ornaments were worn for the Ves dance, but now less than thirty four ornaments are worn.

Ves dance has close links with Indian Classical dances. The Ves dance form is based on Thandava aspect of Kathakali, Bharatha Natyam and Manipuri. Today Ves dance is considered and based on religious and social values. The Ves dancers' costumes and make up are closely linked to the Indian classical dance form Kathakali to certain extent. Both these dance forms have strong affinity with Thandava stands, jumps, twists and beautiful masculine and vigorous stands and vast gaps between the legs.

Circular movements

Both these dance forms adopt circular movements, and the knees are spread out from one another. Both these dance forms adopt the techniques from martial arts. But Ves is totally based on pure Nirtha, but Kathakali is based on Nirtha and Nirthiya. Ves dance is performed at the religious processions, ceremonial occasions, and other social occasions. Kathakali is performed in temples as well as on the stages.

Males are the dominating artistes of these two art forms. Both these dance forms have some close links, yet they have their own individuality and Identity. Kathakali is based on dance drama; to expound the meaning of the Story.

The Kathakali dancers use the hand gestures, with different facial expression. Vocal music is the source and sole of Kathakali, and Bharatha Natyam, but drum beating is the source and sole of Kandyan Ves dance.

The most common drum is Geta Beraya, which is only used in Kandyan dance. The word 'adavu' is used, in Kandyan dance, which is a pure Nirtha aspect of dance. The word is also used in Bharatha Natyam.

Common gestures

In the Kandyan dance generally the sitting position and stretching the hands at the shoulder level is almost common to Kathakali and Bharatha Natyam. Bharatha Natyam which uses twenty eight to thirty single hand muthuras are called Asamutha hastas and twenty three double hand muthuras or joint hand muthuras are called Samutha (hastas or Gestures).

Similarly even Kathakali twenty eight hand muthuras (hastas or Gestures) are used including joint and single hand movements. It was said that earlier Ves dance also had some amount of hand gestures.

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