Benefits Of Practicing Indian Classical Dance For Everyone

For people who love to dance, it could be either because they find it a way of having fun or to channel their creativity, whereas, for some others, dancing is an art that contributes majorly towards good physical and mental health. Tapping your feet to the beats or swaying to the soothing music alleviates stress by increasing the levels of serotonin secretion in your body, which automatically revitalises your mood. Also, if you have been complaining of stiff joints or soreness in different parts of your body, you do not need to over-exert yourself by undergoing heavy exercises, rather, taking a few hours out to practice dance can miraculously ease your pain within a few months.

Although almost all forms of dance have both physical and mental health benefits, classical dance of India has a very strong therapeutic effect that initiates a person on the path of healing. The ancient texts of Ayurveda hold evidence that dance is one of the most powerful healing methods, as it brings coordination of both the body and mind, thereby reorienting the chakras in the human body that are key to a fit body and mind. 

As the Indian classical dance forms continue to evolve and spread out to all parts of the world, they have come to be accepted as one of the best approaches to therapy that strengthens self-esteem and aligns the body-mind relationship. So, here are some benefits of practising classical dance of India for people who love to dance or want to pursue the passion of dancing:

Kathak: This dance form from North India is typically characterised by four significant aspects which are the fast footwork, the innovative expressions, the spins, and the acting. The complex rhythmic beats of Kathak are very strong stimuli that activate the entire body instantly, especially because of its dynamic nature and the constant balancing of the spins and maintaining relevant facial expressions. The fast footwork is a superb stress buster, as it helps to release any pent-up tension or anger, thereby offering cathartic support to the body. With every spin you take, oodles of calories are also burnt while strengthening your foot muscles at the same time, thereby culminating in instant rejuvenation after a few hours of dancing.

Manipuri: The Manipuri dance form originates from the northeastern parts of India and holds a very strong religious connotation in Manipur because of its devotional nature. In this dance form as well, there is a conspicuous coordination of the body movements, footwork, and facial expressions at the same time, but what makes it different from Kathak or Bharatnatyam is that the dancers do not have to strike their foot on the ground very hard which saves them from any possibility of injury. Although this dance form is very nimble, and delicate in nature, devoid of all the sharp jerks, its slow undulating nature offers a certain calmness to the dancer and helps to find inner peace.

Bharatnatyam: This dance form is one of the unmatched awe-inspiring art forms from Tamil Nadu which encompasses all the significant aspects of classical dance of India like facial expressions, narrative dances, and hand movements. Combined with the rhythm of the music, the perfectly coordinated hand-eye movements are evocative of the narratives that are woven by the Bharatnatyam dance recitals. It is because of its expressiveness that the dancer can release their pent-up emotions and express dormant feelings as well, which acts as a very effective mode of psychotherapy. Also, Bharatnatyam tends to strengthen the hamstring muscles with continuous practice.

Kathakali: Originating in Kerala, Kathakali is known to be a combination of five different elements of fine arts. These are dance, expression, enactment, instrument, and vocals. The main focus of this dance form is on facial expressions, body and hand gestures, and movement according to the rhythm of the music. The main benefit that this dance form offers is the constant exercise of the facial muscles. Male dancers in this dance form also practice sweeps, jumps, and leaps, where they can get to have a lot of torso work and leg extensions. These movements increase flexibility and improve the coordination of the limbs, enabling a lot of muscle exercise as well.

Odissi: The origin of this dance form can be traced back to Orissa and it is its three-dimensional body gestures also known as Tribhangi, that gives it a distinct identity from the other classical dance forms. One of the most prominent movements of this specific dance is the movement of the hips in a particular direction and this art of deflection helps to divide the weight of the body into two halves. Also, this dance form involves different kinds of walks, sitting positions, and elevations that offer immense therapeutic benefits to the body. It helps to maintain the flexibility of the hip and waist sections of the female dancers, thereby enabling them to maintain a good body shape with prolonged practice. Many modern researchers have noted improvement in the muscular control of the waist and hip area of the female dancers practising Odissi.

For centuries, Indian culture has been replete with this priceless treasure of classical dance of India that reflects the diversity and heritage of the country. However, it not only just brings the dancers together in the endeavour of expressing their creative selves and immersing themselves in the beauty of the art form, but also offers the best form of therapy that cures both mental and physical health problems at the same time.

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