HISTORY OF DANCE IN BHUTAN
and living
Dance in Bhutan, it was back in the 8th
century when the Cham dance was first
originated by Padmasambhava who
introduced Tantric Buddhism to Bhutan.
Since then, this kind of dance has been
developed and are usually performed
during Tshechu, the annual festivals of
Bhutan as a token of respecting for the
Buddhism and the saints
CHAM DANCE AND TSHECHUS -
Performers wearing big masks with colorful
costumes. Also, this dance is vibrant and
lively and are performed during Tshechus,
for all you know Tshechus is the annual
Bhutanese festival.
10 TRADITIONAL DANCES IN
BHUTAN
1. Joenpa Legso - It is a welcome
dance. The intention behind the
dance is to welcome the guest of
honor, to bring good luck to the day
and announce a great start.
2. Zhungdra - The oldest traditional
Bhutanese song. It is majorly about
religious theme.
3. Drametse ngacham – Religious
Mask Dance
4. Layab dance - Nomadic
people’s dance. Nomads means “no
permanent address”. Yak rearing is
one of their main sources of earning
5. Yak cham dance - Eastern
Nomadic Dance. The nomads who
live in the eastern Bhutan perform
this dance in order to honor the
local deity known as Aum Jomo their
Goddess.
6. Doyab dance - A local dance from
southern Bhutan. Doyab dance is
one of the oldest dances and is
originated from a village called
Dorokha in Samtse district.
7. Ashang gaway - This one is
performed during special occasions,
on of the oldest dance in Bhutan.
8. Dramnyen dance - Instrumental
Dance of Bhutan. This dance is
believed that this dance is done
when the instrument is played by
Drakini Lhamo Yangchenma
(Goddess of music). It is believed
that this instrument has been given
by the goddess. The four
dancerrepresent the four directions
and pay their respect to the Drakini
Goddess.
9. Archery dance - This dance
depicts as to how archery was
played in a traditional way. While
the teams play, some of the team
members sing and dance and
celebrate their points.
 10. Tashi Laso - is a farewell dance. It
conveys a farewell feeling and
everyone is invited to be a part of
this kind of dance. It celebrates the
event and wishes for more such
meetings.
INDIAN DANCE
- Dance in India comprises the varied
styles of dances and as with other
aspects of Indian culture
- Different forms of dances originated
in different parts of India
- Developed according to the local
traditions and also imbibed
elements from other parts of the
country.
- These dance forms emerged from
Indian traditions, epics and
historical-mythology.
HISTORY AND METHODOLOGY
- Lord Shiva as Nataraja is its
manifesting principle.
- Shiva manifests Tandava (masculine
form)
- Parvati manifests Lasya (feminine
form).
- Natya Shastra and Abhinaya
Darpana tells us that, Lord Brahma
created dance upon request of the
Gods and it became known as the
fifth Veda, open to all, irrespective
of caste and creed
All forms of Indian classical dance is based
on both “RASA” and “BHAVA”. The
relationship between both is like that
between the body and mind.
• Bhava - refers to an emotional state
or mood portrayed by the dancer
and actor.
• Rasa - refers to the sentiment that
the bhava, manifested by the actor,
should evoke in the audience.
Basically, the term RASA & Bhava
shows the movement of body with
their mood of expressions.
• Mudras - are the way by which a
dancer is able to express ideas and
symbols through the language of
gestures. So, both hand gestures
and facial expression may call
mudras
EIGHT distinctive traditional dances
as Indian Classical Dances:
1. Bharatanatyam- TN
2. Kathak- UP
3. Odissi –Odisha
4. Kuchipudi- AP
5. Kathakali- Kerala
6. Mohiniyattam – Kerala
7. Manipuri-Manipur
8. Sattriya –Assam
Sanctum of the temple according to the
rituals called Agama Nartanam.
The dance is traditionally presented in a
dramatic manner called nritta, which uses
"clean" facial expressions and mudrā, or
hand gestures, to narrate the story and to
demonstrate concepts such as particular
objects, weather, aspects of nature and
emotions.
Rasanubhuti or the 9 Rasas.
These 9 Rasas are like the emotion or • It creates a nexus between the
feelings that you can see in the performers. dancer and audience.
It is like the emotions that they are trying to • The body movements are quite
convey to audiences. straight as compared to Bend
movements of South Indian.
The 9 Rasas
Odissi
1. Shrngaram: Love
2. Adbhutam: Wonder Two styles of traditional Odissi
3. Raudram:Fury 1. Maharis (Devadasis or Temple Girls).
4. Bhayanakam: Fear 2. Gotipua (Performed by Boys).
5. Bibhatsam: Disgust Kuchipudi
6. Hasyam: Laughter
7. Karunyam: Compassion The repertoire of Kuchipudi is similar to that
of Bharatanatyam, also the makeup is
8. Santam: Peace
similar. The differences are
9. Viram: Heroic
• Bharatnatyam costume has three
BHARATNATYAM fans of dissimilar lengths. While
Kuchipudi dress has only one
• Bha: Bhava which means emotions
frill/fan lengthier than the lengthiest
• Ra: Rag meaning musical notes.
fan in the former.
• Ta: Taal meaning the Rhythm.
• In Bharatnatyam, there is no side
• Natyam: The Sanskrit word for
Pallu but in Kuchipudi separate pallu
Drama
is stitched seen on the left side.
Bharatanatyam has three elements • Two buns are used in Kuchipudi
while only one in Bharatnatyam.
1. “Nritta” or pure dance, is the
movement of hands and feet on Kathakali
rhythm and speed.
Dazzling classical dance of Kerala is
2. “Nritya” is the interpretative Kathakali.
element of the dance.
‘Katha’= Story or tale,
3. Natya is the more dramatic
element of Bharatanatyam. ‘Kali’= Performance and Art.

Kathak The accent in Kathakali is more on the

Thandava style of dancing than on Lasya
Kathak is world famous for its spectacular
style. Hence the movements are often
footwork, amazing spins, Nazakat and
explosive. Delicate movements are rare.
Padhant (Chanting of bols, toda, tukdas by
dancer himself and then performing). This is Mohiniattam
the distinctive feature of Kathak.
Mohiniattam is Lasya inspired dance with
soft, calm and gentle movements.
Characterized as Feminine, usually done by
women.
The word ‘Mohini’ is related to the
charming women avatar of Lord Vishnu – to
end the evil powers. Mohiniattam also
connotes, beautiful dancing women.

Manipuri
The beautifully soft and graceful dance
form, Manipuri has significant movements
of hands and upper body. A curvy body
structure with a pleasant smile, decorative,
shiny costumes, and ornaments

Sattriya
Sattriya is the traditional dance – drama of
Assam. Sattriya was recognized in 2000 as
Classical Dance by Sangeet Natak Akademi