Sacred Dance of India

Author(s): Mrinalini Sarabhai
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

Page 37

Chhau Dance
The "Chhauni Nritya," was a military dance, performed by the Oryan fighters of Orissa or Singhbhumi as it was called Moving as in battle with spears and swords, accompanied by drums of war, the dance was popular in Mayurbhanj Through the centuries, the war-like movements became systematised and Asarı Chhau with its emphasis on the heroic quality of man was popular Slowly, the stories from the epics inspired the people and in the early 19th century, the ruler, Shri Krishna Chandra Bhany Dev, encouraged and patronised the art Definite rules of training were laid down and the young students studied the basic movements of the body known as 'dharan', 'talka', and 'upalayas' The dances are accompanied by the 'mahuri' and various drums, the nagara, dhol, and mrdanga
The dance of Nataraja, the Savara or hunter's dance, the magnificent 'Shiva-Parvati' (Hara-Parvatı) and other dances are vigorous and performed entirely by men The dance usually begins in slow tempo and mounts up into incredible speed and dexterity towards the end of the show Chhau Dance – Purulia
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