Kathak exponent MARAMI MEDHI on how Indian classical dances score over their western counterparts.
1. Homage to the gods:
In Indian classical dance, the body of a dancer becomes an instrument of gesture and symbolism, speaking for the spirit of worship of God. Since most of the classical dance forms first started in the temples, it is said that classical dances originated with the purpose of pleasing God in pure worship.
2. Telling stories:
Western dance is an expression of action, which makes the human body a crucible of energy, without any reality. Whereas, Indian classical dance focusses on contemplation, story-telling, praising the gods, experimenting and depicting all kinds of emotions through mythology and true stories of many poets and important people from our history and culture.
3. Not just entertainment:
We see that western dance merely comes asan act of pure entertainment for the audience,mostly an entertainment which is temporary and the audience tends to forget about it the very next day.
On the other hand, Indian classical dance is not only for the entertainment of the audience, its aim is to touch the hearts of the audience in tandem with its spiritual goals.
4. A higher end:
In Indian classical dance, a dancer is always associated with a higher, sacred love for God. Human love is expressed into stylised gestures and special expressions symbolising love for the divine, while in western dance, the male-female relationship is shown fairly openly in a purely human and earthly sense.
5. Focus on mental health:
Lastly, I would like to talk about the most important point. In Indian classical dances, there are many basic exercises which are to be practised in order to make the body flexible and perfect for dancing. Yoga and meditation not only help a person become physically agile, but also mentally fit, happy and relaxed.
But in western dance, there are only a few basic exercises and use of space which never really focusses on the mental health of a person. It is just physical fitness that matters.