There are many types of dances in Inida, from those which are deeply religious in content to those which are danced on more trivial happy occassions. Like the India culture, Indian classical dances are equally diverse in nature. There are numerous classical dance forms in India and innumerable folk dances.
The origin of classical dance in India goes back to 2BC where the ancient treatise of dance, Natya shastra, was compiled. Dance in India is guided by the elaborate codes in the Natya Shastra and by mythology,legend and classical literature.
Classical Indian dances are among the most graceful and beautiful in the world. They have rigid rules for presentation.They all make use of a complicated, visual language, consisting of hand gestures, body movements, and postures. Movements of the eyes and hands, arms and legs, chest, waist, hip, knee, and foot, either alone or in combination with each other, all make up this complicated language. These classical dances uses a set of emotions or feelings known as rasas. The job of the artist is to take in emotions, such as amazement, anger, hatred, humour, or love, and communicate them to the audience. The creation of a piece of art, including dance or musical composition, comes out of a deep sense of feeling at one with the universe. This deep sense of inner harmony combined with discipline of the mind and body makes dance similar to yoga.
Dance was considered a form of religious ceremony very pleasing to God, and dancers often find lofty heights of spiritual and religious experience as they vividly express their devotion and worship through the dynamic dance in which they are dedicating all activity to the Divine. Dance in India has always been a path to Godhood, a yoga, a method of worship;to transcend all barriers of religion, gender.
Basically, Dance is a medium of communication (a language), it is used effectively to convey some meaning,emotion and cultural values. It is a specialized area of performing
arts, demanding a high level of physical preparation and thorough understanding of underlying aesthetics (principles) and its global contexts.
In a nut shell dance is an artistic form of non verbal communication.
Dance has been, not a hobby or a pastime, or even a career, but just the reason to be; a way to touch eternity.
Slokas(verses), specific to classical dance:
Guru Brahma
Guru Vishnu
Guru Devo Maheswaraha
Guru Sakshaad Parambrahma
Thasmay Shree Guruveh Namaha
Tradition has given a great place for Guru (Preceptor) in human life.
The Guru is Brahma in creating Knowledge, he is Vishnu the protector
of our Intellectual faculty and he is Maheshwara the destroyer or the
despeller of our Ignorance. He is Para Brahma (The Supreme Being)
in binding us all with the feeling of universal oneness hence I offer my salutation to him.
Aangikam Bhuvanam yasya
Vaachikam Sarva Vaangmayam
Aahaaryam Chandra thaaraadi
Tam Numaha Saatvikam Shivam
We bow to the pure Shiva whose body is the universe, whose speech is the universal language
and whose ornaments are the moon and stars.
Yato Hasta Stato Drishti
Yato Drishti Stato Manaha
Yato Manaha Stato Bhavom
Yato Bhavom Stato Rasaha
Whither the hand goes, the glance follows,
Whither the glance leads, the mind follows,
Whither the mind goes, there the mood follows,
Whither the mood goes, there is real flavour (Rasa) born.
Khantaanyat Lambayat Geetam
Hastana Artha Pradakshayat
Chakshubhyam Darshayat Bhavom
Padabhyam Tala Acherait
Keep the song in your throat
Let your hands bring out the meaning
Your glance shouls be full of expression
while your feet maintain the rhythm
Javaha Sthiratvam Rekhaa cha
Bhramari Drushtir Shramaha
Medhaa shraddha vacho geetam
Paatrapraanaa Dasha Smrutaahaa
Agility, steadiness, rekha, practice in bhramari movement, the glancing
eye, endurance, memory, devotion (to her art), (clear) speech and good
singing power are the ten essential qualities of a dancing girl.
Aasyena Alambayed Geetam
Hastena Artham Pradarshayet
Chakshurbhyaam Darshayed Bhaavam
Paadaabhyaam Taalamaacharet
The dancer should sing with her mouth, express the meaning (of the
song) by hand (gestures),
show psychological states (expressions) by her eyes and beat time (show
rhythm) with her feet.