The Healing Potential of Indian Traditional, Folk Dance Styles

Dancing is a vigorous, non-competitive workout that may benefit mental and emotional health in addition to physical health. It can serve as a means of encouraging and motivating people to engage in physical activity. According to scientific studies, dancing and physical exercise can improve physical fitness in both men and women. It also improves lung function, lung capacity, flexibility, and aerobic capacity. It is thought that dance, as a creative art form and physical activity, may significantly advance the goal of healthy living. It has been employed as a type of therapy in many institutions and medical settings these days, not only for mental health but also for physical health. Exercise, such as dance therapy, is known to raise endorphins, which are neurotransmitters that promote wellbeing. Dancing promotes more mobility throughout the body, which benefits the skeletal, muscular, respiratory, and circulatory systems.

A recent addition to dance literature is the use of dance in therapeutic contexts (Chatterjee, 2013b). Although there is a lot of research being done on this novel strategy in other areas of the world, our nation lacks the theoretical underpinnings and/or practical application of such approaches, thus further study is required. With the primary goal of comprehending their therapeutic effects, the various body movements and the impacts of various folk, classical, and new dance forms are examined in this study. Using various questionnaires and medical checkup facilities, a demographic study based on interviews and surveys was conducted with a minimum of one hundred dancers from each dance genre in order to draw conclusions.

Dance therapy is a specialized form of psychotherapy that uses dance to heal physical, behavioral, and cognitive issues. The foundation of dance therapy is the belief that the body and mind are interdependent and that both positive and negative effects of physical health may be seen in emotional and mental health. Dancing has long been utilized as a complementary or alternative form of therapy for patients in the western world.

According to their long history, Indian classical dances have always been performed with the intention of improving the dancers’ health. They are frequently likened to yogis as a type of mental and physical workout. The seven main categories of Indian classical dance are Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Manipuri, Kathakali, Odissi, Kuchipudi, and Mohiniattam. Since the Natyashastra is the source of all Indian classical dances to differing degrees, they all have some characteristics in common, such as mudras, specific body positions, and the use of abhinaya, or dramatic or expressive acting. Since percussion is such an essential component of Indian classical music, it serves as the accompaniment for the dance. In almost every style, the dancers wear bells around their ankles to complement the percussion

Indian classical dances are very traditional and are dances of the mind and soul. According to Sudhakar (1994), this dance is a means of communication that evokes the deepest emotions while also illustrating a civilization’s cultural features. They showcase a stunning and captivating facet of the enduring and exquisite Indian dance culture. Beyond mere amusement, the goal of all art is to use beauty and joy to awaken to reality, experience emancipation, and grow in righteousness as a human. Indian dances become impersonal and conventional as a result.

North India is the birthplace of the classical dance style known as Kathak. Fast footwork (tatkar), spins (chakkar), and creative use of bhav (expression) in abhinaya (acting) are characteristics of this largely narrative dance style. It has evolved into a very sophisticated system of rhythm and movement over time, able to convey abstract form and composition as well as intricate human relationships.

One of the most exquisite forms of Indian classical dance is Bharatnatyam. It first appeared in Tamil Nadu’s Tanjore. All of the traditional elements of classical dance, including padams (narrative dances), abhinaya (facial emotions), and mudras (hand positions), are included in Bharatnatyam. The dancers in Bharatnatyam use a lot of hand-eye coordination to convey a variety of emotions.

The state of Manipur in northeastern India is the birthplace of Manipuri dance. It was first exclusively performed in temples and is now a vital component of Manipur’s religious and social life. The Hindu gods Radha and Krishna, who are sometimes the primary protagonists in dance compositions like Raslila, are the sole objects of devotional Manipuri dance.

Kerala, a state in southern India, is where the Indian classical dance style known as Kathakali first appeared. Kathakali is regarded as a synthesis of five components of fine art: enactment (nrittya, the element of drama with emphasis on mudras, the hand gestures); expressions (natya, the component with emphasis on facial expressions); dance (nritta, the component of dance with emphasis on rhythm and movement of hands, legs, and body); song or vocal accompaniment (geet); and instrument accompaniment (badya).

Indian culture includes a treasure of a variety of folk dances. The diversity in culture and tradition is reflected in the variety of Indian folk dances too. Basically folk dances are much more related to Indian history (Dutt, 2008). They are preferred by ordinary people in every festive moods and it brings all participants in a complete forum. As many of these dances are generally group dance form, it also helps the dancers to feel togetherness and it in time reflects the unity among the diverse kind of people of India. This is the basic beauty of such folk dances. Indian folk dance is diverse because of India’s vast cultural diversity. It has many forms including bhangra, lavani, dandiya etc. Different folk dances of India reflect the heart of Indian peoples and their culture. These dance forms are rural in origin. Thus they are full of original scent of Indian soil. Generally folk dances are accompanied by folk music, song and instruments. Most of the folk music of India is dance-oriented.

Rather than being performed by professional dancers, many folk dances are done by regular people. The villagers frequently get together to sing and dance while playing a range of traditional instruments on significant occasions. Harvesting, planting, marriages, and religious holidays are examples of such unique occasions. Professionals occasionally perform the folk dances. The folk theater is one such institution. Dance dramas are performed by professional musicians, actors, and dancers who go from village to village. This appears to be a rural continuation of the Natyashastra’s age-old theatrical heritage.

There are many therapeutic methods to folk dances. Each type of dance has a distinct style and is associated with health issues. All forms of folk dances place a high value on physical health and well-being, even though this is primarily connected to mental enlistments. Long-term practice of a particular dance style can alter a dancer’s physical appearance. For instance, both boys and girls participate the aggressive Assamese folk dance known as Bihu. Punjab Bhangra is a powerful dancing style that also requires appropriate body alignment and good health. Rajasthani folk dances such as Gair and Geendad are performed with a level of military accuracy.

Tamilnadu folk dance, karagam, requires good body balance. Chou, Rayabese, and Dhali are examples of Bengali folk dances that require appropriate body movement and power. Any improper posture during these or other dances could put the dancers in danger. Engaging in the powerful dance traditions of Bhangra (Punjab), Karagam (Tamilnadu), Chou, Rayabese, and Dhali (Bengal) promotes mental and physical well-being. Folk dancers are more physically and psychologically fit than the non-dancers in their community, according to a poll done with them. The popularity gives the young dancers more self-worth, confidence, and motivation to learn. As a result, a lot of folk culture parents are eager to teach their kids dancing. Additionally, it indirectly or

Dance plays a significant role in health research and from a therapeutic perspective because it primarily deals with physical motions. Drama and other cultural elements also have this kind of impact on people’s health, but dance requires a lot of self-assurance, self-control, practice, and appropriate movement. The dancer may sustain injuries or perhaps lose their life as a result of any kind of carelessness or inappropriate body language. However, via movement modulation, both the dance and the dancers might have a bright future. In these respects, breathing duration and muscle control are crucial. The age limit, unintentional trauma, pregnancy, psychology, and health risks all directly affect the advantages of dance . Dance therapy may help someone avoid undesirable issues and protect them from certain health risks. However, in order to garner public attention, government organizations, non-governmental organizations, and the public sector should emphasize this topic through seminars, symposiums, workshops, news, and other means.