Features
- Cover Type: Hard Cover with 403 pages
- Published by: South Asia Books April 1, 1996
- Written in: English
- ISBN 10 Number: 8173041466
- ISBN 13 Number: 978-8173041464
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Book Dimensions:
8.7 x 5.8 x 1 inches
- Weighs: 1.4 pounds
Book Description
Bharata Natyam is currently one of the most popular styles of classical dances in India. In the course of its transition from performance in temples and courts to the concert stage, the making of modern Bharata Natyam has passed from the purview of traditional/hereditary families, and dancers into the hands of the educated elite. What changes have been brought about in presentation and style as a result of this transition? How much of current practice is an invention of the past fifty years? These and other questions on the fascinating history of the creation of Bharata Natyam are dealt with by Anne-Marie Gaston who provides extensive oral testimony of current perceptions and directions of Bharata Natya.
Reader Reviews
This book is one of my most well-loved non-fiction books. It is written by a woman who both understands the dance and is able to explain it to outsiders. I got this book when I was just starting to learn dance, and it's given me an invaluable perspective on the origins and meaning of Bharata Natyam. The ancient history of temple dance is fairly small, but the 19th and 20th century information is both copious and vivid. She also does a great job in explaining the components of a formal recital, and other parts of the dance form.
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