KATHAKALI DANCE BY:- KAVITA

Introduction Kathakali (Malayalam: കഥകളി, kathakaḷi) is one of the major forms of classical Indian dance. It is another "story play" genre of art, but one distinguished by the elaborately colorful make-up, costumes and facemasks that the traditionally male actor-dancers wear.  Kathakali primarily developed as a Hindu performance art in the Malayalam-speaking southwestern region of India (Kerala).

Origin Kathakali's roots are unclear. The fully developed style of Kathakali originated around the 17th century, but its roots are in temple and folk arts (such as Kutiyattam and religious drama of the southwestern Indian peninsula), which are traceable to at least the 1st millennium CE. Traditional Themes The traditional themes of the Kathakali are folk mythologies, religious legends and spiritual ideas from the Hindu epics and the Puranas. The vocal performance has traditionally been performed in Sanskritised Malayalam.

Sequence First comes the Totayam and Puruppatuperformances, which are preliminary 'pure' (abstract) dances that emphasize skill and pure motion.  Totayam is performed behind a curtain and without all the costumes, while Puruppatu is performed without the curtain and in full costumes. The expressive part of the performance, which constitutes the dance-drama, is split into four tyes: Kalasam (major and most common), Iratti (special, used with battles-related Cempata rhythm), Tonkaram (similar to Iratti but different music), and Nalamiratti(used for exits or link between the chapters of the play). Entrance of characters onto the Kathakali stage can be varied. Many of these ways are not found in other major Indian classical dance traditions. Kathakali engages several methods: 1) direct without special effects or curtain; 2) through the audience, a method that engages the audience, led by torch bearers since Kathakali is typically a night performance; 3) tease and suspense called nokku or tirassila or tiranokku, where the character is slowly revealed by the use of a curtain.The "tease" method is typically used for characters with hidden, dangerous intentions.

MUSIC INSTRUMENTS Many musical instruments are used in Kathakali. Three major drums found are Maddalam (barrel shaped), Centa (cylindrical drum played with curved sticks) and Itaykka(Idakka, hourglass shaped drum with muted and melodious notes played when female characters perform). MAKE UP AND COSTUME Seven basic makeup types are used in Kathakali, namely Pacha (green), Pazhuppu (ripe), Kathi(knife), Kari, Thaadi, Minukku and  Teppu.   Of all classical Indian dances, Kathakali has the most elaborate costuming consisting of head dresses, face masks and vividly painted faces.The dancers wear long skirts and long sleeve angarkhas (kanchuki).the long shirt have many layers and are embroidered.they wear huge crown like kirit on head.