Asian Dance Study The Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush

Classical Court Dance Cambodia Dances played an important role in fertility rights an ancestor worship for thousands of years. Dance was extremely integral in religion and society. “The King Dancer’s” group that lives in the palace (up until 1970) that performs ancient ritual dances Dances themselves are slow,smooth, and wavelike in pace and gesture; almost hypnotic based on myths from Sanskrit Epics: Mahabharata and Ramayana Dances played an important role in fertility rights an ancestor worship for thousands of years. Dance was extremely integral in religion and society. “The King Dancer’s” group that lives in the palace (up until 1970) that performs ancient ritual dances Dances themselves are slow,smooth, and wavelike in pace and gesture; almost hypnotic based on myths from Sanskrit Epics: Mahabharata and Ramayana

Classical Theatrical Dance Japan Kabuki Theatre Started its early roots around the same time ballet; 400 years ago Female roles are played by men Onagata: person who performs in Kabuki Tradition and teaching is kept in families Dance and Drama are united in the performance Kata is the term for the stage movements used Kabuki Theatre Started its early roots around the same time ballet; 400 years ago Female roles are played by men Onagata: person who performs in Kabuki Tradition and teaching is kept in families Dance and Drama are united in the performance Kata is the term for the stage movements used

Kabuki

Bukagu

Bugaku

Classical Dance India Bharata Natyam: formal dance that is connected to devotional dances of Hindu Temples Natya Shastra: a written work that began 2,000 years ago identifies the techniques used in the Sanskrit plays. Movement focuses on specifice eye and hand gestures that all express a certain human emotion. The goal of the performer is the achieve Rasa with the audience. Rasa is when the emotional connection occurs from the theatrical dance performance and the audience “feels” the emotion. Bharata Natyam: formal dance that is connected to devotional dances of Hindu Temples Natya Shastra: a written work that began 2,000 years ago identifies the techniques used in the Sanskrit plays. Movement focuses on specifice eye and hand gestures that all express a certain human emotion. The goal of the performer is the achieve Rasa with the audience. Rasa is when the emotional connection occurs from the theatrical dance performance and the audience “feels” the emotion.

Asian Dance Aesthetics Aesthetic Definition : (Merriam-Webster) a particular theory or conception of beauty or art : a particular taste for or approach to what is pleasing to the senses and especially sight National Territories being covered: important to note that each country encompasses it’s own dance style, therefore aesthetic. This is a general overview of philosophical and religious beliefs throughout the ages that influenced the dance aesthetic of these nations. I.India II.China III.Japan Aesthetics developed through the philosophical and meta-physical traditions that would ultimately reflect through the dance styles. India I.Hindu and Buddhist basic influential belief a.Brahman: the individual self-realization through spiritual refinement b.This basic ideology spread to China, Korea, and Japan. c.Through the self-discovery through the art of movement it is believed that the man becomes closer to the realities of the world. This is intern compared to the relationship of the “creator and the created.” d.Rasa: the emotional connection that occurs between the artist’s movement and the audience. China I.Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism II.Confucianism: focus on was human relationships, with the family in the center and other affiliations springing from this strength. Dance served as a function to teach proper conduct in these relationships. III.Daoism: the Dao, or inner nature of all things, is discovered within the human being through focusing on “meditative breathing principles” IV.Chan: reinterpretation of Buddhism in China and Japan. “respiratory control, kinetic restraint, and stillness” a. Taijiquan: method of focusing movement on the relationship with the space surrounding the body from China. b.Yugen: “the inner beauty of a passing moment that cannot be expressed in words. Selma Jean Cohen: National Encyclopedia of Dance: