Part 1 - Introduction to Performing Art

India has a rich heritage of the performing arts. The Nāṭyaśāstra, an encyclopaedic compendium of ancient Indian theatre covers a wide range of artistic subjects such as music, dance, aesthetics, architecture etc. Performing arts denote any arts that exist only in the actions of live performers before an audience, as distinguished from painting, writing and the like. The chief categories among them are viz., dance, music and theatre.^[1] The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary gives the meaning of ‘performing arts’ as the kind of arts such as drama, music and dance which are performed for an audience.^[2] In course of time, cinema is also considered as the fourth kind of performing art.^[3] Performing arts have served a specific purpose over time, which has gone beyond mere entertainment. Establishing communication among people and spreading education have been its aim right from the beginning. To spread the tenets of belief and behaviour, as derived from the epics and legends, has generally remained a goal of all performing arts.^[4]

Performing art is the most intimate and moving form of human expression. It is the supreme human activity having the purpose of transmitting the highest and best, from human to human which has sought, desired and aimed for.^[5] Dance as performing arts has an age-old tradition.

Some important Indian dance forms are viz.,

1. Bhāratanāṭyam, 
2. Odissi, 
3. Kathak, 
4. Kathakali, 
5. Kuchipudi, 
6. Manipuri etc. 

The dance scenario is truly dynamic with practitioners feeling of necessity to go beyond mythological themes to express contemporary issues. At present, the dancers seem to articulate dance blending the best of the traditional prescriptions with the most creative of contemporary talent. Music as performing art evolved and acquired a significant place. Music that evolved on the Indian soil and was cultured all through ages in diverse ways and formed by the Indian people and nurtured in a religious and spiritual atmosphere is called Indian music.^[6]

Theatre is an integral part of Indian life. The roots of theatre in India are certainly very old and deep. At the same time, it has undergone changes in course of time. Of all performing arts, cinema perhaps is considered as the most powerful one. Through the medium of T.V., videos; cinema becomes the significant unifying factor in India. The Indian cinema is now a massive institution.

The performing arts practised in their varied nature, cultivate a culture of love and thought, which in course of time will liberate the people from the chains of narrowness and prejudices.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Frank Ledlie Moore & Mary Varchaver, Dictionary of the Performing Arts, p.349

[2]:

A.B.Hornby, M. Ashby, S. Wehmeier, Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, p. 860

[3]:

Bimal, Mukherjee & Sunil, Kothari, RASA: The Indian Performing Arts in the Last Twenty-five Years, Vol. 1: Music and Dance, Introduction, p. ix

[4]:

Utpal K. Banarjee, Indian Performing Arts: A Mosaic, p.4

[5]:

Bimal, Mukherjee & Sunil, Kothari, RASA: The Indian Performing Arts in the Last Twenty-five Years, Vol. 1: Music and Dance, Introduction, p. ix

[6]:

Swami Prajnananda, A History of Indian Music, Vol. I, p.8