Impact of Nature and Natural Behavior Patterns on the Aangikaabhinaya/Movement Vocabulary of Chau Dance

Year 2025, Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 26 - 44, 18.03.2025

Shrikant Nandkumar

https://doi.org/10.62425/theatreacademy.1548617

Abstract

It is believed that from the earliest periods, the human species began to dramatically imitate the actions of animals. This natural behaviour pattern can be traced to tribal and folk art, such as painting, music, dance, and dance theatre. ‘Chau’, often spelt as ‘Chhau’ by some Indian authors, is a dance and dance-theatre form from the eastern region of India; it is one of the significant examples of how animal movements and subsequent nature patterns primarily impact dance patterns and their presentation. Chau is one of the famous traditional theatres of India, often categorized as semi-classical dance theatre, mainly because of its movement vocabulary. This article aims to examine and discuss how such patterns emerged and how they hold significance in shaping these movements. While Chau adapted technicality in its presentation and instrumentation, its core and legacy remain unchanged – namely, its movement vocabulary pattern and folklore-mythology.

Keywords

Animal, Performance, Abhinaya, Traditional Dance Theater, Cultural Heritage, Folk Dance

Ethical Statement

Author Note The topic of this research has been explored earlier by the author at the International Federation of Theatre Research (IFTR) Conference, Galway, Ireland, (12 - 16 July 2021) With the title, ‘Impact of Nature and Natural Behavior Patterns on the Aangikaabhinaya/Movement Vocabulary of Chau Dance’ (Bhalerao, 2021). Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to B. Shrikant Nandkumar, Research Scholar, Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communications, Department of Dance, University of Hyderabad, India Post Lingampally, Prof. C.R. Rao Road, Hyderabad Central University Rd, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, Telangana 500046, India. Email: [e-mail] and [e-mail]

Supporting Institution

University of Hyderabad

Project Number

NA

Thanks

Department of Dance, University of Hyderabad and International Federation of Theatre Research (IFTR), Galway Conference (2021) Committee

Doğanın ve Doğal Davranış Kalıplarının Chau Dansının Aangikaabhinaya/Hareket Dağarcığı Üzerindeki Etkisi

Abstract

İnsan türünün en erken dönemlerden itibaren hayvanların hareketlerini dramatik bir şekilde taklit etmeye başladığına inanılmaktadır. Bu doğal davranış kalıbının izlerini resim, müzik, dans ve dans tiyatrosu gibi kabile ve halk sanatlarında bulmak mümkündür. Bazı Hintli yazarlar tarafından sıklıkla ‘Chhau’ olarak yazılan ‘Chau’, Hindistan’ın doğu bölgesine ait bir dans ve dans tiyatrosu biçimidir; hayvan hareketlerinin ve buna bağlı doğa kalıplarının öncelikle dans kalıplarını ve bunların sunumunu nasıl etkilediğinin önemli örneklerinden biridir. Chau Hindistan’ın ünlü geleneksel tiyatrolarından biridir ve çoğunlukla hareket dağarcığı nedeniyle yarı-klasik dans tiyatrosu olarak sınıflandırılır. Bu makalenin amacı, bu tür kalıpların nasıl ortaya çıktığını ve bu hareketleri şekillendirmede nasıl bir öneme sahip olduklarını incelemek ve tartışmaktır. Chau sunum ve enstrümantasyonda teknikselliği uyarlamış olsa da özü ve mirası – yani hareket dağarcığı ve folklor mitolojisi – değişmeden kalmıştır.

Keywords

Hayvan, Performans, Abhinaya, Geleneksel Dans Tiyatrosu, Kültürel Miras, Halk Dansı

Project Number

NA

References

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