Kathakali

One of the classical dance forms of
India; some of the others are
Bharatanatyam, Orissi, Kuchipudi,
Kathak, and Manipuri. Like much of
traditional Indian culture, classical
dances are identified with certain
regions; Kathakali is primarily found
in Kerala. Unlike many of the other
classical forms, Kathakali did not
develop in a temple setting. It
appeared as a developed style in the
seventeenth century, although it is
rooted in folk and religious dramas
dating from centuries before.
Kathakali has traditionally been
danced only by men—the women’s
form in Kerala is Mohini Attam. A
Kathakali performance is one of the
most dramatic spectacles in the
Indian arts. Part of this drama comes
from the dancers’ training, stressing
controlled facial mobility to facilitate
ease and power of expression. The
dancers wear flamboyant costumes
and headdresses. The most striking
feature of all is elaborate makeup—
the heroes’ faces are painted a vivid
green, with fluted ridges made of rice
paste attached to their cheeks, while
villains are painted in green and red
and have knobs of pith attached to
their chins and foreheads. Stylistically,
the dance moves between athletic
jumps and majestic turns, with religious texts forming the dominant
source for stories. As with all Indian
dances, Kathakali has a well-developed “vocabulary” of gesture and
facial expression, which makes it possible for the dancers to engage in
complex storytelling. As with all other
classical dances, Kathakali has undergone certain changes in the past generation, spurred by a shift in the
venue from temple courtyards to
stage performance. For example, a
planned stage performance requires a
well-organized “program” and a designated time frame, whereas in earlier
times Kathakali performances would
often last all night long. For further information see Mohan Khokar, Traditions of
Indian Classical Dance, 1984.