What do we call hand gestures in Indian classical dances?

Hand gestures in Indian dance. In Indian dance, every hand gesture has a symbolic value and a precise meaning. These gestures are called ‘mudra’, Sanskrit word (language of the old Hindu texts) meaning “sign” or “seal”. The ancient instruments used to seal (rings, stamps) were called mudras.

What are Hindu dance hand gestures called?

Mudra, Sanskrit Mudrā, (“seal,” “mark,” or “gesture”), in Buddhism and Hinduism, a symbolic gesture of the hands and fingers used either in ceremonies and dance or in sculpture and painting.

How many hand gestures are there in classical Indian dance?

Mudras are a separate set of hand gestures used across a number of classical Indian dance forms. There are about 108 mudras in total, and successful dancers should know them all.

What is Mudra dance?

Mudra is a domain of movement, and it is considered to be a prominent mode of communication in dance and the dramatic arts in India. Mudra, primarily, is understood as an inscriptive form that follows the linguistic parameters, expressing symbolic meaning through systematically codified patterns of the dancer’s hands.

What is the role of classical dance in India?

The Indian Classical Dance is often regarded as the form of worship and meditation. The performers of Indian Classical Dance, despite of the background and forms, have played a crucial role in presenting India to the forefront of the World stage. Indian Folk Dances. India is a land of varied cultures and traditions.

How are hand gestures used in Indian dance?

Speaking in dance via gestures, rather than orally, in order to visually convey outer events or things, as well as inner feelings, two classifications of specific traditional ‘MUDRA’ (hand/finger gesture) are used in Indian Classical Dance, and indeed are a prominent part of the dancer’s vocabulary.

What are the hand movements in Bharatnatyam dance?

Here, dancers and choreographers Shakti Mohan, Honey Kalaria and Anjali Mehta explain the basics. These are hand movements that act as a form of sign language to help to tell a story or demonstrate themes such as weather, animals or places. In Bharatnatyam these hand movements are called hastas.

Which is the best form of Indian dance?

The forms of Indian dance have transcended beyond the fences and socio-cultural hindrances. Exponents of the Indian classical dance believe that it has the caliber of creating a new and disciplined lifestyle. The Indian Classical Dance is often regarded as the form of worship and meditation.