abstract

In yoga, physical postures and alignments foster awareness and meditation. In dance, these elements are crafted to evoke aesthetic pleasure and emotional resonance in the audience. Rooted in Hindu mythology, both dance and yoga in India share a divine origin. The Natya Shastra and Abhinaya Darpana narrate how dance was divinely conceived by Lord Brahma, integrating elements from the four Vedas, thus elevating it to the status of the fifth Veda. Nataraja, Shiva's form as the Lord of Dance, symbolizes cosmic cycles of creation and destruction through his dances - Lasya and Tandava, reflecting parallels with the dual energies in hatha yoga. Dance & yoga is a spiritual journey that you will want to perform for the rest of your life. This form of communication is completely divine. Infusing dance and meditative practices also involve discipline in philosophy, literature, history and music. Dance in India encompasses a diverse array of styles, categorized primarily as traditional or folk. Like other facets of Indian culture, folk dances exhibit significant regional and stylistic diversity, reflecting local customs, ethnicities, and geographical influences. During the colonial British Raj period, classical dances such as Bharatanatyam faced ridicule and suppression. However, classical Indian dance has evolved into a rich dance-drama form that integrates elements of storytelling and theatricality. Productions often include narratives from Hindu mythology such as those depicting Shiva-Parvati, Lanka Dahan, Panchatantra, and Ramayana, among others.