In this post I want to point out the differences and talk about what makes a dance folk or classical: Classical dance vs folk dance
As a practitioner of classical Indian Odissi dance and Indian folk Kalbelia dance, I have been asked many times about the differences in the way of learning, performing and expressing between both dances.
I also have asked myself why a dance is classical and what makes it folkloric. Let me introduce both items first.
Folk dance is an expression of society, it is a form of dance developed by a group of people that reflects the traditional life of a certain country or region.
FOLKLORE:
Folk dances may emerge spontaneously among groups of people or derive from previous styles. The style can be free-form or rigidly structured. Once established, folk dance steps are passed down through generations and rarely change.
Folk dancing represents the dance forms of the common people as opposed to those from the upper classes.
Folk dance is an expression of the society, the momentum they are living and how they live and share with their community. The dance and the costuming helps to understand their culture by contextualizing it.
It is passed on from parents to children, so somehow we can also talk about lineage and shruti way of learning, learning from watching.
Pointing out:
- Cultural Heritage
- Dance of/for the people
- Less codify
- Self expression
- Sruti way of learning
- Contextualizes culture
- It’s made for everybody
- It’s joyful
- Improvisation as a key
- It is about sharing, having fun, celebrating
Fixed and codified dance, that it’s known for its aesthetics, rigorous and vigorous technique, its flowing, reaching always for the higher possibility and more precise movements and its ethereal qualities.
- The body has to adapt to the tradition not the tradition adapting to the body
- Lineage
- Codified
- Well defined path/progression
- Fix Repertoire
- Rules – The training process is in a certain way
- Perfectionism – always reaching for greater perfection
- Aiming for mastery – Refining
- Technique, physical stamina, theoretical component
- It is for the highly educated people
- Exclusive & elitist – it is not for everybody
- It is timeless
- Different levels depending on the expertise of the dancer
- To be put on the stage
- Evolves slowly, preserve and fix tradition
- Sophisticated
- It is elaborated & well defined music
- It attempts to find universal truth
- Ambitious – must be able to physically do the dance
- The goal is to preserve tradition and to hold it as true as possible
- Shruti way of learning
SHRUTI WAY OF LEARNING
Common point
In Sanskrit, shruti means “that which is heard”.
The systematic method of learning, memorization and practice through repetition.
Both Classical and folkloric dances have the common point of Shruti Way of Learning.
On one side, the folk dance :
- It is transmitted from parents to children.
On the other side, the Classical dance :
- It is transmitted by your guru being your mirror and your eyes. You absorb everything she/he gives you and you learn by watching and copying her/him.
I really believe that both dances are an expression of the society, in a more codified and refined way or just dancing because it is a celebration itself of the culture.
India for sure holds, presents and uplifts dance as an artistic expression of what the country and its history are.
If you have any question; I am here my dear 😉
