Comments on: evolution of dance

evolution of dance

nickyskye — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 08:47:35 -0800

The Dance, historic illustrations of dancing from 3300 B.C. to 1911 A.D. A Project Gutenberg ebook. Brief, illustrated history of dance in India. Vintage belly dance YouTube videos.

By: Sailormom

Sailormom — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 09:35:37 -0800

The first person in the history of the world to dance. But seriously, your link to the illustrated history of dance in India should keep me busy this afternoon.

By: UbuRoivas

UbuRoivas — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 10:05:48 -0800

Krishna's Dance with the Female Cowherds - A Joyous, Spiritual Narrative Perhaps the most beautiful paintings of the Rasa Lila that I've come across are to be found in this book, by Udaipur-based painter, BG Sharma.

By: vronsky

vronsky — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 10:29:46 -0800

Those vintage videos are amazing Nickyskye. Look forward to reading the other links tonight.

By: homunculus

homunculus — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 10:36:20 -0800

Hasta Mudra

By: nickyskye

nickyskye — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 11:08:23 -0800

Sailormom, totally loved that hilarious SNL clip. Thanks for the good belly laugh. Dear Ubu, Enjoyed BG Sharma's silky opulence. Thank you. When it comes to trysts with Krisha I love the zen spaciousness of the Pahari style. Radha Krishna or Krishna and the Gopis images have always given me much joy. There is some romantic corner of my brain which is so moved by illustrations of that tenderly vivid passion. Stayed in the Udaipur Lake Palace Hotel in March 1978, one of the evenings there watching a traditional Rajasthani puppet show, air fragrant with the perfume of Madhavi lata or raat ki rani, night blooming jasmine. Exquisite Udaipur. Rajasthan rocks. What an amazing place. Always liked the Nataraja images of Shiva,valuing dance as a significant expression of meaning and life force. homunculus, wow, wonderful Hasta Mudra site. Realise now I am in dire need of seeing some live classical Indian dance. Immediately.

By: madamjujujive

madamjujujive — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 16:12:23 -0800

Nice, nickyskye, thanks - and some good in-thread links too. In the keeping ancient dance forms alive category, Arabesque Dance Company has some really lovely contemporary belly dance clips posted.

By: UbuRoivas

UbuRoivas — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 19:15:06 -0800

Always liked the Nataraja images of Shiva,valuing dance as a significant expression of meaning and life force. Ah, on the most recent trip to Bharat-Mata, i encountered for the first time, in Tamil Nadu, the bronze sculptures of Sri Shiva dancing all the (108?) poses of the dance that culminates in the famous Nataraja pose.

By: vronsky

vronsky — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 19:24:33 -0800

"air fragrant with the perfume of Madhavi lata or raat ki rani, night blooming jasmine. Exquisite Udaipur." The night blooming cereus (aka Reina de la noche or Queen of the night) on my back porch opened tonight. Five majestic flowers. Their fragrance is sublime.

By: UbuRoivas

UbuRoivas — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 19:30:10 -0800

Chola bronze sculptures. It's a day's work just to look in to them. Just to look into them.

By: UbuRoivas

UbuRoivas — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 19:40:42 -0800

There's Dancing Behind Movie Scenes behind The Movie Scenes, ~~Sadi~~ raat ki Rani she's The One That Keeps The Dream Alive from The Morning Past The Evening to The End Of The Light brimful Of Asha On The 45 well, It's A Brimful Of Asha On The 45 brimful Of Asha On The 45 well, It's A Brimful Of Asha On The 45

By: vronsky

vronsky — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 20:56:20 -0800

In honor of Nickyskye and UbuRoivas I am going outside now and dance like a Hare Krishna around my night blooming cereus. "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare" Vishnu will be pleased.

By: UbuRoivas

UbuRoivas — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 23:18:02 -0800

Kathakali

By: nickyskye

nickyskye — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 00:47:14 -0800

Back from a Hell's Kitchen rooftop barbeque. Lovely evening here. All kinds of huge new buildings and skyscrapers going up quickly in this neck of the woods (a psychic shoutout to Helcat and amberglow who live a few blocks away). An architectural dance. Ubu, oooh, "Your eyes. It's a day's work to look in to them." Ah, Chola sculptures are incredible, talk about sensuously sacred. The sculptures of the Belur and Halebid temples near Mysore are similarly spectacular. Enjoyed that Kathakali snippet. Thanks. Crazy about Brimful of Asha and Cornershop. Ok, a Kathakali anecdote... Travelling in Kashmir, early October 1975 on a public bus heading south after staying in Srinagar. I was 21 and my English travel mate, Andy, was 17. Asked schoolkids on the bus if they knew the name of any hotel in the next village. No, there was no hotel but they were sure the doctor would put us up for the night in a couple of free beds in the local hospital. Seemed unlikely but sure enough, the local doctor had beds available in the hospital, would Andy and I accompany him to a religious theatrical performance at the local temple? It was a Kathakali dance version of the Mahabharata with all the amazing, lavish costumes and dancers in that neon face paint. The audience of about 500 villagers of all ages sat out under apple trees and the autumn night sky with the dance performance on the temple stage. During intermission the doctor turned to Andy and me and said, "Now you have to sing something." I blanched and said, "No, I can't. Thanks." He insisted, guilted us about the hospital beds and we headed sheepishly to the stage. While hitching to India, Andy taught me Paul Simon's The Boxer. He suggested that we sing it then, since it was the only song for which we both knew the words. Under the circumstances, it was strange singing lyrics like "Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue." It felt blasphemous but the audience seemed pleased and we were grateful they didn't pelt us with anything. vronsky, You're not cereus are you? Going Dionysian, fragrance intoxicated, dancing under summer star light? Shake ya bootie cutie!

By: UbuRoivas

UbuRoivas — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 00:59:38 -0800

The sculptures of the Belur and Halebid temples near Mysore are similarly spectacular. Yes. would Andy and I accompany him to a religious theatrical performance at the local temple? It was a Kathakali dance version of the Mahabharata with all the amazing, lavish costumes and dancers in that neon face paint. The audience of about 500 villagers of all ages sat out under apple trees and the autumn night sky with the dance performance on the temple stage. There is really only one place on earth about which you could say, "oh, yeh, that happened to me once, no, um, thirty times, actually, i got so sick of it that i took off to Nepal where they leave you alone..." *sigh* Shake ya bootie cutie After referring to the book, Shantaram, in hadjiboy's headwiggle post, I might mention that the author also has great things to say about the Indian relation to dance. Brimful of Asha says it all to me, but that's a kinda shorthand.

By: UbuRoivas

UbuRoivas — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 01:30:13 -0800

"Your eyes. It's a day's work to look in to them." blows. perfect. smoke rings.

By: UbuRoivas

UbuRoivas — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 04:29:28 -0800

dakini: sky dancer.

By: UbuRoivas

UbuRoivas — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 04:33:45 -0800

(let sky = sky)

By: priyatam

priyatam — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 08:46:50 -0800

I wonder who wrote this masterpiece.

By: vronsky

vronsky — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 10:35:52 -0800

Welcome priyatam. I have enjoyed your writings on UG.

By: nickyskye

nickyskye — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 10:10:12 -0800

Finally back online again. Thanks all for the great additional links, much appreciated.