-----------------------------------
Page 1 || Page 2
Go to top
All copyrights reserved
HOME NATARAJA CLASSICAL DANCES FOLK DANCES
PREFACE | BHARATANATYAM | CHHAU | KATHAK | KATHAKALI | KUCHIPUDI | MANIPURI | MOHINIATTAM | ORISSI | SATRIYA | YAKSHAGANA
CHHAU
chhau

The etymological root of the word 'Chhau' is traced to the Sanskrit 'Chhaya' or shade, referring to the mask used by the dancers. Others aver it is derived from the word 'Chhauni' where the pharikhanda (shield and sword) soldiers stayed. The technique of the dance, in fact, draws on steps and gait, which have stemmed from the 'Pharikhanda System'.

It is basically a martial dance where the mask holds the dominant Rasa while the body creates, projects, and develops the moods. Chhau has three schools as such, coming from Seraikella in Bihar, Mayurbhanj in Orissa and Purulia in West Bengal. While men dance all the three Chhau forms, Mayurbhanj uses no masks but the others do.

The themes are based on mythology, everyday life, aspects of nature or just a mood or emotion. Purulia Chhau, however, has a single focus - good triumphs over evil. The music is based on Hindustani Ragas and the accompaniment is with a Nagra, a huge kettledrum, Dhol, a cylindrical drum, and Shenais or reed pipes. The strenuous nature of the dance restricts performances to brief periods, but in Purulia Chhau a single item could be for forty minutes and a performance nightlong. chhau
chhau Fine stages and lighted by brilliant display of torches, lanterns and many flickering oil lamps, these dances are done in solo, duet and dance drama form .The musical accompaniment for Chhau is provided by the Nagra, a huge little drum, Dhol, a cylindrical drum, and Shehnais or reed pipes. The tunes are based mainly on the ragas of Hindustani music. Usually two distinct airs are used in a dance item and when the melody changes, so does the rhythm of the dance. The steps of the dance are governed by patterns of rhythmic syllables played on the drums, and any change of tempo is prefaced with a katan, a rhythmic flourish played three times in succession. Performed by men and boys, the item never lasts more than 7 to 10 mts each, for it is difficult to dance longer wearing a mask.