South Indians better in classical not contemporary - Page 2

Originally posted by: SunBright

@bold : That excuse ?? Really! I disagree.

Ah I am glad that you are still holding the flag.

Originally posted by: Summer3

Ah I am glad that you are still holding the flag.

Let us look at the Indian TV.

Zee does not have any classical dance competitions. DID is basically contemporay and western for Bollywood, because it is more popular.

nah not holding the flag - an indian at heart it is

Indian TV - another debate altogether and since I haven't lived there or watch the 'infinite' polarized and non-polarized channels , can't really comment.

My only problem is bias - regionalism irritates me cloaked or uncloaked.

India is rich in culture and variety. That is her beauty and attraction. Now western ways have set in and I have no quarrel with that as long as it is not at the expense of losing one's own culture and traditions.

Originally posted by: Dabulls23

I disagree with both your posts summer First one and abt DID being No. Indian based.

Dancers are dancers have nothing to do with being Regional...Classically trained dancer tend to do well in all styles as they have the work hard ethics and discipline...

Does not mean some one who is not trained can't be a good learner and a fab dancer...

Bringing in reginalism in music or dance is shameful...There are no boundries when it comes to those 2 talents...They cross all the boundries and make the nation ONE...

I am also US based for many yrs and not india based but this much I know 😃

I like both South North East and West.

I agree South Indians and Bengal region folks tend to have a stronger classical base, since it's part of the culture in these regions to have their girls (and some boys) get trained in classical dance... In the South, this is more in Tamilnadu, and most of the girls there are trained in Bharatanatyam, and being the origin of BN, it's good that they keep that wonderful art form in its traditional form...

Now about Contemporary dance -- the two best Contemporary dancers in India are from the South -- Terence Lewis (from Mangalore) and Santosh Nair (from Kerala)!! And the great Shiamak Davar is a Parsi!!

Originally posted by: Rapier

nah! don't think so. Kruti Mahesh, Vrushali Chavan...both from Mumbai. Pros at classical. Regions have nothing to do with anything. When you are a dancer, you are a dancer...not a 'southie' or a 'northie.'

Vrushali is a very good example, and so is Tashu who is a Punjabi.. Kruti is originally from Tamilnadu, and her teachers are also Tamil.. In Tamilnadu, it's part of their culture and tradition to train their girls in Bharatanatyam... Same like Bengalis who train their kids in either classical dance or classical music.. And nowadays with migration to all over the world, all dance forms are becoming more global than regional... I know a few Americans (White) who are trained in Bharatanatyam and have done their arangetrams!!

Originally posted by: akanna

I agree South Indians and Bengal region folks tend to have a stronger classical base, since it's part of the culture in these regions to have their girls (and some boys) get trained in classical dance... In the South, this is more in Tamilnadu, and most of the girls there are trained in Bharatanatyam, and being the origin of BN, it's good that they keep that wonderful art form in its traditional form...

Now about Contemporary dance -- the two best Contemporary dancers in India are from the South -- Terence Lewis (from Mangalore) and Santosh Nair (from Kerala)!! And the great Shiamak Davar is a Parsi!!

I wonder if it is also the kind of music that makes a difference.

Originally posted by: Summer3

I wonder if it is also the kind of music that makes a difference.

Frankly I do like both and India is richer for it.

The South has a lot of the Siva Tandava Dance beats and songs which is fantastic.

So Terence Bhai is also from the South.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MfpRn6beSc

So many different music is used for classical dance performances, and sometimes they use semi-classical ragas too.. Usually they use traditional shlokas and keerthanams, often some parts taken from the scriptures.. Recently in Kerala, they have developed a classical dance act based on a story from the Bible... Siva Tandava dance beats are usually used to show a particular emotion, Roudram, and the steps would be like Tandava Nritham, very strong...

Terence is originally from the South, but grew up in Mumbai... 😃

Originally posted by: akanna

So many different music is used for classical dance performances, and sometimes they use semi-classical ragas too.. Usually they use traditional shlokas and keerthanams, often some parts taken from the scriptures.. Recently in Kerala, they have developed a classical dance act based on a story from the Bible... Siva Tandava dance beats are usually used to show a particular emotion, Roudram, and the steps would be like Tandava Nritham, very strong...
Terence is originally from the South, but grew up in Mumbai... 😃

Good. These classical dances and music have deep spiritual meanings and significance. The sounds, mantras and movements all have a higher purpose. There is always fear that western and Bollywood influences results in the loss of one's own culture.