Is classical dance training important for acting?

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lentils

@lentils

Dazzler

Posted: 12 years ago

"Most, if not all, yesteryear Bollywood actresses were trained dancers. Their rooting in classical dance helped them emote on celluloid as dancers have a good control over facial expressions for every situation."

Madhuri had classical dance training, as well as Meenakshi Shesadri and Jaya Prada. Hema Malini is trained in Bharatanatyam. Rani was trained in Odissi. Aishwarya has some classical dance training as well.

How many of today's actresses have studied any classical dance? Do you think this takes away from their performance at all? Or is this qualification just not necessary anymore?

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blue-ice.

@blue-ice.

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+ 4

Posted: 12 years ago

Classical dance does nothing to aid the acting skills...biggest example is Hema malini..

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453365

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Posted: 12 years ago

Sure, if you're playing a classical Indian dancer!

I like your chances better if you can groove to munni or Sheila though.

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lentils

@lentils

Dazzler

Posted: 12 years ago

Originally posted by: guess_wh0
Sure, if you're playing a classical Indian dancer!

I like your chances better if you can groove to munni or Sheila though.

Yea more chances with sheila... but classical dance is different, it's elegant, it's beautiful... sheila and munni can't compare with that.

Why has the Indian audience moved on from beautiful classical dance to item songs, i don't understand

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lentils

@lentils

Dazzler

Posted: 12 years ago

Originally posted by: blue-ice
Classical dance does nothing to aid the acting skills...biggest example is Hema malini..

but don't you think that people with training in classical dance use facial expressions better?

Madhuri and Rani are good examples.

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waitforit1

@waitforit1

Dazzler

Posted: 12 years ago

I'm not sure about it being important for acting.

But it's very sad that it's rarely seen in bollywood these days! It's so beautiful, I'd love to see it coming back! It's just an overdose of Sheilas, Munnis and badmaash bablis these days.

Edited by lmfao1 - 12 years ago

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Cutiepie_Rani

@Cutiepie_Rani

Trailblazer

+ 4

Posted: 12 years ago

I do believe you have an advantage if you have classical training. But I don't think it is as important for acting as it is for dancing.

As a professional dancer, it very important and beneficial to have classical dance training.

For acting, it certainly is important, but not as much as it is in dancing.

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870349

Suspended

Posted: 12 years ago

You have to know it in some form to be a Heroine not a Actress but then again in BOLLYWOOD Actress's do not get anywhere while Heroines get everything in terms of offers, awards, money, Fame ⭐️

That is the way the cookie crumbles

Edited by VictorLordJr - 12 years ago

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blue-ice.

@blue-ice.

Achiever

+ 4

Posted: 12 years ago

Originally posted by: Burcidi

but don't you think that people with training in classical dance use facial expressions better?

Madhuri and Rani are good examples.

The facial expressions in our Indian dance forms are really very loud...Its OK if the dancer is performing on stage for the audience...but those loud expressions wouldn't work in the movies...Being a trained dancer will make ur body flexible, give grace and may even help u learn a Sheila and Munni faster than someone who doesn't know the ABCD of dancing ..but IMO...it has nothing to do with acting...see Madhuri is a good actress...Hema is not...they both are trained dancers and we have several amazing actors like Shabana Azmi, Tabu...who are not dancers...but emote better...same goes for the male actors...I don't think that Naseerudding Shah or Irfan Khan are trained in classical dance...but look at them act...

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lentils

@lentils

Dazzler

Posted: 12 years ago

#10

Originally posted by: blue-ice

The facial expressions in our Indian dance forms are really very loud...Its OK if the dancer is performing on stage for the audience...but those loud expressions wouldn't work in the movies...Being a trained dancer will make ur body flexible, give grace and may even help u learn a Sheila and Munni faster than someone who doesn't know the ABCD of dancing ..but IMO...it has nothing to do with acting...see Madhuri is a good actress...Hema is not...they both are trained dancers and we have several amazing actors like Shabana Azmi, Tabu...who are not dancers...but emote better...same goes for the male actors...I don't think that Naseerudding Shah or Irfan Khan are trained in classical dance...but look at them act...

yea that's true