Traditional Dances in Kerala

The term ‘Dance’ means the rhythmic movement of the body in agreement with the music and tala. It is a visual art or a drisyakala. It might have originated from the means of communication used by the man during the very early periods-even from the pre-paleolithic age.

The development in dancing is closely linked to the development of society itself. Dancing in the ancient days of our culture was practiced mostly in Temples as a part of festivals and ceremonies. The temple architecture was also influenced by the styles of dancing.

Kerala has one of the most glorious traditions in dancing and performing arts of artistic activity. The first is the highly sophisticated stylized folk dances; the second type is the 'Bharathanatya' which came from-the neighboring areas of the former Tamil Nadu and the third is the modern Kathakali which is a combination of the folk and classical traditions in dancing.

On many of the local festive of temples are celebrated with the help of different kinds of dances. Usually most of the traditional dances of Kerala are performed by folk songs and with drums (which are the commonest musical instruments) often praising the deities. These folk dances of Kerala are considered to be the precursors of the later Kathakali.

Koodiyattam and Kathakali are both considered as the main jewel of Kerala dance. New techniques of expression came to be developed in Kerala dance with the advent of these classical dance forms of Kerala. Classical emotions (rasa) were expressed with the hands (Mudra, angya) reinforced by highly developed and classical facial expression were evolved in these dance forms of Kerala. But these elements came to be blended in such a manner that a highly advanced and unique type of dance drama came to be evolved.