Eversince Man learnt to live a secured life he discovered & understood Music within himself (Naada Brahma) as well as in Nature as a whole. And this led him to give expression to his creative instincts in terms of music and dance. Music basically involves the creation of emotionally pleasing effects by means of Sound. Music & Dance have been and shall forever remain a medium for expressing human thought & feeling through Tone & Time and the basic elements of music that combine to achieve this effect are melody, rhythm and harmony. Their combination gives rise to a musical form. Add rhythmic synchronous body movements to it and you have 'Dance', 'Folk' means people in general or a specified class. Folk (Music or Dance) means that of a popular origin. Technically in Folk Music or Dance there is no fixed Grammar (as opposed to the 'Classical'). It is 'By the people-For the people'. What is most fascinating about folk music and dance is it flexibility (from grammar) and impromptu innovations or improvisations during its performance.
Dance & Music in the age old Indian tradition have been accepted as a medium for not only search for absolute happiness but also for elimination of vices as well as acquisition of virtues. Again, in the typical folk tradition, be it success in a war or hunting, invocation to nature deities, production & protection of crops or marriage & other social festivities & rituals, nothing is complete without music and dance. In fact Folk culture in a way represents the surrender of Man before God Almighty the Creator All the 'Nava-Rasa's of our Treatises are found in folk dance and music. If Paika (War) Dance exhilarates the audience, the torture of Hiranyakashipu in 'Prahlaad Nataka' can create fear and compassion in the same audience. The 'Leelaa's on the other-hand generate the feelings of devotion as well as child-love, separation and compassion. Again, folk dances like 'Kela-Keluni', 'Keuta-Keutuni', 'Shabara-Shabaruni' in their lighter vein not only entertain but also project day to day problems in the family or in the society alongwith their solution, not to speak of the humour element of 'Moghul Taamsa'. The solo component is virtually non-existent in folk music and dance. Here, not only groups perform but also the whole community gets involved. That is why, despite the incursion of cinema and the electronic media into our social fabric the folk performing art tradition has survived & sustained itself.
To understand the spirit of rural India one must study the coutnry's folklore and folk-art nurtured through the centuries. They are an integral part of the culture of the rural population. They have an authenticity and charm of their own and are among the most valuable legacies of our long and varied cultural history. Folk arts, song, dance and drama have nourished a rich tradition. Though many of them have become extinct and some are languishing, there are surviving expressions still preserved and fostered by the rural folk. Because, they are not merely the sources of enjoyment alone, but are sources of all knowledge-religious, social, cultural and all that concerns community living. Most of the forms need groups to perform and this becomes easy in villages where life is homogeneous. Therefore, excepting few forms of solo or duet variety most are group activities. In this way they help to maintain social unity.
Each of the folk arts whether song, dance or drama presents numerous varieties each distinctive because of its character, occasion. style and presentation. They are not only related to fairs and festivals but also to various other activities of life. Therefore, life in rural India is not dull, it is enlivened by the cultivation of folk arts where each individual is involved as a partcipant or organiser or a spectator. The entire gamut of human emotions find expression in these various forms. There are songs from the cradle to the grave. There are dances beginning from merry-making to martial activities and there are dramas depicting various episodes from mythology, history and legend which inspire the people and help to keep up their morale.
"Folk-dances are the dances of those who are mainly outside the current of urban culture and systematic education, the unlettered or little-lettered inhabitants of the village and countryside. "The difference between folk-dance and other types of dances (classical, traditional, oriental, ballet etc.) is that the former is performed by dancers for their own enjoyment, whereas the others are danced for the enjoyment of spectators. Moreover, folk-dances are mostly social and cermonial in character whereas others are not. Perhaps these are the two basic characteristics of folk-dances, which differentiate them from other forms of dancing.
Judged form this point of view the folk-dances of Orissa are true to the spirit and are of great beauty and variety. They are closely associated with fairs, festivals, marriages and religious ceremonies, in fact with the whole life of the people. Besides the dances performed an auspicious occasion, there are dances to appease evil powers that bring misfortue and to please good powers that bring good fortune. There are also dances solely for self-entertainment. Each is distinguishable by its variety of movement, form, gesture, costume and music. All of them manifest different styles derived from the local traditions and the social environment.
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