WORLD DANCE DAY

International Dance Day is a global celebration of dance, created by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute (ITI), the main partner for the performing arts of UNESCO. The event takes place every year on 29th April, the anniversary of the birth of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), the creator of modern ballet. The day strives to encourage participation and education in dance through events and festivals held on the date all over the world. UNESCO formally recognize ITI to be the creators and organizers of the event

Every year, since its creation in 1982, an outstanding dance personality is selected to write a message for International Dance Day. ITI also create a flagship event in a selected host city, at which there are dance performances, educational workshops, humanitarian projects and speeches made by ambassadors, dignitaries, dance personalities and the selected Message Author for that year.

The day is a celebration day for those who can see the value and importance of the art form dance, and acts as a wake-up-call for governments, politicians and institutions which have not yet recognised its value to the people.

In India, there are hundreds of dance forms among them some are I always admired-

1. Garba- Gujarat

2. Bharat Natyam- Tamil Nadu

3. Kathak-northern india

4. Kathakali-Kerela

5. Manipuri-Manipur

6. Lavni-Maharashtra

7. Ghoomar-Rajasthan

8. odhishi-odisha

9. Bhangra-Punjab

10.Dumhal-Jammu & Kashmir

11. Tandav performed by lord SHIVA

12. Lassya- performed by goddess PARVATI

Dance is a fundamental form of human expression that likely evolved together with music as a way of

generating rhythm. The science of dance involves the existence of science in dance and of course its

implementation in the same. One of the first scientific approaches that can be seen today is that dance

is being used as a therapy especially for arthritis, obesity, mental and cancer patients. It has been seen

and proved that music and dance have brought positive changes in the treatment of patients

undergoing chemotherapy. Many cancer centres are offering dance therapies as a combined treatment

to that of their scheduled routine treatments.

I would like to share with you how different streams of science involve in Dancing:

Physics-

• The sound that comes when we stamp feet on the floor is definitely related to science because ‘Sound’ is found in ‘Physics’. Here we can see that Newton’s III law applies:                   

            “Every action has an equal and opposite reaction”                                          

            The action is that a force has been applied on the floor and the reaction is that a sound is created.

• ‘Time’ and ‘Speed’ in Physics as the same as ‘Taal’ and ‘Laya’.

• Displacement in dance is the distance which moved by a dancer on stage. Displacement seen in Physics too.

MATHEMATICS AND GEOMETARY 

• In dance, the counting of matras definitely related to science where the figures are used.

• The science behind taking spins/chakkars in dance in the thermo of circle where the dancer open his/her hands at 180’ while taking chakkar. When the dancer takes a chakkar, turns 360’ upon himself/herself. Hands are kept at 45’ and 90’ also. Use of lines; vertical,diagonal. They are imaginary lines that do exist. The dancer creates a space for himself.

BIOLOGY:

•  The science behind rasa and bhava is such that when a dancer performs on stage, his/her actions reach the audience and the chemical substance is released in the body of the viewer causing a biological change. The audience reacts to the performance due to the neuron chemicals called endorphins that the human body releases.

PHYSIOTHERAPY AND ACCUPRESSURE 

• The Science behind these two being used in dance is such that the movements that a dancer does act on some points of the body. These in turn create positive vibes in the dancer’s body. Making well in his/her social being. 

• Dance can be modified to suit a wide range of diagnostic categories; the mentally challenged, physically disabled, slow learners, emotionally disturbed, the visually and hearing impaired, children with cerebral palsy and autism, etc.

• The points in the feet relating to various part of the human body send signals to the connecting parts and these acts a healing element in the human body. The science behind this is that one is relaxed; it reduces stress, fear, anxiety, depression.

CONCLUSION

• Moreover Mathematics being a scientific subject sheds much on the science of dance. 

• Mohiniattam , a classical dance form of Kerala, uses Kinetic movements 

• Bharatnatyam dancers take squared stances, Kathak dancers uses angles in its movements. Lines are drowns in space. 

• The Dance creates a space for Dancers and indulges in dancing using imaginative lines, vertical, diagonal straight lines. The spins that a kathak dancer takes a purely angular because dancers takes a complete spin over himself/herself, covering 360’. 

• Dancer opens his/her hands at 180’. 

• The implementation of science can be seen. It since long been such a practice to dance in that way but with the advancement in time, one starts realizing the science behind it. 

• Thanks to diversity in Indian Dance forms that make all the corners of India reach in Heritage, Art, Culture, Happiness and Well being of its citizen.
• I feel proud to be leave in country where God themselves are dancing (e.g Shiva performing Tandava & Parvati performing Lassya and Many Goddesses performing dance during Navratri).