VIRTUAL   EXHIBITION   SECTIONS
0 Index, Introduction, Entrance Panel...	1 History in the Making	2 Building India's Industries	3 The Land and the People	4 Dance and Temple Sculpture

Subsections of Section 4 (Dance & Temple Sculpture)
4.1:   Section Text & Classical Dances
4.2:   Temple Sculpture

Index to Section 4.1 Section Text:   Dance and Temple Sculpture Panel 21:   Classical Dances Panel 22:   Classical Dances, continued

 

Section 4 text SECTION 4:   DANCE AND TEMPLE SCULPTURE The civilization of ancient India is long gone, except for what remains in the hearts of India's people. Impressive visual evidence of this civilization may still be found, however, in the exquisitely-sculpted Hindu, Buddhist and Jain temples built over a span of centuries starting in the third century B.C. Later Muslim and Hindu princes added magnificent forts, palaces, mosques or mausoleums. I enjoyed photographing these buildings, so evocative of a vanished past. A few of these photographs are part of this exhibition. The temple sculptures portray not only gods and goddesses, but also everyday life -- including religious rituals, household duties and animals both real and mythical. The liveliest components of these sculptures are often the figures of celestial musicians and dancers, which preserved India's classical dance and music in stone for centuries. Meanwhile, performers such as those shown here -- some of the best-known Indian dancers of my time -- helped to keep these traditions alive and vibrant still.   - Sunil Janah All photographs, and text:   © Sunil Janah 1939-2000

 

 

Top Row: Bala Saraswati, giving a Bharat Natyam recital.   sf.142 Shanta Rao, dancer, performing in the Bharat Natyam style, 1965.   sf.143 Middle Row: top left:   Text bottom left:   Shanta Rao, dancer, performing in the Bharat Natyam style, 1965.   sf.144 right:   Shanta Rao, dancer, performing in the Bharat Natyam style, 1965.   sf.145 Bottom Row: Shanta Rao, dancer, performing in the Kathakali style, 1963.   sf.146 Rita Devi, dancer, performing in the Manipuri style, 1947.   sf.147 Photographs © Sunil Janah

Panel 21:   Classical Dances

 

Top: Indrani Rahman, dancer, performing in the Bharat Natyam style, 1947.   sf.148 Bharat Natyam being performed by a guru from Kerala.   sf.149 Midle Row: Indrani Rahman, dancer, performing in the Bharat Natyam style, 1947.   sf.150 Indrani Rahman, dancer, performing in the Bharat Natyam style, 1947.   sf.151 Bottom Row: Indrani Rahman, dancer.   sf.152 Bade Golam Ali Khan, Indian classical singer   sf.153 Photographs © Sunil Janah

Panel 22:   Classical Dances (continued)