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The jingles of the bells were sharp and distinctive, merging seamlessly with stomping footsteps on the ground, synchronising to the beat of the fast-paced music. Strings of melody were plucked in a quick yet prominent manner. The tapping of percussion drums composed an admix of slow and fast beats. Altogether, it was sustaining the melody for the dancer by providing a harmonic rhythm as a whole. These are the characteristics of an Indian dance. 

 

Indian dance has existed since the 1800s, and has been a part of the Singapore Arts culture till now. However, although Indian dance existed in the past, it was never really showcased locally until the early 1880s when the first Indian temple, Sri Mariamman was built. The Sri Mariamman temple became the first platform and opportunity for Indian Arts to be performed to the public.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                        

At present, different variations of Indian Dance forms are taught across ten local institutions. Indian dance is valued by the Indian community and is seen as an imperative and essential aspect of the Indian culture. Above all, it is a significant constituent to Singapore’s multicultural identity. Despite its years of existence in Singapore, locals hardly ever pursue classical Indian dance professionally and few are genuinely interested in learning about the art-form. This shows that the presence of Indian dance is still not known or exposed to many. 

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Based on a study conducted by students in the Diploma of Communications and Media Management at Temasek Polytechnic (TP) on Indian Dance awareness in Singapore, half of the 162 respondents mentioned that the last time they viewed an Indian Dance performance was more than three years ago. Furthermore, 119 respondents indicated their lack of knowledge in Indian Dance based on their scores. This shows that Indian dance is underrepresented in Singapore, especially amongst the younger generation as 99.3% of the 162 respondents are aged between 17 and 25 years old. The reason being how Indian dance is scarcely-known or appreciated by anyone not directly involved. Thus, more efforts are needed to promote the awareness of Indian dance within the community. 

 

Since Indian dance lacks exposure especially to the eyes of the public, many tend to miss out on its unique features, depriving them the chance to recognise the beauty of classical Indian dance. Additionally, it is also largely underappreciated due to major misconceptions on how Bollywood dance is equivalent to Indian dance. “People tend to think that Indian Dance is Bollywood Dance, which is wrong because it is a highly respected traditional dance that has a history of a 1000 years old!”, said Mr Krishnan, an Indian dancer with 15 years of experience. 

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A classical Indian dance piece starts from storytelling, which acts as the crucial backbone to bring the audience through a journey, step-by-step. It serves to story-tell through the support of mental and physical elements, accompanied with a major investment of hard work. From brainstorming choreography to expressing emotion through their dance movements, the mental fortitude of a dancer needs to be solid. To add on, intricacy and discipline are also involved as it is a core fundamental ground on perfecting an Indian dance performance. 

 

Another vital responsibility of an Indian dancer would be displaying their movements in a graceful yet powerful and precise manner. Facial expressions play a big part in an Indian dance performance. Delivering emotions with incredible detail, right down to the eye, finger gestures and footwork makes for a one-of-a-kind dance experience unlike others. As Ms Sariha, a student from Temasek Polytechnic’s Indian dance group aptly said, a dancer’s “clarity of hand gestures and firm footwork are also necessary to support the storytelling aspect of Indian dance.” Together, these special qualities give Indian dance it’s own individuality, setting itself apart from other cultural dances. 

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However, it takes much more to complete an Indian dance performance. Their costumes, make-up, jewelry and the choice of music are also taken into great consideration. Indian dance costumes are usually on the vibrant side featuring bright colours with detailed gold embellishments. This accentuates the colours of the expressive and “loud” nature of Indian dance. Many people tend to undermine the difficulty of Indian dance. The jewelry can weigh up to a hefty four kilograms, inclusive of traditional bells which are attached to their ankles. Contrary to belief, balancing the weight of the jewelry while executing the dance is a highly challenging yet remarkable feat. Conclusively, Indian dance will not be complete without its music. Music instruments are chosen with attentiveness, to ensure that the music it produces are fitting according to the different types of Indian dance. 

 

Every Indian dance piece is a story, weaved together in sync to create a spiritual and out-of-body experience for the audience. Encompassing a diversity of unique elements, it still produces a well-rounded piece filled with strength and emotion. Such is the beauty of Indian dance which the public is still largely unaware about. The entertainment value of Indian dance remains timeless regardless of race, language and religion. It is no doubt that people from all walks of life can and should enjoy Indian dance.