India is a fascinating country with plurality of ethnicity, cultures, religions and philosophy. Unsurprisingly this plurality extends to the arena of Unsurprisingly this plurality extends to the arena of classical dances having the distinction of being the only country with eight recognized classical dance forms, all of which are bound in the single thread of spirituality and philosophy radiating the fragrance of ‘Indianness’. Though many books on Indian classical dances are available, this book by Shovana Narayan can easily be described as the ‘book among books’ on Indian Classical dances for it is a comprehensive and detailed encyclopaedia on the eight recognized classical dance forms essaying the historical evolution and influences, characteristic identifying features, techniques and also the format of presentation in an evening’s programme of each style. This book also details the repertoire, texts utilized, accompanying music and musical instruments, costumes and make-up so characteristic of each dance form. This book with its exhaustive information and liberal use of photographs is a must for all. Some of the interesting nuggets of information prove to be eye-openers demolishing and demystifying few prevailing hypothesis.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Shovana Narayan
Shovana Narayan is one of the outstanding classical dancers of India. For her incomparable contribution to the Kathak style of classical dance, she has been decorated with several awards, including Government of India's coveted Padmashri and Sangeet Natak Akademi awards. She has bestowed Kathak with dignity and enriched it with a deeper and wider canvas of expression and dimensions. She is at once, an explorer, a performer, a choreographer and an artiste par excellence, with values and a cause. The explorer and researcher within her have seen her author six books on Indian dance, which bespeak of intensity, depth and gravity. She has also worked closely with nationally and internationally acclaimed Indian and western dancers and musicians from various streams of art. Shovana's palette contains other media, including films and operas as well as being a dedicated guru whose disciples are creating their niche in the world of Kathak that once again bears testimony to the intensive training being imparted by her. She is also a senior serving civil servant belonging to the Indian Audits and Accounts Service (1976 batch). Married to Dr. Herbert Traxl, Austrian Ambassador, the two have a son, Erwin Ishan Traxl. Her younger sister, Ranjana Narayan, is a lawyer and a classical singer. Other books by the author: ˜Kathak: Rhythmics Echoes and Reflectioin- (Roly Publication); ˜Dance Legacy of Patliputra' (Publications Division, govt. of India); ˜Indian Theatre and Dance Traditions" (Harman Publications); ˜Performing Arts: A Policy Perspective" (Kanishka Publications); "Kathak" "A Handbook (Wisdom Tree Publication); "Indian Classical Dance" "A Handbook (Sterling Publication).
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