LION DANCE : CHHAU DANCE

YANGGE : ODISSI

DUNHUANG : KUCHIPUDI

Lion dance is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture, in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume. The lion dance is usually performed during the Chinese New Year and other Chinese traditional, cultural and religious festivals. It may also be performed at many other important occasions such as business opening events, special celebrations or wedding ceremonies, or may be used to honourspecial guests by the Chinese communities. Contemporary lion dances should be categorized into 2 categories. Northern lions and Southern lions.

The Chhau dance is indigenous to the eastern part of India. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, many of the princely rulers of the Orissa region took a keen interest in the development of this art.. In keeping with the martial origins of Chhau, some of the themes include the depiction of mythological heroes, such as Parashurama, Mahadev, Indrajit and others, from the Mahabharata and Ramayana epics. Over the course of time, female characters and more diverse themes were added.

Lion Dance : The lion dance costumes used in these performances can only be custom made in speciality craft shops in rural parts of China. The costumes have the appearance of a lion head that is colorful, shiny and elegant. They have a long tail/body and enough space for dancers to get under and perform the various movements.

Chhau Dance : Some Chhau dances use large stylized masks. The depiction of birds and animals is a distinctive feature. There are also heroic dances with sword, bow or shield, with which dancers demonstrate their dexterity.

Chhau Dance: The music reflects the moods which the dancers interpret well. The vocal music does not play a major role in Chhau. It is very short and its song-poem does not contain more than two lines. Each item is introduced by such a song and as soon as the two lines are sung by the vocalist, the drummers begin to beat their drums.

Lion Dance: The Chinese Lion Dance is performed accompanied by the music of beating of drums, cymbals, and gongs. Instruments synchronise to the lion dance movements and actions.

Yangge or "Rice Sprout Song," is a form of Chinese folk dance originating from the Song Dynasty. It is popular in both the countryside and cities in northern China. It is especially popular among older people. Crowds of people will go out into the street in the evening and dance together in a line or a circle formation.

Odissi is one of the eight classical dances of India. It originates from the state of Odisha, in eastern India. It is the oldest surviving dance form of India on the basis of archaeological evidences. This dance is characterised by various Bhangas (Stance), which involves stamping of the foot and striking various postures as seen in Indian sculptures.

Yangge: The performers usually wear Manchurian clothes. Some

dancers dress up in red, green, or other colorful costumes, and typically use a red silk ribbon around the waist. Some dancers use props like the waistdrum, dancing fan, fake donkey, or litter.

Odissi: The sari worn by Odissi dancers are generally coloured with bright shades of orange, purple, red or green. These sarees are characterised by features of traditional prints of Odisha, special borders, intricate designs and a shiny embellishment. This costume is drapped around the body in unique traditional way unlike other classical dance forms of India.

Yangge: Music here consists mostly of drums. Dancers swing their bodies to music played by drum, trumpet, and gong.

Odissi: Odissi dance is accompanied by Odissi music, a synthesis of four classes of music i.e. Dhruvapada, Chitrapada, Chitrakala and Panchal.

Dunhuang Dance is a showy dance in which a bunch of dancers stand behind each other, so only the person in front is visible to the audience. The dancers move their arms and hands so that it looks like the person in the front has a multitude moving of arms.

Kuchipudi is a Classical Indian dance from Andhra Pradesh, India. The performance usually begins with some stage rites, after which each of the characters come on to the stage and introduces him/herself with a dharavu to introduce the identity, set the mood, of the character in the drama.

Dunhuang: This dance has an ornamental dress with swirls and drapes of fabrics and embellishments. Dancers also wear intricate and decorative headpieces and the highlight is the extensive pointy nail extensions worn by the dancers.

Kuchipudi: The Kuchipudi costumes look similar to Bharathanatyamcostumes. There is nothing elaborate in the costumes and the makeup is not so heavy. Characters also wear ornaments and jewelry and sport a long plait decorated with flowers and dance jewelry.

Dunhuang: The music in dance uses numerous instruments such as chimes, bells, drums and gongs. They also use guitars, pianos. It is not lyrical and is only instrumental.

Kuchipudi: The music used in Kuchipudi is classical Carnatic and the violin, mridangam and clarinet are the common instruments used as an accompaniment. The Kuchipudi performance is accompanied by a traditional, live orchestra comprising singing, flute, veena and percussions.