Anthropology of Dance

Studying dance or movements in its cultural contexts through an anthropological lens is Anthropology of Dance. It does not end there. This sub-field also allows one to understand the changes a culture has gone through, through its dance or movements. Ethnochoreology, Dance Ethnology, Dance Anthropology are other related names, though these can not be used interchangeably owing to their origin and what they imply. Ethnography, field work, participant-observation methods are some of the crucial and commonly-used tools through which one can document dances, martial arts or any movement-based events. While those methods require more time, interviewing the artists/indigenous people is a quicker process to collect data. 

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Articles

Gaanas of the Yakshas - A Case Study

In my postgraduate studies, one of my professors Dr Surabhi Jiwrajka taught us the course Cultural Anthropology. As a sub-unit to it, she introduced us to Dance Anthropology. To my luck, I had a chance to perform Yakshagana, a ritualistic dance form from the coastal regions and Malenadu area of Karnataka, India. It was after the performance did I realise that I learnt more about Karnataka in those two months of practicing the form than what I learnt in five years of residing there. I felt learning a new dance is like learning a new language, which is a gateway to a new culture. Thus began my craze for learning more about these forms. It suited me because as a dancer I am more intrigued by how the dance speaks to its culture, history, architecture, than the choreography in itself. 

Curious to learn more, yes, by why do I want to document these? 

One, it aches me to know that numerous folk dances are dwindled and is practiced in smallest pockets in the region.

Two, all the research and literature done through Ethnochoreology is minimal in this sub-continent. In fact, even on a global scale, Ethnomusicology (you guessed it right, studying a culture through its music and vice versa) is more popular than Ethnochoreology. And by popular I meant the access to resources, literature, people working on it are comparatively more. And this makes me sad as a dancer who can't sing to save her life.