The importance of dance in Indian education

If the children of the Foundation are asked what their favorite topic in their classes is, they answer with almost one voice: dance. Dance, you might say? Surprising, also that this is a subject taught in schools. And yet...

India is a nation very attached to its history and traditions. If this country is the best example of the multiplicity of religions, Hinduism is the most widespread religion in India. The Hindu mind views the process of creation as a mean of eliciting or recreating the vision of a divine truth. It sees art as means of experiencing a state of mind similar to the state of absolute ananda or jivanmukti - deliverance in life.

Dance is the artistic expression of the world view in Indian culture. It speaks about values, mythology, religion. When in the other forms of art, the human being is the object of an artistic impulse, Indian dance treats the human form as a vehicle for aesthetic expression, integrating the content and form of the other arts into a single, beautiful and homogenous whole. It is no coincidence that the image of the deity Șhiva is dancing. 

When visitors arrive at the Foundation, they are always welcomed with various dances. Children of all ages explain their daily life this way, ranging from their school activities, images of nature or the gods, or simply the joy of life. Once the show is over, we always participate in these dances, to their great delight. Rhythm and movements are so unknown to our bodies that our style is rather unbalanced. But it is without any criticism, on the contrary, that our movements are welcomed and are an excellent way to get in touch during the first contacts.


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