Recently, the subject of fitness in South Asian dance was raised, a topic often associated with contemporary and ballet dance. But if these genres have now embraced fitness and conditioning, how might this also benefit South Asian dance forms?
As the body fatigues throughout a performance, the precision of movements reduces, movement patterns are disrupted and risk of injury is increased. These can affect the aesthetics of the dance and the overall performance, however the onset of fatigue can be delayed through a high level of physical fitness.
Kathak involves short bursts of high intensity movement, with percussive movements of the legs and feet, fast spins, and expressive movements of the upper body. Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi can also be described as high intensity movement, but with added deep pliés as a key…
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Dance Australia (Digital) - 1 Issue, April/May 2017