A Critical Study of Classical Dance Education in Indian Universities

Art, in India, is a sadhana aimed at achieving the eternal bliss, ananda. Indian Classical dance practice, through the ages, has formulated a comprehensive grammar for the beautiful language of movements. The 20th century witnessed performing arts such as Traditional and Classical Dance forms being officially categorised as 'Classical Dances of India’ by the Department of Culture, Government of India, and soon after, these forms were accepted as major disciplines for higher studies in many of the Indian universities. All the Classical Dance forms are taught in Universities these days. However, as the years passed, the ’ performing side ’ of the dance disciplines weakened, and the thrust remained in the theoretical and procedural areas associated with academics, and finally, half-baked individuals possessing higher degrees in dance were pumped into society by such a faulty ' dance for degrees’ system in place.Later, those possessing such higher degrees seen by bypassing the real talents and becoming teachers in the undergraduate and postgraduate departments. For Indian Classical Dancing to emerge as a fully mature discipline encompassing all the areas associated with it, a lot more needs to be done jointly, where the University Grants Commission and affiliated universities, state and central academies, Cultural Departments, revered Gurus, subject experts, media, art critics, rasikasetchavecritical rolestoplay. And thus, a system skillfully blending the ‘art’ with academics should be devised and implemented by the U.G.C. without much delay.