In the heart of the Tandava dance

The specific name of this dance is tāṇḍava nṛtya . Don’t imagine a dance performed by rhythmically lifting the feet off the ground and then using the ankles to land softly again; this motor act that is at the basis of the release of the diaphragm (think of African traditions) is there, but it is not the constant or the rule.  

The Tandava, seen from the outside , is a soft dance , where the gestures follow one another in a harmonious flow.

From within, the glandular system rejoices, the whole organism is reactivated. 

Originally it seems that this dance was performed in Kerala only by men. You will have seen images of Shiva / Parvati , where the intense blue joins the sparkling pink, where two halves are conceived as a single entity. The breath is conscious and long while performing. The direction is that of the subtle exploration of physical sensations. You work without judgment on the contracted and open physical areas. 

This practice, which belongs to Kashmir yoga , opens the body-mind system, dissolving the body in a deep relaxation, thus making it permeable to emotions. 

If we could really divide it into two moments (which in any case always follow each other as in a process with no end or beginning, but only respectful of the cyclical nature), we would identify a:

• head towards the fire;
• blow for relaxation.

These are two sides of the expression of the same force that penetrates those who let themselves go to gestures.

This parallelism is found in the two alternating and complementary forms that dance takes: the first,  Rudra tándava,  recalls the violent naturalness, the destructive force of the universe ; in the second, the Ananda tandava  evokes the creation of the universe . 

Tandava dance: the origins 

If you are interested in deepening the bibliographical references, we point out that in  the Sangitratnakar, Adhyaya 5, Shloka 5, 6 the Danta Tandava and its origin are mentioned.

In this fragment there is also a clear reference to the  Lasya dance , a type of dance performed by women in which the hands are free and the gestures are not paradigmatic or harbingers of a mimed story. In some researches the latter dance is compared with the Tandava, with connection to the female for the first and to the male for the second. 

There are 7 types of Tandava dances : Ananda Tandava, Tripura Tandava, Sandhya Tandava, Samara Tandava, Kaali Tandava, Uma Tandava and Gauri Tandava. According to some less precise sources, there are 16 types.

There are two types of Lasya: Jarita Lasya and Yauvaka Lasya. These distinctions refer to the origins and archaic forms of dance.

In the nineteenth century, two brothers known as  Tanjore Quartet brought this dance back to life by adding a very creative flair. In the twentieth century we remember the explorations of  Udayshankar, Rukminidevi Arundale and Balasaraswathi.

Learn the Tandava dance

As for the writer, the study of this dance started with Daniel Odier , who in his seminars (in Europe and beyond) has a very practical and sensorial way of introducing those who have already been tantra students for at least a year.

Here the dance meditation of a student, Laura Orsina, according to Odier’s teachings on the music of Kamakshi – Susheela Raman. The dance recalls the union with and in the cosmos . Easy to say, and not that much. Yet it is not something that is learned, it does not have a coding of movements with a fixed score . No, this dance relies heavily on the ability to send the breath up to the collarbones and let the spine move the lower limbs from below. Allowing the music to bring the movement.

The tradition from which he starts is yogic and, as in many cases of discipline closely linked to positions or meditation, you will also come across jokers or improvised teachers who are comfortable with seeing beautiful little women squirming. The position of the writer, in this sense, is clear: if you want to approach this type of dance you can indeed attend residential seminars, but do not forget that the resources are all within and that fullness and passion can be sought in the gestures. Advice? Be alone, seek.

Dance can be a prayer.