Classical Dances and Costumes of India

Kay Ambrose

Introduction by Ram Gopal
Foreword by Arnold Haskell

Published by Adam and Charles Black, hardcover, illustrated.
some handwritten text on endpaper.

CONTENTS
PART I
INTRODUCTION BY RAM GOPAL
FOREWORD BY ARNOLD L. HASKELL
AUTHOR'S PREFACE

Explanation for the reader. Ram Gopal. A summary of the various dance-styles. Practical information. Indian dancing to-day: the creative dance: dance critics. Books on Indian subjects: a short-cut to understanding. The technical sketches.

CHAPTER
I. GODS AND MYTHOLOGY IN INDIAN DANCING
Introduction. Siva, Lord of the Dance. Krishna, the Blue God. Indian Ideals of Physical Beauty.

II. INDIAN MUSIC Introduction. Sketches of Indian musical instruments.

PART II
III. BHARATA NATYA, THE ANCIENT TEMPLE DANCE OF THE TANJORE
COURTESANS, SOUTH INDIA

Introduction. A general survey: past till present. The degradation and disappearance of Bharata Natya. The renaissance. The arrangement of the contemporary programme of Bharata Natya.

BHARATA NATYA—practical.
Technical sketches dealing with: costume; deportment; elementary steps; advanced combinations ; the Alarippu in its entirety : extracts from a Padam: from a Thillana: and some warnings.

IV. KATHAKALI, THE DANCE-DRAMA OF MALABAR, SOUTH INDIA Notes on the history and background of Kathakali. The present-day dancedrama. Practical and technical notes.
KATHAKALI—practical.

Technical sketches dealing with: traditional make-up and costume: basic posture: the sari-dance: kalasams: a fantasy on the Nine Moods or Rasas: mudras and the ancient Hindu gesture-language : a gesture-story of Lord Siva's family life : the dance of Garuda, the Golden Eagle.

V. KATHAK, THE WHIRLING DANCE FROM NORTH INDIA
Introduction: history and background. Practical observations : description of Kathak class. Technical sketches of: costume: basic posture: the stylised Kathak "walk": salami- or greeting-torah: a tukra: a torah featuring sangit or dramatic content.

VI. DANCES OF MANIPUR AND ASSAM, FROM THE NORTH-EAST Notes and sketches concerning: a Naga Chief: a Manipuri drum-dance: a detailed account of the classical costumes : a Radha-Krishna ballet.

VII. A P
ATCHWORK OF INDIAN FOLK-DANCES

VIII. DANCES OF CEYLON
The big Pera-hera: The Khomba Kankaria: classical Kandyan dances: a panterudancer.

IX. COSTUMES OF INDIA
General notes on Indian dress: and technical sketches of: the traditional CourtDress of Rajputana: how to wear a classical South Indian sari, and dhoti: a Coorgi sari: the classical choli or Indian blouse: how to wear a Sinhalese sari, and lungi.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX