Monday, January 13, 2014

The Significance Of Dance Jewelry

By Marissa Velazquez


Ornaments has been an integral part of many cultures from the beginning of time. Men wore it as a sign of wealth and power, women wore it to look more beautiful. The art of dance has also evolved along side jewelry and now they have become intertwined. The tradition of Dance jewelry has become a necessary part of some performances as well as adding aesthetics to the costumes. The dancers pay close attention to each piece and how it is worn.

Dancers choose the jewelry for each outfit, agonizing over each choice. Many of the pieces have a symbolic meaning attached. There are books written detailing which pieces should be worn for each dance. You will see this in many religious ceremonies.

The sound and look of the bangles, belts, scarves and such add a dramatic flair to the presentation. These costumes are meant to be flashy and to accentuate each movement. This is totally different from other forms of traditional dance.

Nowhere is this dancing accessory more prevalent than in India. The dancers adorn their hair, necks, arms, feet, hips and ears. In addition to using gold and silver for the base in these pieces there are plenty of precious and semi-precious stones as well. The most popular of these being pearls, rubies, emeralds and sapphires. Dancers put a lot of effort into choosing the right pieces for each costume, they also seek out the finest craftsmen.

When shopping in a shop there will be many types of ornaments but not all can be incorporated into costumes, dancing ones are specific. Classical dancers wear what has come to be known as temple jewelry. Depending on their experience level you will see them mostly in authentic pieces, juniors and students use the imitations since it is less expensive. Real gems and metals can be heavy and this is one problem with wearing authentic pieces.. The ornament is not used to cover up the dance since their bodies are meant to be seen.

Different regions in India use different metals, dancers in the South mostly use gold in their dancing ornaments. As in most of Asia different metals are believed to hold certain properties, gold is believed to be a conduit increasing the feelings of well-being in those who wear it. On the other hand, Odissi dancers' ornaments is primarily made from silver.

The ornament is not big or bulky since the dancers have to use their limbs for many intricate steps. You will find that Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi or Kathak, have place so much importance on dancing jewelry that there are guides for what to wear for each dance.

Dance jewelry is as old as the culture itself. This ornament plays an important role in the lives of all Indian women. No matter how poor she is she will have at least one piece of ornament. Celebrations also have their traditional dances and the ornament worn for each type of celebration is specific. Jewelry does more than signify wealth and status it can be a way to invoke spirits of deities through dance and more.




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