I am an architect and a Bharatnatyam dancer and am fascinated with the relationship between the arts and architecture. And I have been on a fabulous journey to explore the connection between a static and a performing art since both complete me.

The origin of this classical Indian dance form is rooted in a very interesting mythologyical story. It is said that the world was in a state of complete chaos and the the demi-gods and sages approached Brahma, the creator, to alleviate the dark misery. So Brahma, taking the essence of the four Vedas (knowledge of the world from Rig Veda, music from Sama Veda, expression from Yajur Veda and Rasa or enjoyment from Atharvana Veda) evolved a new system of visual education called Natya. He expounded this system to sage Bharata, who in-turn propagated this further. Thus came the dance form Bharatnatyam into being.
Architecture’s origin though is not mythical. It is an art form rooted in the science of building. It involves a number of disciplines like painting, sculpture, etc.  And it was interesting to see how dance and architecture connect at three levels, physical, emotional and spiritual.

Rhythm and movement

At the physical level, visual satisfaction is achieved in both dance and architecture. Words like rhythm, harmony, synchronisation, movement are not just used in dance but also relate to architecture.

Also all classical dances that exist in India today have a deep connection with  temple architecture since temples were also performing spaces.

Special architectural spaces have been designed over the centuries for various dance forms, such as, the early rangamandapas in Hindu temples, the highly ornate Mughal courts for kathak performances, Koothambalam in Kerala, and the majestic ballet theatres in Russia. As a dancer, I could boldly say that the physical space in which we perform directly affects our performance!

“I have a deep sense of my body’s architecture … the skeleton,”  says choreographer Trisha Brown in Her Prelude to the Royal Academy Forum which brought the worlds of dance and architecture together. She adds, “anatomy plays a significant role in both dance and architecture.The sheer movements of lines create a picture which delivers joy! The human body is the most important element of both dance and architecture.”

Lord Shiva’s Nataraja posture is the symbol of dance in Indian culture.

The shloka, “Angikam Bhuvanam Yasya Vachikam Sarva Vangmayam Aharyam Chandra Taradi Tam Namassatvikam Shivam, (I bow to the supreme Shiva whose body is the universe, whose speech is the sound, the stars and the moon his ornaments),” sums up the main aspects of dance, the four-fold abhinayas, Angika(expression through body), Vachika (expression through speech) Aharya (expression through ornaments) and Satvika(the refinement of the soul). Shiva is the embodiment of all these aspects. )

So dance is the imitation of our own inner and outer responses to emotional and physical stimuli, presented in sophisticated imagery and gestures drawn from body, mind and soul. At the emotional level,  the evolution of dance is universally based on two desires,  to mirror the stirrings in Nature and the catharsis of emotions. The same tendencies can be seen in the way we build. Architecture too is guided by seasons and emotions. We also copy natural forms in architecture.

There is also an element of spirituality in both. This shloka best  exemplifies this, “Yato hastaha, tato drushtihi. Yato drushtis, tato manaha. Yato manas, tato bhavo. Yato bhavas, tato rasaha.” (Where the hands,  there the eyes.  Where the eyes, there the mind.  Where the mind, there the feeling. Where the emotions, there is the essence of life or rasa.”

In 1996, choreographer Frédéric Flamand started reflecting on the relationship between dance and architecture as both arts structure space. For a project called  ‘Moving Target,’  he chose to work with New York architects Elisabeth Diller and Ricardo.  In 2000, Flamand created, ‘Metapolis’  in association with the Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, winner of the 2004 Pritzker Prize, the architectural equivalent of the Nobel Prize.

Just goes to show that everything we create and express comes from the same source. Whether we dance or build, we are paying tribute to the fundamental human need for self-expression.

(Photographs Courtsey : Jaisim Fountainhead, Bangalore)