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Sattriya Dance
Resources Performing Arts Classical Dances Sattriya Dance

1. Dances of India
Sattriya
Classical Dances
- Bharatnatyam Dances
- Kathakali Dances
- Kathak Dances The Sattriya dance form was introduced in the 15th century A.D by the
great Vaishnava saint and reformer of Assam, Mahapurusha
- Manipuri Dances
Sankaradeva as a pow erful medium for propagation of the Vaishnava
- Odissi Dances faith. The dance form evolved and expanded as a distinctive style of
- Kuchipudi Dances dance later on. This neo-Vaishnava treasure of Assamese dance and
- Sattriya Dances drama has been, for centuries, nurtured and preserved with great
commitment by the Sattras i.e. Vaishnava m aths or monasteries.
Because of its religious character and association w ith the Sattras,
2. Music of India this dance style has been aptly named Sattriya.
Hindustani Classical Music
Sankaradeva introduced this dance form by incorporating different
Carnatic Classical Music
elements from various treatises, local folk dances with his own rare
Regional Music outlook. There were two dance forms prevalent in Assam before the
Musical Instruments neo-Vaishnava movement such as Ojapali and Devadasi with many
classical elements. Two varieties of Ojapali dances are still prevalent
3. Theatre Forms of India in Assam i.e. Sukananni or Maroi Goa Ojah and Vyah Goa Ojah.
Sukananni Oja paali is of Sakti cult and Vyah Goa Oja paali is of
Theatre Forms Vaishnava cult. Sankaradeva included Vyah Goa Ojah into his daily Dancers dancing with drums and
rituals in Sattra. Till now Vyah Goa Ojah is a part of rituals of the cymbals
4. Puppet Forms of India Sattras of Assam. The dancers in a Oja paali chorus not only sing and
dance but also explain the narration by gestures and stylized
Puppet Forms
movements. As far as Devadasi dance is concerned, resemblance of a
good number of rhythmic syllables and dance postures along with
footwork w ith Sattriya dance is a clear indication of the influence of
the former on the latter. Other visible influences on Sattriya dance are
those from Assamese folk dances namely Bihu, Bodos etc. Many hand
gestures and rhythmic syllables are strikingly similar in these dance
forms.

Sattriya dance tradition is governed by strictly laid down principles in respect of hastam udras, footworks, aharyas, music etc. This tradition, has
two distinctly separate streams - the Bhaona-related repertoire starting from the Gayan-Bhayanar Nach to the Kharmanar Nach, secondly the
dance numbers which are independent, such as Chali, Rajagharia Chali, Jhumura, Nadu Bhangi etc. Among them the Chali is characterized by
gracefulness and elegance, while the Jhumura is marked by vigor and majestic beauty.

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