Not only are classical dance’s mental health benefits proven, but classical music is also well-researched as a complementary treatment for several major disorders and a healthy practice for general health. | Photo credit: Illustration: Soumyadeep Sinha
Keep your hands straight, my child,” the teacher coos. Tiny hands curl into a 2,000-year-old pose. Fingers touch, neurons fire, and that little brain processes neuroplasticity at a scale still misunderstood.
Classical dance has been scientifically documented by many prestigious research organizations such as Sarah Lawrence University and the National Institutes of Health in Maryland. Not only does classical dance have documented mental health benefits, but classical music is also well researched as a complementary treatment for many major disorders and a healthy practice for general health. Albert Einstein Medical College compared the brain scans of subjects assigned to treadmill walking for six months to those of subjects assigned to ballroom dancing. It was found that dancing prevents cognitive decline and reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s.
Indian classical dance has been praised for its neurobiological complexity. The nuances of hand-eye coordination operate specifically through neuroplasticity – our brain’s ability to change through development and reorganization, utilizing its neural networks. There is a huge amount of research in favor of mudras in both yogic and dance contexts. If we examine the practice of mudras in dance, it is clear that there is an inherent significance to the touch of the fingers as well as the actual hand movement.
Train the brain
Neurological meditation practitioner Laura Wimberger has developed a method of training the brain called neurosculpting. In her practice, the left and right hands often move in different directions and form different mudras. She explains how these practices enhance memory, protect neural activity and use different parts of the brain. One cannot help but associate her practices with the gestures of performing aarti in classical dance. The shikara mudra is held firmly in the left hand, swaying like a bell, while the pataka mudra held by the right hand maintains a clean horizontal line while forming a circle in the air. This simple mudra has over seven different mechanisms to nourish, tone and protect the brain!
Yet with so many enormous benefits, it seems that practicing dancers are constantly under stress. Indian classical dance has become so competitive that young dancers often feel enormous pressure to keep up with their peers and perform new repertoires on command. Social media presence is almost mandatory in the current scenario, putting even more pressure on young dancers and musicians to showcase their yoga routines, studio work, practice sessions and even the occasional recreation of a film song. Are they reaping the true benefits of the art?
When one examines the history of Indian classical dance practices, it becomes clear that dance cannot be separated from temples and courts. While there may be healthy competition among hereditary dancers among themselves, one wonders if it can be compared to a fight for a slot or prize at the gathering during the December season. When the purpose of a form is to immerse oneself in devotion or entertain an audience, innovation becomes an extension of creativity, not a race for survival. It is on the proscenium that dance has found its most rigorous form – from televised competitions to festivals that reward innovative choreography. Taking a form that was designed for self-expression and standardizing it into a ruthless, athletic race is perhaps one of the reasons why so many dancers struggle to find joy in this profession. While dance always remains a source of solace, the networks that surround it drain dancers of their peace of mind.
global trends
Artists in Australia are 20 times more likely to have mental health issues, and in the U.K. more than 46 percent of artists have lower mental health than average. Such studies have not been done on a large scale in India, but it would not be surprising if these numbers are an extension of a global trend. Artists are often isolated, and it appears that those with better social skills get better opportunities. What kind of ecosystem do we want to create for our future? In which direction should Indian classical dance and music move?
While it is impossible to find all the answers, perhaps changing contexts will help younger artists. For example, many senior artists still maintain the habit of performing in temples, which is a deeply personal and grounded experience that helps them define their art. Improvisational dance is another way to connect with your own creative mind by going beyond the external noise.
Whatever the means, we want our dancers to be satisfied, the joy they give us is nothing less than therapy.
Indian classical dance has been praised for its neurobiological complexity. The nuances of hand-eye coordination in particular operate through neuroplasticity
