綜合各方介紹，卡塔卡利舞已流傳超過300年，是目前印度古典舞蹈中唯一還保持用梵文演唱的劇種，但比起古代梵劇，卡塔卡利已有不少改進和發展。卡塔卡利的題材多選自印度兩部重要史詩《羅摩衍那》和《摩訶婆羅多》。主題大都是描寫神或英雄人物如何戰勝邪惡的故事。按這兩部史詩編創過的保留劇目有大約500部，而廣爲流傳的就有50餘部，可以說卡塔卡利如同一面歷史的鏡子，從中可以領略到印度古代衆多的風情。
卡塔卡利的所有角色，都由男士擔任，女角也由年輕漂亮的男子扮演。一名卡塔卡利舞蹈演員從７歲至12歲開始，要經過大約十二年的嚴格訓練，是印度古典舞中受訓時間最長的舞種。演員除了要練舞功外，還要對面部的眼、眉、嘴、臉頰、頸等部位進行訓練，讓它們都能運動自如。在印度古典舞中，卡塔卡利對眼、眉、嘴、臉頰、頸等部位的應用之多，難度之大都遠遠超過印度其他各派。
傳統卡塔卡利舞是由晚上9時演至翌日清晨。但現在可以欣賞1小時的濃縮版。表演一般由晚上六時至七時開始。而值得注意的是，演員在表演前約兩小時開始化妝，觀眾可以看見表演者把不同顏料塗在面上，這是不可錯過的。
卡塔卡利的重要特點是它強烈的戲劇性。表演者不說話，卻運用24個基本手勢和眼、眉、嘴、臉頰、頸等面部動作，構成一整套的示意動作，它們是劇情和人物感情交流的重要手段。而在每段戲劇表演之間通常要加上一段激烈的純舞蹈：大蹲襠步、單腿控制、急速旋轉以及腳掌、腳側完成的各種腳點和跳躍動作，構成了卡塔卡利男性舞蹈健壯英武的風格。富有特色戲劇效果的各種臉譜，是卡塔卡利的又一重要特徵，不同角色有不同的臉譜，但只以人物類別劃分，如英雄人物爲綠色，反派人物要加紅色，並在鼻尖和額頭加白色飾物：正面女角爲肉色，獵人爲黑色等。
伴奏樂隊通常是四人――兩位鼓手和兩位吟頌者。
舞蹈表演後，又遇上以色列的Noam，大家一起吃美味的烤魚，之後去欣賞小型傳統音樂會。鼓手的表現很精彩。
Today is a cultural day. I have enjoyed the Kathakali Dance.
According to www.keralatourism.org, Kerala owes its transnational fame to this nearly 300 years old classical dance form which combines facets of ballet, opera, masque and the pantomime. It is said to have evolved from other performing arts like Kootiyattam, Krishnanattam and Kalarippayattu. Kathakali explicates ideas and stories from the Indian epics and Puranas.
Presented in the temple precincts after dusk falls Kathakali is heralded by the Kelikottu or the beating of drums in accompaniment of the Chengila (gong). The riches of a happy blending of colour, expressions, music, drama and dance is unparallelled in any other art form.
Costume is elaborate with the face painted up. Great importance is laid on the Vesham or make-up which are of five types - Pacha, Kathi, Thadi, Kari and Minukku.
The pomp and magnificence of Kathakali is partly due to its decor part of which is the kireetam or huge headgear and the kanchukam the over sized jackets, and a long skirt worn over a thick padding of cushions. The identity of the actor is completely mutilated to create a super human being of larger-than-life proportion.
The orchestra is formed of two varieties of drums - the maddalam and chenda; the chengila which is a bell metal gong and the ilathalam or cymbals.
Students of Kathakali have to undergo rigorous training replete with oil massages and separate exercises for eyes, lips, cheeks, mouth and neck. Abhinaya or expression is of prime importance as is nritya or dance and geetham or singing.
Together with highly evocative facial expressions, the mudras and the music both vocal and instrumental, Kathakali unfolds stories from a bygone era in a lofty style reminiscent of the Greek plays. Kerala Kalamandalam , is the prominent institution imparting Kathakali training in the traditional way.
More information can be found at wikipedia.
I have met Noam from Israel after the dance performance. We ate delicious grill fish before going to a traditional Indian music concert. The drum performance is impressive.
No comments:
Post a Comment