Why buy vintage jewelry when you can get an inexpensive, shiny, perfectly machine-made item for a few dollars? The answer is a bit more complicated than the question. So let’s take a look at why authentic vintage is so desirable. Origin First, consider where and when a piece of jewelry was created. Where an item… Continue reading Top 6 Reasons To Invest in Vintage Jewelry
Category: Q & A
Fun facts to help our readers learn more about Nepal, Indian/Nepali dance, and related topics.
CID UNESCO Seminar
Utpalasia is honored to be among the speakers for the International Dance Council – CID UNESCO online seminar to explore and discuss “Indian Dance in the Americas.” We will be joined by professional educators, as well as artists and dancers from around the globe providing inciteful glimpses into the challenges faced, and current innovations implemented,… Continue reading CID UNESCO Seminar
An Interview with Visaic
We recently sat down with Visaic, a young German-American composer and part of the Utpalasia family of artists, who has recently released his newest work, “The Corruption of Princes”. Thanks for being with us today, Visaic! We’re excited about your new track and eager to learn a bit more about your process and inspiration. First… Continue reading An Interview with Visaic
Where did the capital of Nepal get its name?
The name “Kathmandu” originated from two words, kath – meaning wood – and mando – or mandap, meaning house – as most of the buildings were constructed from wood, and then beautifully ornamented. The capital was still called “Kantipur” up until the seventeenth century. No one can overstate the religious, cultural, and traditional importance of… Continue reading Where did the capital of Nepal get its name?
What is tatkar?
Tatkar is footwork. The patterns and styles vary greatly and emphasis is placed on producing a sound from the feet as well as from the ghungharoos (bells). Most Kathak performances feature tatkar, which highlights a dancer’s technical skill, stamina, and artistry. Often, a dancer will sing a series of bols, or syllabic sounds, in a… Continue reading What is tatkar?
What is a hasta mudra?
There are two types of hasta mudras, or hand signs, in Kathak dance. Asanyukt mudras use one hand; sanyukt mudras use both hands. The most commonly recognized asanyukt mudra is pataka, which keeps all of the fingers of the right hand straight, with the thumb touching the first finger. A pataka can be used to… Continue reading What is a hasta mudra?
Where did Bollywood dance originate?
The origins of Bollywood lie in Urdu theater and street plays known as nautanki. Many of the basic steps, of which there are over seven hundred, are derived from classical Indian dance. Bollywood is a highly aerobic style of modern dance that has gained popularity primarily due to the explosion of Bollywood films across the… Continue reading Where did Bollywood dance originate?
What is a chakkar?
A chakkar is a fast spin. It requires good balance control, proper position, stamina, and speed to be correctly executed. Young dancers begin to practice chakkars at an early age, starting with a nine-count circle, then moving down in counts until they have perfected the circle of one. Experienced artists have been known to perform… Continue reading What is a chakkar?
What is the namaskar we do at the beginning and end of each class, and what does it mean?
Dancers traditionally do the namaskar which is both a greeting and an invocation to the god, asking for help, and also forgiveness from Mother Earth for pounding on her. All dances are done barefoot, as leather is not worn by Hindus. There are many different forms and styles of namaskar, depending on the artist’s preference… Continue reading What is the namaskar we do at the beginning and end of each class, and what does it mean?
NDS Introduces “Haptako Prashna ra Uttar” – Weekly Question and Answer Segment
Join us every week for a new fast fact about dance, religion, culture, music, and heritage from the Himalayan region and the Indian subcontinent. We will explore the most commonly asked questions, and bring you unusual facts and interesting topics.