Impact of Nature and Natural Behavior Patterns on the Aangikaabhinaya/Movement Vocabulary of Chau Dance

It is believed that from the earliest periods, the human species began to dramatically imitate the actions of animals. This natural behaviour pattern can be traced to tribal and folk art, such as painting, music, dance, and dance theatre. ‘Chau’, often spelt as ‘Chhau’ by some Indian authors, is a dance and dance-theatre form from the eastern region of India; it is one of the significant examples of how animal movements and subsequent nature patterns primarily impact dance patterns and their presentation. Chau is one of the famous traditional theatres of India, often categorized as semi-classical dance theatre, mainly because of its movement vocabulary. This article aims to examine and discuss how such patterns emerged and how they hold significance in shaping these movements. While Chau adapted technicality in its presentation and instrumentation, its core and legacy remain unchanged – namely, its movement vocabulary pattern and folklore-mythology.