2016-04-29 Fri

The International Dance Council a partner NGO of UNESCO introduced 29th April as the International Dance Day from 1982. The main purpose of this International Dance Day is to attract the attention of the wider public to the art of dance.

India has an unparalleled legacy of dance traditions and these traditions can be traced back to the Indus valley civilisation. Each region has evolved a distinctive style of music and dance and thus, we have many traditional folk dances along with the seven main classical dances of India.

The Indian lord of the dance, “Nataraja” features on an a stamp released on the occasion of the second anniversary of independence. The first definitive issue of independent India was released on 15th august 1949 and features this great Indian sculpture.

India Post on 20th October 1975 issued a series of six multi-coloured postage stamps on Indian Dances. These include the 6 of the 7 main classical dance forms of India:

The denominations and the subjects of the stamps being ; 25p stamp: Bharat Natyam, 50p stamp: Orissi, 75p stamp: Kathak, 100p stamp: Kathakali, 150p stamp: Kuchipudi, 200p stamp: Manipuri.

Other folk dance traditions are also depicted on various stamps. India has a few joint issues with other countries as well. To commemorate the completion of 60 years of diplomatic relations between India and Mexico, a Miniature sheet of two stamps was released by Mexico depicting the Kalbelia dance of Rajasthan, India and Jarabe Tapatio, National dance of Mexico.

To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Japan in 2002 a Setenant Pair, Miniature Sheet depicting the Classic Dances, Kathakali from India and Kabuki from Japan was issued jointly by the two nations.

Further in April 2006 an India- Cyprus joint stamp issue was released to commemorate bilateral relations between India & Cyprus. The two stamps depict Folk dances of India (Nati) and Cyprus(Kouzal/Stamna).

Happy Dancing and Happy Collecting to all!