Video: Sattriya Dance Company with the Dancing Monks of Assam
A video from the Library of Congress showcasing Sattriya, a traditional dance form of India's Assam region and monasteries.
Sattriya is a traditional dance form of India hailing from the far-northeastern province of Assam. It began around 500 years ago, though it is based on much older dance traditions in the region. In Hindu monasteries, monks mixed traditional dance steps with elements of drama to create an art centered around the life and deeds of Lord Krishna, a major deity and avatar of Vishnu.
Sattriya has since been recognized as an important traditional dance of India. Its themes, while still focused on Krishna, have expanded to other subjects. The form has also opened up to women dancers, where once it was exclusively practiced by male monks.
From the Library of Congress:
The Philadelphia-based Sattriya Dance Company was launched in 2009 with a mission to tell the story of Sattriya and raise awareness about Majuli and its sattras (monasteries) through performances, lecture demonstrations, and classes. The company's artistic directors are Madhusmita Bora and Prerona Bhuyan.
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