Dynamism and creativity of an immaterial heritage: the oral transmission in Bharata-Natyam Dance Theater (Mysore, India)

Abstract: Researchers interested in the heritage of dance-theater in India face a major obstacle: oral transmission, as written and audiovisual archives are extremely rare. They need professional training to access research materials and to interpret it. The case study of the Mysore Bharata-Natyam style involves this kind of participatory observations by the researcher-artist and demonstrates how the vitality of this heritage depends on the creativity of each local and individual transmission - related to its social, aesthetic, religious and political context - therefore, not on works considered complete and recognized by a national or international public.

摘要：关注印度舞蹈剧场遗产的研究者面临一项核心障碍：口述传承——目前书面与视听档案均极为稀缺。研究者需依托专业培训方能获取研究素材并完成解读。针对迈索尔婆罗多舞（Mysore Bharata-Natyam）流派的案例研究采用了研究者-艺术家式的参与式观察方法，该案例揭示，此项遗产的生命力并非取决于那些被国家或国际公众认可的完整作品，而是依托于其与社会、美学、宗教及政治语境相绑定的每一次地方性、个体化传承实践所迸发的创造力。