Dance as Semblance in Gauḍīya Traditions

Abstract

The article "Dance as Semblance in Gauḍīya Traditions" by Jeremy Hanes explores the multifaceted roles of dance within Gauḍīya Vaishnavism, focusing on how it mediates between the manifest and unmanifest divine reality. Drawing on Susan Langer's theory of art as semblance, the article argues that dance gestures create a "virtual realm of Power," allowing for the transmission of affect (bhava) across physical and non-physical forms. Hanes analyzes how the theological framework of the Gosvamins, particularly through Krsnadasa Kaviraja's Caitanya-caritamrta and Rupa Gosvamin's Bhaktirasamrtasindhu, connects the ecstatic dance of Chaitanya to the eternal play (lila) of Krishna. The abstract highlights dance's function in manifesting latent dispositions (sattva), inducing energetic forces (abhinaya), and fostering communal affective experiences. It demonstrates how dance enables devotees to transcend individual limitations and participate in the divine lila, linking landscapes and bodies to create a sense of presence and connection with the supreme reality.