In ancient Bengal,
dancing was popular entertainment. Courtesans and temple girls (devadasis)
were required to be proficient in the art of dance prescribed by
Bharata in his 'Natysastra'. Popular forms of dancing were rendered
at mundane celebrations and on other occasions by low-caste tribes
Nats and Domnis (women of the Dom caste) who
practiced dancing and
singing as hereditary professions. In the Middle ages, probably
the institution of temple girls become obsolescent and class dancing
was limited to courtesans. As a result dancing came to be looked
down up on in respectable society.
