Frieze with Dancers Sandstone Central India

A frieze panel carved on the front and one side, divided into niches separated by architectural elements and containing dancers and musicians. The central female figure, the male figure to her right and the female figure on the side niche all dance in similar poses, their flowing scarves indicating the movement of their bodies. The fourth figure is of a male drummer providing the music for the dance.

This sculpture would have been set within a scheme on the exterior wall of a temple and is an example of how music and dance have played a very important part in temple worship in India.