Classical dances of India are an important part of the country’s cultural heritage, showcasing rich traditions through expressive movements and storytelling. This blog post explores various classical dance forms like Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Odissi, offering insights into their history, techniques, and significance. Perfect for those looking to learn more about India’s diverse cultural history.
Table of Contents
Classical Dances of India
Indian dance can be classified into two categories- Classical dance and Folk dance.
Classical dance is an important part of our cultural heritage. Each classical dance represents the culture of a particular region to which they belong.
The founder of classical dance is great Saint Shrimanta Shankardev.
Classical dance is different from folk dance because classical dance stictly follows the rules of “Natya Shastra” and dance is performed according to its rules.
Sangeet Natak Akademi has recognized ‘8 Classical Dances of India‘. Indian Cultural Ministry has added ‘Chhau‘ to the list of ‘8 Classical Dances of India’
Sangeet Natya Academy is headquartered in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh and it was established in 1953.
List of classical Dances
| S. No. | Classical Dance | State |
| 01 | Bharatnatyam | Tamil Nadu |
| 02 | Kathakali | Kerala |
| 03 | Kathak | Uttar Pradesh |
| 04 | Kuchipudi | Andhra Pradesh |
| 05 | Mohiniyattam | Kerala |
| 06 | Manipuri | Manipur |
| 07 | Sattriya | Assam |
| 08 | Odissi | Odisha |
Bharatnatyam-
Bharatanatyam is the oldest classical dance of India. It is a famous classical dance of Tamil Nadu.
Previous Year Exam Questions related to Bharatnatyam
- Bharatnatyam is the classical dance of which state- Tamil Nadu
- Which is the oldest style of Indian classical dance- Bharatnatyam
- Which classical dance is considered the ‘mother of other classical dances’ of India- Bharatnatyam
- Which classical dance originated in the Hindu temple in Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu and was developed by the the Devadasis- Bharatnatyam
- Which classical dance is a solo dance performed mainly by women- Bharatnatyam
- Name the Indian classical dance, which is believed to have been revealed by Lord Brahma to a famous sage Bharata, who then codified this sacred dance in a Sanskrit text called ‘Natya Shastra’- Bharatnatyam
- Sadir is the ancient name of which dance style- Bharatnatyam
Bharatnatyam Artists:
- Women artists: Yamini Krishnamurthy, Malvika Sarkar, Mrinalini Sarabhai, Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai, Balasaraswati, Rukmini Devi Arundale, Alarmel Valli, Padma Subrahmanam, Vaijanti Mala, Leela Samson
- Male Artists: Ravanth Sarabhai, CV Chandrashekhar, Uday Shankar, Nataraja Ram Krishna, Vijay Madhavan
Also read Indian National Movements 1985-1947 (Part-1)
Kathakali-
- Kathakali is a major classical dance of India and belongs to Kerala.
- The word “Kathakali” means “dance drama”. The word Kathakali is made up of two words, Katha and Kali. Katha means- story and Kali means- performance and art.
- Kathakali dance usually depicts stories from Mahabharata, Ramayana and Puranas.
- Kathakali dance symbolizes the fight between God and demon.
Previous Year Exam Questions (Kathakali)
- Which classical dance is related to Kerala- Kathakali
- Rabindranath Tagore revived which classical dance and made it popular in Bengal besides Kerala- Kathakali
- In which classical dance masks are used- Kathakali
- Artists associated with Kathakali: Kottakkal Sivaraman , Kalamandalam Kesavan Namboodiri, Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair, Kallamandalam Vasu Pisharody, Kavaluth Chathunni Panicker, Kanaka Rele, Gurugopalashankar, Gopinath, Ragini Devi, Udayashankar, Rukmini DEvi Arundale, Krishna Kutty, Madhavan Anand, Sivaraman.
Kathak
- Kathak is a very famous classical dance of Uttar Pradesh. The word Kathak is derived from the word Katha, which means a story and the word Kathak means ‘to perform a story in the form of dance’.
Previous Year Exam Questions (Kathak)-
- Classical dance Kathak originated in which Indian state- Uttar Pradesh
- In the era of Muslim rulers, which dance was very famous and was also called ‘Darbar Dance’- Kathak
- Jaipur Gharana, Lucknow Gharana, Varanasi Gharana are the three main gharanas of which dance style- Kathak
- Kathak Artists: Birju Maharaj, Shambhu Maharaj, Bajinath Prasad, Lachchu Maharaj, Sundar Prasad, Sitaradevi, Gauri Shankar Devi Lal, Shovanarayan Narayan, Puru Dadhich, Gopikrishna, Malvika Shajar, Hazari Agarwal, Visyagauri Adkar.
Also Read Indian National Movements 1985-1947 (Part-1)
Also read Indian National Movements 1985-1947 (Part-2)
Kuchipudi-
- Kuchipudi is a famous classical dance of the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. It is very famous throughout South India .
- Lakshminarayan Shastri is Creditedwith making Kuchipudi popular in modern times.
- There is a specialty of Kuchipudi dance, called ‘Targamam‘, in which the dance dances while standing on a brass plate.
Kuchipudi Artists-
Lakshmi Narayana Sastry, Swapna Sundari, Raja and Radha Reddy, Yamini Krishnamurthy, Yamini Reddy, Kaushalya Reddy, Bhavana Reddy, Indrani Rahman, Shobha Naidu, Manju Bhargavi, Arunima Kumar, Mithila Kumar, Dantmanjan, Satyam.
Mohinivattam dance-
- Mohiniyattam is a famous classical dance form from the South Indian state of Kerala.
- The word Mohiniyattam is derived from “Mohini”. According to Indian mythology, Mohini is a famous incarnation of the Hindu deity Lord Vishnu.
Previous Year Exam Questions (Mohiniyattam)-
- Mohiniyattam is a classical dance form of which state – Kerala
- Mohiniyattam is related to which Hindu god – Vishnu
- What color saree decorated with bright golden borders is worn by Mohiniyattam dancers – White / Light white.
- What is the main percussion instrument used in the performance of Mohiniyattam dance- Idakka
- Dr. Sunanda Nair became the first woman in India to obtain a master’s degree in Mohiniyattam.
Previous Year Exam Questions (Mohiniyattam)-
- Mohiniyattam Artists: Smita Rajan, Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma, Hemamalini, Bharathi Shivaji, Kanak Rele, Sunanda Nair, Kalamandalam Radhika, Rema Srikanth, Pallavi Krishnan, Line Avin Sivanilli, Kalamandalam Himayathi, Radha Dattapati, Radha Dattapati.
You may also like to read National Parks of India – Static GK
Odissi dance
- Odissi is a famous classical dance of the eastern state, Odisha.
- Odissi dance originated from the dance of the Devadasis, who used to dance in the Hindu temples of Odisha.
- Odissi Artists: Sanjukta Panigrahi, Sonal Mansingh, Jhelum Paranjape, Madhavi Mudgal, Kelucharan Mohapatra, Anita Babu, Arpita Venkatesh, Chitra Krishnamurthy, Sharmila Biswas, Madhavi Mudgal, Sharmila Mukherjee, Madhumita Raut , Priyamvada Mohanty.
Manipuri dance
- Manipuri dance is a famous classical dance of the northeastern state, Manipur.
- Manipuri classical dance performed in Lai Haroba festival.
- Manipuri Artists – Hanjaba Guru Bipin Singha, Guru Chandrakanta Singha – Narayanacharya, Guru Nilamadhab Mukherjee, Guru Haricharan Singh, Bibhoti Devi, Kalabati Devi, Guru Amali Singh, Ambat Singh, Jhaveri Behan, Rita Devi, Gopal Singh.
Sattriya dance
- This dance is a classical dance of Assam.
- The founder of this dance was the great saint Srimanta Sankardev.
- Which classical dance form was introduced by Mahapurusha Shankardeva in the 15th century as a powerful medium for propagating Vaishnava faith- Satriya
- Sattriya Artists- Sunil Kothari, Ranjumoni and Rinjumoni Saikia, Upasana Mahanta, Rekha Talukdar, Ruprani Das Bora, Anjana Moi Saykand Bobby Chakraborty, Moniram Dutta Mukhtiyar Barbikar, Barikeshwar Barikia, Anand Mohan Bhagwati, Guru Indira PP Bora, Late Pradeep Chaliha, Jatin Goswami.
Some Important questions related to above:
Who was the first female classical dancer of independent India to be nominated as a Rajya Sabha member?
Ans: Rukmini Devi Arundale
Important Point:
Rukmini Devi Arundale was a dance instructor of the Indian classical dance of Bharatanatyam.
Where is the National Institute of Indian Classical Dance located ?
Ans: New Delhi
In which region of India is the classical dance called ‘Satriya’ performed?
Ans: North East (Assam)
Who is known as the leading dance educationist and leading Mohiniyattam exponent?
Ans: Dr. Kanak Rele
Which is a divine dance?
Ans: Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh)
Which of the following dances is known as ‘Kathakali of the poor’?
Ans: Otantullan
Which of the following dances is related to the Devdasi tradition?
Ans: Mohiniyattam
Mask dance is related to which dance style?
Ans: Kathakali
Sonal Mansingh is related to which dance?
Ans: Bharatanatyam and Odissi dance
Shobhana Narayan is related to which classical dance style?
Ans: Kathak
Bimbavati Devi is famous for which type of dance?
Ans: Manipuri
Which classical dances of India is related to Islamic culture?
Ans: Kathak
Birju Maharaj is a famous artist of which field?
Ans: Kathak dance
How many classical dances are there in India?
Ans: 8
Who is invented and perfected India’s classical dance form Sattriya?
Ans: Srimanta Shankardevi
National Organizations and their headquarters
Which classical dance is in its present form is influenced by the Mughal tradition?
Ans: Kathak
Where is Kathak dance style?
Ans: North India
Jhaveri sisters (Darshana, Nayana, Ranjana, and Suvarna) are related to which genre of classical dance?
Ans: Manipuri
Padma Subramaniam is related to which classical dance style?
Ans: Bharatanatyam
Damayanti Joshi is related to which classical dance?
Ans: Kathak
Priyamvada Mohanty is related to which classical genre?
Ans: Odissi
Sitara Devi is related to which classical dance?
Ans: Kathak dance
