CLASSICAL DANCE

FORMS IN INDIA
• Foundations of Indian classical dances are found in Natya
Shastra, the ancient Hindu text of performance arts
• Author = Bharata Muni

• The classical dance forms recognized by the Sangeet Natak

Akademi and the Ministry of Culture are -
 Bharatanatyam, from Tamil Nadu
 Kathak, from Uttar Pradesh and western India
 Kathakali, from Kerala
 Kuchipudi, from Andhra Pradesh
 Odissi, from Odisha
 Sattriya, from Assam
 Manipuri, from Manipur
 Mohiniyattam, from Kerala
Dance Form –
Bharat Natyam
 Traditionally,
Bharatanatyam has been
a solo dance performed
exclusively by women
 Mainly dedicated to Lord
Shiva
Prominent Dancers of Bharat Natyam
 Rukmini Devi Arundale
 T. Balasaraswati
 Sonal Mansingh
 Vaijayanthimala
 Padma Subramaniyam
 Malavika Sarukkai
 Yamini Krishnamurthy
 M. K. Saroja
Prominent Dancers of Bharat Natyam
 Vazhuvoor B. Ramiah Pillai
 Shanta Rao
 Indrani Rahman
 Kalanidhi Narayanan
 Adyar K. Lakshman
 Sucheta Bhide Chapekar
Dance Form – Kathakali
 Performed in open air, in
temples
 It is a "story play" genre of
art
 Similar to Japanese dance
forms „Noh‟ & „Kabuki‟
Prominent Dancers of Kathakali-
 Guru Kunchu Kurup
 Kalamandalam Gopi
 Kalamandalam Krishna Prasad
 Kottakkal Sivaraman
 Kanak Rele
 Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair
 Madambi Subramanian
* Kerala Kalamandalam is a deemed University of Art
and Culture by the Government of India
Dance Form – Mohiniyattam
 Performed only by women
 Mix of Bhratnatyam &
Kathakali
 Gets its name from the word
Mohini – a mythical
enchantress avatar of Lord
Vishnu
Prominent Dancers of Mohiniyattam-
 T. Chinnammu Amma
 Sunanda Nair
 Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma
 Kalamandalam Satyabhama
 Kalamandalam Kshemavathy
 Deepti Omchery Bhalla
 Bharati Shivaji (founder of Center for
Mohiniyattam)
 Kalamandalam Vimala Menon (founder of Kerala
Natya Academy, Thiruvanthapuram)
Dance Form – Kathak
Prominent Dancers of Kathak -
 Birju Maharaj (Brijmohan Nath Mishra)
 Shambhu Maharaj
 Baijnath Prasad "Lacchu Maharaj"
 Sitara Devi
 Damayanti Joshi
 Shovana Narayan
 Uma Sharma
 Maya Rao
 Shobha Koser
Dance Form – Kuchipudi
Prominent Dancers -
 Vedantam Satyanarayana Sarma
‘Satyam’
 Shobha Naidu
 Rangini Devi
 Deepika Reddy
 Raja and Radha Reddy
 Guru Smt. Vijaya Prasad
Dance Form – Odissi
Prominent Dancers -
 Guru Mayadhar Raut
 Pankaj Charan Das (known as
father of Odissi dance)
 Kelucharan Mohapatra
 Deba Prasad Das
 Minati Mishra
 Sujata Mohapatra
 Ratikant Mohapatra
Dance Form – Manipuri
 Also known as Jogai
 Portrays love and devotion of
Lord Krishna
Prominent Dancers -
 Maisnam Amubi Singh
 Jhaveri sisters
 Guru Bipin Singh
 Rita Devi
 L.N.Oinam Ongdi Doni Devi
 Dance Form – Sattriya
 Originated by
Shankaradev
 Dedicated to Lord
Vishnu

Prominent Dancers -
 Anwesa Mahanta  Ghanakanta Bora
 Ramkrishna Talukdar  Jatin Goswami
Dance Form – Chhaau
 It is a semi-classical
dance
 Stories enacted by
Chhau = Hindu
epics Ramayana and
Mahabharata and
the Puranas
 Three forms of Chhau –
 Purulia Chhau of Bengal
 Seraikella Chhau of Jharkhand
 Mayurbhanj Chhau of Odisha

 Chhau dance was inscribed in the UNESCO's

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
of Humanity

 The Sangeet Natak Akademi has established a National

Centre for Chhau Dance at Baripada, Odisha
Prominent Dancers of Chhau -
 Janmajay Saibabu
 Gopal Prasad Dubey
 Suddhendra Narayan Singh Deo
(Seraikella)
 Ananta Charan Sai (Mayurbhanj)
 Kedar Nath Sahoo (Seraikella)
 Gambhir Singh Mura (Purulia)
• Astad Deboo is a contemporary dancer who merged
Kathakali and Kathak with other dance forms

• Uday Shankar was known for creating a fusion style of

dance, adapting European theatrical techniques to
Indian classical dance

• Mrinalini Sarabhai was the founder and director of the

Darpana Academy of Performing Arts in Gujarat. She
was the wife of the Indian physicist Vikram Sarabhai
• Maya Rao was known for bringing Kathak to South
India, when she opened her dance school, Natya
Institute of Kathak and Choreography (NIKC) in
Malleswaram, Bangalore. She was also the founder
director of her dance company, "Natya and Stem
Dance Kampni”.

• Chandralekha Prabhudas Patel (niece of Vallabhbhai

Patel) was known for fusing Bharatanatyam with Yoga
and martial arts like Kalarippayattu
• Anita Ratnam is an Indian classical and contemporary
dancer known for creating a dance style which she
has coined "Neo Bharat Natyam“ by fusion of Bharat
Natyam, Kathakali, Mohiniattam, T'ai chi and
Kalarippayattu
FOLK DANCES IN
INDIA
• Kolattam (also called Kolanallu) – performed
with sticks

• Bardo Chham - denotes victory of good over

evil
• Popir (during Mopin festival)
• Bihu dance

• Ali Ai Ligang

• Bagurumba

• Jhumar
• Jat Jatin
• Bakho Bakhin
• Fagua - during holi
• Bidesia

Trick: BIDESI BHAKt has sal BIHAR me FAGUA

kelne JATE hain
• Panthi: performed on birth anniversary of
Guru Ghasidas

• Raut Nacha - Celebrated on 11th day after

Diwali

• Gaur Maria Dance

• Tarpa dance

• Bhawada dance

• Dhol dance
• Fugdi
• Koli
• Dekhini
• Dhangar – Performed by shepherd
community during Navratri

Trick –
Dhanush Kali Gufa Dekhne Goa gaya
• Garba

• Tippani Dance (prevalent in Saurashtra

Region)

• Dandia

• Bhavai
• Dhamal Dance
• Loor Dance
• Gugga Dance
• Manjira Dance
• Khoria

Trick: MA ne LORI suna kar DHAnush aur

Guddu KO sula diya
• Nati/Kinnauri Nati - listed in Guiness Book
of world records as largest folk dance

• Chham - Performed by Buddhist monks

• Rauf
• Dumhal
• Hafiza
• Hikkat

Trick: Usne apne KASHMIRI gf se bola “HAFIZA

mujhe chor ke mat jayo varna main RO
DUNGA”
• Karma/Munda

• Chhau

• Santhal
• Yakshagana (performed overnight)
• Dollu Kunitha
• Hatlari
• Bayalata

Trick: KARNA ne apne behen LATA k HATh me

YAK ka DOLL diya
• Theyyam
• Kaliyattam
• Pulikali
• Thullal
• Padayini
• Koodiyattam (Performed by chakyar community;
Kalamandalam Sivan Namboodiri was the first person
from outside chakyar community to practice
Koodiyattam)

Trick: KERALA KI YamINI KALI THI

• Lava Dance
• Kolkali dance
• Parichakali

• Matki Dance
• Jawara
• Lavni: performed using attire called Nauveri

• Tamasha

• Lezim
• Thang Ta (dance of martial art form Huyen
langlon)
• Nupa Pala
• Pung Cholam
• Khamba Thoibi
• Dhol cholam – performed during Holi

Trick: THE King KHAn is keePING a NEW

MANIPURI DHOL
• Laho
• Nongkrem

• Chang Lo or Sua Lua

• Zeliang
• Cheraw Dance (Bamboo dance)
• Khuallam
• Zangtalam
• Sarlamkai

Trick: CHERry, SARLA and ZANGo were playing

in a KHULa Maidan in MIZORAM
• Ghumura Dance
• Ruk Mar Nacha
• Chhau dance
• Baagh Naach or Tiger Dance

• Garadi
• Bhangra

• Giddha

• Gatka/Khatka

• Kikli
• Ghoomar
• Ganagor
• Jhulan
• Kalbelia (performed by snake community):
included in UNESCO intangible heritage
• Kachchhi Ghodi (includes puppetry)
• Kathputli dance
• Singhi Chham/Snow Lion

• Yak chham

• Mask dance
• Devarattam

• Karakattam
• Perini sivathandavam
• Gusadi
• Burrakatha
• Dappu
• Bhatakumma

Trick: BATUK Das apne Tauji ki BURAi sun ke

GUSse me TANDAV kiya
• Hojagiri

• Lebang boomani

• Garia dance

• Bizu dance
• Nautanki
• Naqqal
• Raas Leela
• Mayur Nritya
• Thora
• Kajri
• Langvir Nritya
• Barada Nati
• Bhotiya dance
• Shotiya
• Garwali

Trick: UTTARAKHAND ke Bade Sur VIR BHOOT

SHOOT se bhi nahi darte
• Jatra

• Kathi

• Alkap dance
Revision Questions
 Revision Questions
 Who is the author of Natya Shastra?
A. Bharata Muni
B. Shankar Dev
C. Guru Ghasi Das
D. Birju Maharaj
 Revision Questions
 Rukmini Devi Arundale was a notable dancer of
which classical form of dance?
A. Bharat Natyam
B. Kathakali
C. Odissi
D. Kuchipudi
 Revision Questions
 Kathak is a dance form practiced in which state
mainly?
A. Uttar Pradesh
B. Rajasthan
C. West Bengal
D. Punjab
 Revision Questions
 Zeliang is the dance form of which state?
A. Assam
B. Nagaland
C. Bihar
D. Mizoram
 Revision Questions
 Garwali is the dance form of which state?
 Uttarakhand
 UP
 Bihar
 Himachal Pradesh
 Revision Questions
 Hatlari is the dance form of which state?
A. Karnataka
B. Kerala
C. MP
D. Maharashtra
 Revision Questions
• Dekhini is the dance form of which state?
 Karnataka
 Kerala
 Goa
 Tamil Nadu
 Revision Questions
 Khuallam Dance is the dance form of which state?
A. Nagaland
B. Tripura
C. Mizoram
D. Meghalaya
 Revision Questions
 Laho is the dance form of which state?
A. Mizoram
B. Assam
C. Nagaland
D. Meghalaya
 Revision Questions
 Mohiniattam is the dance form of which state?
 Karnataka
 Andhra Pradesh
 Tamil Nadu
 Kerala
 Revision Questions
 Nati is the dance form of which state?
A. Uttarakhand
B. Punjab
C. Jammu & Kashmir
D. Himachal Pradesh
 Revision Questions
 Hikkat is the dance form of which state?
A. Himachal Pradesh
B. Uttarakhand
C. Dadra & Nagar Haveli
D. Jammu and Kashmir