List of Classical Dance Forms of India

India is a land of diverse cultures. There are many types of festivals celebrated in completely different ways. Dance is a common way of celebrating festivals and performing religious activities. The classical dance forms, which are also known as the Shastriya Nritya, describe the beauty of Indian diversity. These dance forms belong to different parts of India. The central theme of all these classical dance forms of India is to express the deviation towards God.

Eight famous classical dance forms recognized by the Sangeet Natak Academy in India are: 

1. Bharatanatyam
2. Kuchipudi
3. Kathakali
4. Kathak
5. Odissi
6. Sattriya
7. Manipuri
8. Mohiniyattam. 

Classical Dance 

Classical dance is differentiated from other dance forms on the basis of precision of movement of the performer and the grace with which it is performed. A classical dance form is based on formal steps, gestures and different types of poses. There are many classical dance forms in India in which stories are narrated by the performers with the help of their dance movements.

Dance is a part of different occasions in India. There are many occasions where the people of this country are found to be performing classical dance. Most of the classical dances performed by Indian artists express their devotion to God. The more pleasant it is to watch a classical dance, the more difficult it is to learn that dance. Performers have to move their body parts in great coordination and with a high level of precision. There are many mudras, i.e., body postures and poses, which a performer has to learn. There are specific costumes which make each classical dance of India different and unique from the other. 

Types of Classical Dance forms of India

According to the Sangeet Natak Academy, there are a total of eight types of recognized classical dance forms. All these classical dances are different from each other, which come from different parts of the country. 

All the types of classical dance forms, along with their state of origin, are listed below:

Bharatanatyam 

Bharatanatyam is the classical dance form of Tamil Nadu. The origin of Bharatnatyam is to be found in Natya Sastra, which is the ancient Sanskrit book about performing arts in the Hindu religion. Bharatnatyam became famous in the post-British rule in independent India. It was originally performed as a temple dance.

In modern times, many dance schools have come up that train students in the Bharatanatyam dance form. The dance movements of Bharatanatyam are typically characterized by an erect body, legs slightly bent at knees and toes facing sideways. Feet are used to maintain the rhythm of the dance. Hands are used to show the symbolic gestures or mudras to depict a story.

Kuchipudi

Kuchipudi is the classical dance form of the state of Andhra Pradesh. It originated in the 17th century. In Kuchipudi dance, along with dancing skills, singing skills are also required. It is performed as a religious ritual. The dance is begun by sprinkling holy water. Traditionally, it was performed only by men, even in female roles. Later on, it came to be performed by women also.

Kathakali

Kathakali is the classical dance of Kerala in southwestern India. This form of dance originated in the 17th century which is a mixture of dance, drama, music and religious devotion. In Sanskrit, “Katha” means story and “Kali” means demon. Storytelling with the help of dance is the beauty of this classical dance form of South India. Makeup and costume play an important role in this form of dance. The green facial makeup represents a noble character.

Kathak

Kathak is the classical dance of Uttar Pradesh, which is in north India. Like Kathakali, it is a mixture of religious devotion and storytelling. This dance starts with a prayer to God and asks the guru to accept the offering of respect and seek blessings. Kathak received its popularity in the Mughal era as a court entertainment dance.

Odissi

As the name suggests, the origin of Odissi dance is from the state of Odisha. At the beginning, this form of dance used to be performed in temples, but later on it started to be performed over stages too. The central theme of Odissi dance is worship of Lord Jagannath.

Sattriya 

Sattriya, a famous classical dance of India, originated from Assam, an eastern state of India. Sattariya has many forms, such as Mati, Akhara, Jhumura, Gopi Prashad and Krishna Naritya. Sattriya was recognized as the classical dance of India in the year 2000 by the Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Manipuri 

Manipuri is one of the most beautiful forms of classical dance of India. The origin state of the dance is Manipur. Manipuri dance is based on Rasleela, in which Lord Krishna and Radha perform the dance. It is also a religious dance, which involves singing with dancing. This dance is mainly performed in wedding celebrations and religious festivals to spread the spiritual values of Hindu culture.  

Mohiniyattam

Like Kathakali, Mohiniyattam also belongs to the state of Kerala. The amazing footwork of the dancers in white and yellow costumes is a pleasure to watch. Devotion to God is the central theme of this dance form. 

Conclusion

Classical dances of India are famous in almost every part of India. Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Kathak, Odissi, Sattriya, Manipuri and Mohiniyattam are the eight recognized classical dance forms of India. 

People are found to be dancing at different festivals, religious functions and at wedding celebrations. Classical dance is an art of calmness and beauty, which gives the feeling of peace of mind.