Dance Forms in India | General Test Preparation for CUET - CUET Commerce PDF Download

Introduction 

Classical Dance in India

The classical dance form originated from the Natya Shastra. There are 8 classical dance forms in India as per the source and scholar. The Cultural Ministry of India has included Chhau into the list of classical dances that makes a total of 9 classical dance forms. The 8 basic technicalities that are expressed in the classical dance are given below:

• Shringar: Love
• Hasya: Humorous
• Karuna: Sorrow
• Raudra: Anger
• Veer: Heroism
• Bhayanak: Fear
• Bibhats: Disgust
• Adbhoot: Wonder

The list of classical dances in India is given below:

Classical Dances of India – What do you need to know?

• Bharatanatyam is based on performance and aesthetic ideas outlined in classics such as Bharata’s Natyashastra. It offers a large collection of songs in Telugu, Tamil, and Sanskrit. The topics include a wide variety of human and heavenly love, and are commonly classified as shringara (romantic love) and Bhakti (devotion). Bharatanatyam music is part of the Carnatic system of music from southern India.
• Kathak is the main dance of northern India, and it is still extensively practised in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, and even regions of western and eastern India. It is said to be related to the storytelling art of Kathakaras, or storytellers, who have for centuries taught the scriptures, the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, and puranic literature to the general people.
  
• Kuchipudi, one of India’s primary dance genres, originated in Andhra Pradesh, where it evolved significantly as a result of the Bhakti movement that began in the 7th century AD. Nritta, Nritya, and Natya’s Kuchipudi is a dance-drama. The Nritta is made up of teermanams and jatis, the Nritya is made up of Sabdams, and the Natya is made up of acting with Mudras for the songs.
  
• Odissi dance originated in Orissa, India’s easternmost state, where it was first performed as part of temple duty by’maharis,’ or female temple employees. The traditional dance was reshaped as a theatre art in the mid-twentieth century, drawing on not just existing dance art but also representations of dance in Orissa’s mediaeval sculpture, painting, and literature. 
  
• Kathakali, is a traditional dance-drama from Kerala, India, that started in the 17th century. It was developed with the support of local rulers like the Zamorin of Calicut and the kings of Travancore. Performed in Malayalam, it tells stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata through elaborate costumes, expressive gestures, and energetic movements. This art form has been passed down for over 300 years, keeping its rich tradition alive.
  
• Sattriya dance refers to the body of dance and danced theatre produced in Assam’s sattras or monasteries during the sixteenth century, when the Vaishnava faith spread over the nation thanks to the saint and reformer Shankaradeva (1449-1586). It is a separate genre within classical Indian dance, with an advanced vocabulary of hand gesture (hasta), footwork (pada karma), movement and emotion (Nritta and Abhinaya), and a repertory based on Krishna devotion.
  
• Manipuri dance emerged in Manipur in north-eastern India, and is rooted in the Vaishnava beliefs of the Meiteis, or Manipur valley people. Manipur’s dance is divided into two sections: jagoi and cholom, which match to the lasya and tandava parts mentioned in Sanskrit literature. These are distinct streams, and an artist can spend a lifetime honing any form within the spectrum.
  
• Mohiniattam originated in Kerala in southern India, and is named after the mythical enchantress Mohini. It is dance of feminine grace, and has grown out of performances connected with Kerala’s temples. Mohiniattam employs rhythms unique to Kerala: the rhythmic syllables utilised are those of the Maddalam, a drum used to accompany female characters in Kathakali theatre. The Edakka is the main percussion instrument in the performance.

Did You Know? Bharatanatyam, one of India’s oldest dance forms, was originally performed by Devadasis (temple dancers) and was nearly lost during colonial rule before being revived in the 20th century.

Folk Dances in India

• Folk dances in India represent the culture and tradition of the community from where it originated.
• Folk dances are usually performed during the respective community’s celebration- childbirth, festivals, weddings, etc.
• There are different types of Folk dances in India.

The list of Folk Dances in India is given below:

Did You Know? Bhangra, a popular folk dance from Punjab, was originally a harvest celebration but has now become a global symbol of Punjabi culture.

Conclusion

Indian dance forms are more than just performances; they connect the past with the present and the divine with the human. Classical dances preserve India's ancient artistic and philosophical heritage, while folk dances celebrate everyday life and traditions. Together, they reflect India's unity in diversity, showing how rhythm and movement go beyond language and region. As these traditions continue to evolve, they remind us of India's timeless grace and joy in expressing culture through dance.