List of Folk & Classical Dances of India – State Wise Collections | Download PDF

India is a land known for its rich culture of dance and music. What makes the Indian culture so unique is the diversity in all the spheres. The folk and classical dances of India originated years ago and are one of the admired identities of our culture.

In India, the traditional dance forms can be classified into 2: Classical and Folk dance. These dance forms originated from different parts of India in ancient times. They are graceful dances performed to express joy during festivals, weddings, and other auspicious occasions. Though the identity of the originators has been neglected, the style is protected to date.

List of Folk and Classical Dances Of India

All folk and classical dances have a specific rhythm and costume. Classical dance has a strong relationship with the Natya Shastra. Here, the specific features of each dance form have been mentioned. Folk dance has emerged from the local tradition of the respective state, and geographic regions of the ethnicity of the state.

There are 8 classical dances in India. On the other hand, each state has its own folk dance. In this article, we will cover the classical and folk dances of India in detail. If you are preparing for any exams like IAS, having knowledge about these various Indian dance forms can help you with the art and culture syllabus.

List of Classical Dances in India:

Classical dance form in India originated from the Natya Shastra. There are 8 classical dances originally. The Cultural Ministry of India included Chhau on the list to make it 9 classical dance forms.

The Indian classical dance forms have two main aspects: Tandava (Rhythm and Movement) and Lasya (Grace, Bhava, and Rasa). These then have three components:

• Natya (Dramatic element, i.e., imitation of characters)
• Nritta (Dance movements)
• Nritya (Expression, i.e., gestures and mudras)

All these classical dance forms express various emotions. They tell a story through the dance. The 8 basic expressions that are expressed in these classical dance forms along with what they are called are given below:

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

The classical dance forms are given below with a brief for you to understand the beauty and culture behind them. Go through them and strengthen your general knowledge.

1. Bharatnatyam (Tamil Nadu)

Bharatanatyam is regarded as the oldest form of dance and the mother of all other styles of traditional dances in India. The classical Indian dance Bharatanatyam started from the art of temple dancers in the land of Tamil Nadu. Bharatanatyam is a reworked form of dance from the traditional sadir and a combination of expression, music, beat, and dance. It is known to be Ekaharya, where a single danger takes on many roles in one performance. Bharatanatyam also called the fire dance is one of the most popular styles of dance performed by both female and male dancers.

2. Kathak (Uttar Pradesh)

Kathak was introduced in Uttar Pradesh. The word Kathak is derived from the word Katha which means story. This dance form tells a story through its performance. It was originally a dance performed by temple dancers or villagers to narrate stories from ancient scripts. During a solo performance, the dancer pauses to recite the verses and then executes them throughout the dance. This dance form focuses more on the footwork and is performed by dancers wearing ghungroos (ankle bells).

3. Kathakali (Kerala)

Kathakali originated in Kerala. It is directly influenced by Chakiarkoothu, Koodiyattam, Krishnattam, and Ramanathan. These are the ritual performing acts of Kerala. Kathakali is a beautiful blend of dance, music, and acting. Most of the stories are adapted from Indian epics. The dancers enact the roles of kings, demons, and Gods. They put on heavy makeup and costumes include elaborate face masks, big headdresses, and huge skirts. The focus is on hand gestures, eye movements, and facial expressions. Different facial colors are used to indicate different mental stages and characters.

• Green – Nobility
• Black – Wicked
• Red Patches – Evil and Combining Royalty

4. Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh)

This Classical dance form originated in Andhra Pradesh and got its name from the Kuchipudi district near the Bay of Bengal. Before the 17th century, the dance form was known under the generic name Yakshagaana. Kuchipudi is performed as a dance drama. It has both solo performances as well as group performances. Heavy ornaments, jewelry, and costume are used. The dancers are first introduced before the start of the performance.

5. Mohiniyattam (Kerala)

Mohiniyattam is a solo dance form of Kerala. It is A.K.A. the dance of Mohini (incarnation of Lord Vishnu). It is mostly performed by females following circular movements, subtle expressions, and delicate footsteps. The dance form has borrowed elements of Kathakali (Vigour) and Bharatanatyam (Elegance & Grace). But Mohiniyattam is more lyrical, delicate, and sensual. The costumes are simple and the make-up realistic.

6. Odissi (Odisha)

Odissi is a soft dance form with soothing lyrics. The mudras and expressions are similar to those of Bharatnatyam. The dance form incorporates two major postures: Tribhanga (Body deflected at neck, torso, and knees) and Chowk (Body imitating a square). It is the oldest surviving face form in India. There is an independent movement of the head, chest, and pelvis.

7. Sattriya (Assam)

Sattriya dance form was introduced in the 15th century. The classical dance form is administered by strict principles in respect of acharyas, hasta mudras, footwork, music, etc. This dance form is appreciated and performed widely even outside the state. It has evolved and expanded as a distinctive style of dance after its origin. Because of its association with the Sattras (Monastries or Vaishnava Maths), this style is called Sattriya.

8. Manipuri (Manipur)

The dance form is associated with rituals and traditional festivals. They are legendary references to the dances of Shiva, Parvati, and other Gods and Goddesses who created the universe. Manipuri is the art of showcasing the merrymaking of Gods. And is performed as a ceremonial offering of dance and song. Priest and priestesses re-enact the theme of the creation of the universe. It has delicate body moves and the dancers do not wear ankle bells or ghungroos.

See Also, List of Prime Ministers in India

List of Folk Dances of India:

Folk dances are performed on occasions that are considered happy and auspicious. These dances are full of energy. Some forms are performed by the males and females separately and some are performed by them together. Each state has one or more folk dances associated with it. They have a specific costume, extensive jewelry, etc. They all hold great importance in the history of Indian art and culture. The table below mentions all the folk dances of India state-wise. The entire list of folk dances in India has been given below.

The above is a list of the important folk dances of India. The traditional dances of India have now combined and formed new art with contemporary style. Dancers now perform semi-classical, bolly-classical, and contemporary folk. With all this said and done, dancers must always uphold the dignity and purity of the original dance forms. They are to be respected and performed following the principles laid down even if mixed with other forms of dances.

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