Classical Dance Of India

• The earliest mention of Dance is found in “Rig- Veda” where dance is referred to as “Nrti”.
• In traditional Indian culture, the function of dance was to give symbolic expression to
religious ideas. The figure of lord ‘ Shiva’ as “NATRAJA” which represents the creation and
destruction of the cosmic life, also represents the importance of dance in Indian Hindu
religion and Indian culture (Hindu culture).
• Ancient encyclopaedic treatise on the arts which highly influenced dance, music, and literary
traditions in India is the Natya Shastra. It is a voluminous treaties based on 36 chapters and
6,000 verses. It was written by “ Bharat- Muni” in 200 BCE. Bharat- Muni is also known as
Father of “Bharatanatyam”.

• Dance has 2 basic aspects.

Dance

Tandava Lasya
(Movement & rhythm) (Grace , bhava & rasa)
• The Three main components of Indian classical Dance.

Indian Classical Dance

Natya Nritta Nritya
Dramatic elements Pure dance Sentiments & Mood

Abhinay
• Sangeet Natak Akademi ( The National Academy Of Music, Dance & Drama) national level academy for
performing arts set up by Government Of India .
• Sangeet Natak Akademi recognise only eight (8) major Indian Classical Dance.
1. Bharatanatyam
2. Kathak
3. Kuchipudi
4. Kathakali
5. Manipuri
6. Odissi
7. Mohiniyattam
8. Sattriya
 1. Bharatanatayam ( Tamil Nadu) :
▪ Oldest form since 5,000 years started as rituals in temples.
▪ Solo dance form which is generally performed by women
▪ The women wear a typical sari & men with bare chest, wear a
dhoti like outfit.
▪ Knees are always bent, the transitional movement of leg, hip, &
arm. Expressive eye movements & hand gestures are used to
convey emotions.
▪ The dancer is accompanied with an orchestra of vocalist &
players of musical instruments.
▪ In its usual form the dance is generally broken into 7 main parts:-
o Alarippu
o Jati Swarna
o Shabda
o Varna
o Pada
o Thillana
o Sloka

Famous personalities of Bharatanatayam

➢ E.Krishna Iyer, Rukmini Devi Arundale had played a significant role in
helping the dance to regain its lost popularity & position.
➢ Rukmini Devi she has been awarded with Padma Bhushan in 1956 &
Sangeet Natak Akademi fellowship in 1967.
➢ Padma Subrahmanyam awarded for Padma Shri in 1981 & Padma
Bhushan in 2003.
 Bharatanatayam

2. Kathak ( North India)

▪ Origin of Kathak is traditionally attributed to the travelling bards
of ancient northern India known as kathakars or story tellers.
▪ Kathakars communicated stories from great epics& ancient
mythology through dance, songs& music.
▪ It has been evolved during Bhakti movement, incorporating the
childhood & stories of Hindu God Krishna.
▪ Kathak is unique in both Hindu & Muslim Gharanas & cultural
elements.
▪ Kathak performances include Urdu Ghazals & commonly use
instruments brought during Mughal period.

Kathak ( Gharanas)

Jaipur (Gharana) Banaras (Gharana) Lucknow (Gharana)

Focus more on foot work movements Focus more on facial expression & Graceful hand movements.

• It was primarily a temple or village performance where the

dancers narrated stories from ancient scriptures, with Islamic
impact it transformed to fit Royal Court entertainment.
• Usually a solo performance, the dancers often pauses to recite
verses followed by their execution through movements.
 • The focus is more on foot work; the movements are skillfully
controlled & performed straight – legged by dancers wearing
ankle – bells.

Famous Personalities Of Kathak

• Lady leela Sokhey (Menaka) revived the classical style.
• Birju Maharaj, Sitara Devi, Shambu Mahraj , Baijnath prasad
(Lacchu Maharaj).
• Birju Maharaj : Padma Bhushan in the year 1986.
• Shovana Narayan : served as Indian Audit & Account Service &
recipient of Padma Shri in the year 1992.

Kathak
3 .Kathakali ( Kerala) :
▪ A dance – drama based on religious scriptures.
▪ Heavy make- up & stunning costumes ( elaborates Masks, huge skirt& big
head – dresses).
▪ The dancers enact the roles ( Kings, God, Demons) stories with particular
Make up & costume, the vocalists narrate the legend & the percussionists
play ( the musical instruments).
▪ Different facial colours indicate different Mental stages & Character , e.g
green – nobility, black- wicked, red patches - combining royalty & evil.
The lips , eyelashes, eye brows are made to look prominent.
▪ Hand gestures , facial expressions & eye movements are important.
▪ Weight of the body is on outer edges of the feet which are slightly bent &
curved

Famous Personalities of Kathakali

▪ Ramankutty Nair & Kalamandalam Gopi were the prominent artists.
▪ Mrinalini Sarabhai : Padma Shri in 1965 & Padma Bhushan in 1992.
 Kathakali
4.KuchiPudi (Andhra Pradesh)
▪ In 17th century founded by Siddhendra Yogi
▪ Initially meant to be performed at temples by men but later women were
also allowed & totally women even play the male part.
 ▪ It is performed as a dance drama i.e., performance in groups & also as
solo items
▪ Costumes, Ornaments & jewellery occupy an important place.
▪ The solo items are Manduka Shabdam ( story of frog maiden), Bal Gopala
Taranga (dance on the edges of brass plate with a pitcher full of water on
head), Tala Chitra Nritya ( drawing pictures with dancing toes)

Famous personalities Of Kuchipudi:

• Yamini Krishnamurthy : recipient of Padma Shri in 1968, Padma
Bhushan 2001& Padma Vibhushan 2016.
• Guru Vemapati Chinna Satyam : Padma Bhushan in 1998.
• Raja & Radha Reddy : Padma Shri in 1984.

Kuchipudi
5. Manipuri / Jagoi ( Manipur) :
▪ Associated to Vaishnava cult of Hinduism.
 ▪ Manipuri emphasise Bhakti & Devotion .Its a dance, drama of Radha –
Krishna called as Rasleela.
▪ Slow & gracious movements & gentle foot work.
▪ Limited use of Mudras .Mukh bhinaya or facial Expression , are not
exaggerated while Sarvanga bhinaya or use of the whole body is its forte.
▪ Costumes are typically gorgeous & there is no ankle bells.
▪ Congregational form of singing accompanies dance.
▪ Guru Bipin Singh known as Father of Manipuri dance also crated
“Govindji Nartanalay” dance school for women.
▪ Famous Personalities Of Manipuri:
➢ Guru Chandra Kanta Singha & Bibhaboti Devi are the renowned
performers.
➢ Jahveri Sisters.

Manipuri
6. Mohiniyattam ( Kerala):
 ▪ Mohiniyattam or dance of Mohini ( an incarnation of Lord Vishnu).
▪ Mostly a solo performance by girls with circular movements delicate
footsteps & subtle expression.
▪ The theme revolves around love & devotion to God.
▪ It has elements of Bharatanatyam ( grace & elegance) & Kathakali (
vigour) but is more erotic, lyrical, & delicate.
▪ Realistic make up & simple dressing ( in Kasauv saree of Kerala).
▪ The lyrics are in Mani pravala ( a medieval south Indian language
combining Tamil- Malayalam & Sanskrit).
➢ Famous Personalities of Mohiniyattam:
➢ Kalamandalam kalyanikutty Amma: Kerala Sangeet Academy &
Kendra Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards. Honoured with Kalidas
Samman in 1997- 1998.
➢ Sunanda Nair & Pallavi Krishna e notable artists.

Mohiniyattam
7. Odissi (Odisha):
▪ The major subjects of performance are lore’s of incarnations of Lord
Vishnu & verses of Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda.
▪ A Soft dance backed by soothing lyrics & is similar to Bharatanatyam in
terms of Mudras & expression.
▪ Termed as “ Mobile Sculpture” & in corporates 2 major postures –
Tribhanga( the body is deflected at the neck , Torso , knees) & Chowk (a
position imitating a Square).
• Famous Personalities Of Odissi :
➢ Sonal ManSingh : Awarded as Padma Bhushan in 1992, Sangeet
Natak Akademi Award in 1987, Padma Vibhushan in 2003.
• Nominated by President of India to become a member of
Parliament of Rajya Sabha.
• P.M Narendhra Modi nominated her as ( Navaratna’s of swatch
Bharat Abhiyan
• Kelucharan Mohapatra : Awarded as Sangeet Natak Akademi
Award in 1966.
. Padma Shri in 1974.
. Padma Bhushan in 1988. Padma & Vibhushan in 2000.

8. Sattriya ( Assam):
 ▪ The 15th century saint & reformer Sankaradeva introduced an
artistic medium & propagate Vaishnava faith.
▪ The Vaishnava Maths or Monasteries in Assam are called Sattras
thus the dance form came to be known as Sattriya Nrittay.
▪ These days it is performed on stage by men & women on themes
not merely Mythological.
▪ A performance is governed by laid down principles Hastmudras
(hand gesture), foot works( movements of feet), Aharyas ( make
up & costume ) etc.
➢ A performance accompanies musical composition called
Borgheets with the help of musical instruments Khol ( drums),
Taals( cymbals) , flute a vocalist & stringed instruments.
➢ Famous personalities Of Sattriya :
➢ Anita Sharma & Anwesa Mahanta are renowned performers.

sattirya
# Trick to remember the names of classical dance Form
Classical Dance States
Bharatanatyam Tamil Nadu
Kathak Uttar Pradesh
Kathakali Kerala
Kuchipudi Andhra Pradesh
Manipuri Manipur
Odissi Odisha
Mohiniyattam Kerala
Sattriya Assam

• Kali (kathakali) left Kerala to join her brother Bharat (

Bharatanatyam) in Tamil Nadu. They ate Pudi And (Andhra
Pradesh) went UP ( Uttar Pradesh) to see Kathak dance.

Thank You.