Dance forms in India

Historical background of dance in India

Bharata Muni is known as the father of Indian performing arts. Natya Shastra is a famous work written by Bharata Muni. Natya Shastra was written between the 2nd century BC and the 2nd century AD. Abhinavagupta wrote a commentary on Natya Shastra called Abhinava Bharati. Shiva is the Indian god who is considered the source of dance. Nataraja is the dancing form of Shiva. Nataraja idols were first made during the Chola kings.

Classical dances

The Kendra Sangeet Natak Akademi grants classical status to dance forms in India. Currently, eight dance forms in India have classical status. The classical dance forms are Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam, Sattriya, Kathakali, and Kathak.

Bharatanatyam

Bharatanatyam is the main dance form based on Natyashastra. Bharatanatyam, which was known as Dasiyattam, originated in Tamil Nadu. Bharatanatyam is known as 'moving poetry'. Bharatanatyam is often described as the national dance form of India. The work Abhinaya Darpana is the basic text of Bharatanatyam. Rukmini Devi Arundel is one of the most important reformers of Bharatanatyam. Kalakshetra was founded by Rukmini Devi in ​​1936. Its headquarters is in Chennai. Yamini Krishnamurthy, Padmasubrahmanyam, and Mallika Sarabhai are prominent dancers in this field.

Odissi

Odissi is the main dance form of Odisha. Odissi is based on Jayadeva's Gita Govindam. The five parts of Odissi are Mangalacharan, Batu, Pallavi, Abhinaya and Moksha. Odissi dance ends with the part called Moksha. Temple sculptures in Odisha are in the Odissi dance style. Kelucharan Mohapatra, Sonal Mansingh, Indrani Rahman and Promita Bedi are among the prominent dancers in this field.

Kuchipudi

Kuchipudi dance originated in the village of Kuchipudi in Andhra Pradesh. Kuchipudi village is also known as Kuchelapuram. Siddhendra Yogi gave Kuchipudi its present form. Sobha Naidu, Raja Reddy, Radha Reddy, Kausalya Reddy, etc. are the prominent dancers in this field.

Manipuri

Manipuri dance originates from Manipur. The main theme of Manipuri dance is the Rasleela of Krishna. Guru Bipin Singh, Guru Nileshwar Mukherjee, Guru Chandrakanta Singha, Tamanna Rahman, etc. are prominent dancers in this field.

Mohiniyattam

Mohiniyattam is a dance form of Kerala. Mohiniyattam is a dance that emphasizes more on eroticism. Swathi Thirunal is the king who played a major role in the revival of Mohiniyattam. Kalamandalam Kshemavathy, Vineetha Nedungadi, Sunanda Nair, Pallavikrishnan and others are prominent in this field.

Sattriya

Sattriya is a classical dance form of Assam. It was a dance form performed in connection with satras. The Vaishnava ascetic Shankaradeva gave Satriya dance its present form. Anita Sharma, Gahan Chandra Goswami, Ananda Mohan Bhagawati, etc. are prominent in this field.

Kathakali

Kathakali is the unique art of Kerala. The original form of Kathakali was Ramanattam. Ramanattam was formed as Kathakali during the time of Kottayam Thampuran. Attakatha is the literary form of Kathakali. The roles in Kathakali are divided into five categories: Pacha, Kaththi, Kari, Thadi and Minukku. Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair, Kalamandalam Raman Kutty Nair, Kalamandalam Gopi, Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair etc. are prominent in this field.

Kathak

Kathak is the only classical dance form of North India. Kathak originated in Uttar Pradesh. Kathak is the only classical dance form that incorporates elements of Hindu and Muslim cultures. Kathak dancers perform stories of Lord Krishna. Birju Maharaj, Sitara Devi, Kumudini Lakhia, Shovana Narayan, etc. are prominent in this field.

 Dance forms  of Indian states

■ Kerala - Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Ottanthullal

■ Andhra Pradesh - Kuchipudi, Kottam

■ Assam - Bihu, Sattriya, Ojapali, Bajawali

■ Arunachal Pradesh - Aji Lhamu, Buiya, Ponung, Popir, Bardo Chham, Chalo dance

■ Maharashtra - Tamasha, Dahikala, Lezim

■ Punjab - Bhangra, Giddha

■ Odisha - Odisha, Gotipua, Bahakawada, Dalkhai, Chhau

■ Gujarat - Garba, Dandiya Raas, Bhavai, Rasleela, Tippani

■ Tamil Nadu - Bharatanatyam, Kummi, Karagattam, Mayilattam, Kolattam, Therukuth

■ Bihar - Jat-Jatin, Bidesia

■ Karnataka - Yakshaganam, Bayalattam 

■ Rajasthan - Kalbeliya, Khayal, Ghoomar, Bhavai, Kachhi Ghodi, Terah Taali, Chari

■ Jharkhand - Karma, Chhau, Jhumar, Paika, Domkach & Kadsa

■ Mizoram - Cheraw (Bamboo Dance)

■ Manipur - Pung Cholam, Dhol Cholam, Manipuri Raas Leela, Maibi Dance, Thougal Jagoi / Jagoi Ashangbi

■ West Bengal - Purulia Chhau, Gambhira, Baul, Santhali, Alkap, Dhunuchi Naach

■ Uttar Pradesh - Kathak, Nautanki, Raslila, Chhapeli, Kajri, Charkula

■ Madhya Pradesh - Rai, Matki, Bhagoria, Karma, Tertali, Grida

■ Meghalaya - Wangala Dance, Shad Suk Mynsiem, Shad Nongkrem, Laho Dance, Shad Mastieh 

■ Himachal Pradesh - Nati, Kayanga, Chhapeli, Thoda, Jhora

■ Haryana - Phag, Saang, Khoria, Dhamal, Daph, Loor, Jhumar, Ghoomar, Gugga

■ Uttarakhand - Chholiya, Pandav Nritya, Ramman, Jhora, Chhapeli

■ Chhattisgarh - Pandavani, Panthi, Karma, Suwa (Parrot) Dance, Saila, Gendi

■ Goa - Fugdi, Dhalo, Dekhni, Kunbi, Ghodemodni, Goff, Dhangar

■ Nagaland - War Dance, Chang Lo, Aaluyattu, Zeliang

■ Sikkim - Singhi Chham (Lion Dance), Tamang Selo, Chu-Faat, Maruni, Kagyed

■ Telangana - Perini Shivatandavam, Lambadi Dance, Gussadi Dance, Dappu Dance, Oggu Katha

■ Tripura - Hojagiri, Garia, Lebang Boomani, Bizhu, Mamita

Dance forms  of Indian Union Territories 

■ Andaman and Nicobar Islands - Nicobarese Dance

■ Chandigarh - Bhangra, Giddha

■ Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu - Tarpa Dance, Bhawada (mask dance), Dhol Dance

■ Delhi - Dandiya, Bhangra

■ Jammu and Kashmir - Rouf, Kud, Dumhal, Bacha Nagma, Hikat, Hafiza, Dandamansh

■ Ladakh - Spao, Jabro, Shondol

■ Lakshadweep - Kolkali, Parichakali, Lava

■ Puducherry - Garadi