Indian Classical Dances Notes for UPSC

Indian classical dance is a rich tradition that tells stories of gods, heroes and daily life through movement, music and expression. The Sangeet Natak Akademi recognises eight classical dance forms: Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Manipuri and Sattriya. For UPSC, this topic is a regular source of Prelims questions (state, features, instruments, famous artists) and is useful in Mains for questions on cultural heritage. This note explains each dance in simple words along with easy tables and tricks.

The Base of Indian Dance: Natya Shastra

All classical dances follow the principles of the Natya Shastra, an ancient Sanskrit text on drama, dance and music attributed to Bharata Muni (dated roughly between 200 BCE and 200 CE). It describes three parts of performance: Nritta (pure dance with rhythm and no meaning), Nritya (expressive dance with gestures and facial expressions) and Natya (dance-drama). The text lists four kinds of abhinaya (expression): angika (body movements), vachika (speech and song), aharya (costume and make-up) and sattvika (inner emotion). It also describes the nine rasas or moods: Shringara (love), Hasya (humour), Karuna (compassion), Raudra (anger), Veera (courage), Bhayanaka (fear), Bibhatsa (disgust), Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace). Another important text is the Abhinaya Darpana by Nandikeshvara, which explains hand gestures (mudras).

Bharatanatyam (Tamil Nadu)

Bharatanatyam is the oldest and most popular classical dance of South India. It began in temples, where it was performed by devadasis and was earlier known as Sadir. In the 20th century, Rukmini Devi Arundale revived it and set up the Kalakshetra in Chennai. Its features include a half-sitting posture (araimandi), sharp footwork (adavus), expressive eyes and hand gestures, and a performance order called the margam. It is usually a solo dance performed to Carnatic music. The Tanjore Quartet of four brothers organised the modern repertoire in the 19th century.

Kathak (North India)

The name comes from katha (story), and its performers were the kathakars, storytellers in temples. Under the Mughal rulers it moved to the court and absorbed Persian influence. Its special features are fast footwork (tatkar), rapid spins (chakkars), the use of ankle bells (ghungroo) and an upright posture with no bent knees. The main schools (gharanas) are Jaipur, Lucknow (made famous by the Nawab Wajid Ali Shah), Banaras and Raigarh. Pandit Birju Maharaj was a legendary Kathak master. It is performed to Hindustani music.

Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh)

Named after the village Kuchipudi in Andhra Pradesh, this dance-drama tradition was shaped by Siddhendra Yogi in the 15th century. It was earlier performed by male Brahmin troupes, but women also perform it now. It combines fast, graceful steps with dramatic acting. A famous item is the Tarangam, in which the dancer balances on the rim of a brass plate while dancing, and the Bhamakalapam is an important dance-drama. Its music is Carnatic.

Odissi (Odisha)

Odissi is the dance of Odisha, and its oldest evidence can be seen in the caves of Udayagiri and Khandagiri and in the sculptures of the Konark temple. It was traditionally performed by Maharis (temple dancers) and by boys called Gotipuas. Its features are the tribhanga posture (bent in three places: head, torso and hips), the chowk (square) stance and graceful, flowing movements. It often depicts the poems of Gita Govinda by Jayadeva about Radha and Krishna. Famous exponents include Kelucharan Mohapatra and Sanjukta Panigrahi.

Kathakali (Kerala)

Kathakali means "story-play". It is a dance-drama known for its colourful make-up, heavy costumes and large headgear. The dancers do not speak: they tell the story using mudras (hand gestures) and facial expressions, while singers narrate and the drums (chenda and maddalam) keep the rhythm. The face colours show characters: green (pacha) for noble heroes, red for villains with a mixed nature and black for evil or forest beings. Its themes come from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas. Poet Vallathol founded the Kerala Kalamandalam in 1930 to preserve it. Related Kerala traditions are Kutiyattam, a Sanskrit theatre form recognised by UNESCO (2001), and Krishnanattam.

Mohiniyattam (Kerala)

This is the "dance of the enchantress" (Mohini is Vishnu's female avatar). It is a solo dance performed by women with soft, swaying, graceful movements in the lasya style, wearing a white and gold kasavu sari. It was promoted by the Travancore king Swathi Thirunal. The music is in the Sopana style of Kerala.

Manipuri (Manipur)

Manipuri is closely linked with the Vaishnava religion and the Raslila of Radha and Krishna. Its movements are soft, gentle and flowing, with the dancers moving in a smooth, circular manner, and the costume includes a barrel-shaped skirt called kumil. The Pung Cholom (drum dance) and the Lai Haraoba festival are part of the Manipuri tradition. Rabindranath Tagore introduced Manipuri dance at Shantiniketan.

Sattriya (Assam)

Sattriya was created by the saint-reformer Shankaradeva in the 15th century and was performed in the Vaishnava monasteries called sattras of Assam. It was recognised as a classical dance by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2000. It is performed along with borgeets (devotional songs) and the Ankiya Bhaona (one-act plays), with the khol drum as the main instrument.

Quick Table of Classical Dances

Important Folk Dances

• Garba and Dandiya: Gujarat. Bhangra and Giddha: Punjab. Ghoomar: Rajasthan.
• Lavani: Maharashtra. Yakshagana: Karnataka. Bihu: Assam.
• Karakattam: Tamil Nadu. Theyyam: Kerala. Chhau: Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal (a mask dance with martial moves, listed by UNESCO in 2010).

Hand Gestures, Costume and Music in Classical Dances

Every classical dance uses a language of gestures. The hastas or mudras are hand positions: Asamyukta hastas use one hand and Samyukta hastas use both hands. Beside gestures, the dancer uses eye movements (drishti), neck movements and feet positions to convey meaning. Costumes differ by region: the pleated silk sari of Bharatanatyam, the long flowing skirt of Kathak, the kasavu sari of Mohiniyattam and the colourful crown and skirts of Kathakali. In music, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali and Mohiniyattam follow Carnatic music or local styles, while Kathak and Odissi use Hindustani or related traditions. Instruments like the mridangam, tabla, flute, violin, veena, khol and chenda support the dancer.

Famous Dancers and Their Dances

• Bharatanatyam: Rukmini Devi Arundale, Balasaraswati, Yamini Krishnamurthy and Padma Subrahmanyam.
• Kathak: Birju Maharaj, Sitara Devi, Kumudini Lakhia and Shovana Narayan.
• Odissi: Kelucharan Mohapatra, Sanjukta Panigrahi and Sonal Mansingh.
• Kuchipudi: Vempati Chinna Satyam, Raja and Radha Reddy and Yamini Krishnamurthy.
• Kathakali: Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair and Guru Gopinath.
• Manipuri: Guru Bipin Singh and the Jhaveri sisters.

How to Study This Topic

1. Make a table of dance, state, origin, key feature, music type and a famous artist.
2. Watch a short clip or picture of each form to remember the costume and posture.
3. Connect with Bhakti and temples to understand why most forms have religious roots.
4. Practise PYQs where a feature is given and you must identify the dance.

Mains Angle: Role of Dance in Preserving Heritage

You can write that classical dances preserve myths, music, literature and philosophy and keep regional identity alive. They bring together religion and art (temples), show the exchange of ideas (Persian influence on Kathak) and have helped to empower women through education in the arts. Institutions like the Sangeet Natak Akademi, Kalakshetra, Kerala Kalamandalam and the Ministry of Culture's schemes support them. Challenges include loss of patrons, commercialisation and the shortage of gurus, which can be met through scholarships and digital archives.

Practice Statements and Common Mistakes

• "Kathakali is a classical dance of Karnataka." Wrong. It belongs to Kerala.
• "Sattriya was recognised as a classical dance in 2000." Correct.
• "The Tarangam is part of Kuchipudi." Correct.
• Do not confuse Kathak (North India) with Kathakali (Kerala), or Mohiniyattam with Kuchipudi.

Quick Revision

• Eight classical dances: Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Manipuri, Sattriya.
• Natya Shastra by Bharata Muni; nine rasas; Nritta, Nritya and Natya.

Classical dances are a window into India's soul. Prepare a table of dance, state and feature, revise key personalities and practise a few Mains lines on heritage protection, and this topic will give you easy marks.

Related Notes to Read Next

Continue your preparation with these related notes from the same subject:

• Indian Paintings Notes for UPSC
• Buddhist Architecture Notes for UPSC
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India Notes for UPSC
• All Indian Art and Culture notes

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many classical dances are recognised in India?

The Sangeet Natak Akademi recognises eight classical dances: Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Manipuri and Sattriya.

Which is the oldest classical dance form of India?

Bharatanatyam of Tamil Nadu is generally considered the oldest classical dance, with roots in the Natya Shastra and temple traditions.

What is the Natya Shastra?

The Natya Shastra is an ancient Sanskrit treatise on dance, drama and music attributed to Bharata Muni. It is the base of all Indian classical performing arts.

What are the nine rasas?

The nine rasas are Shringara, Hasya, Karuna, Raudra, Veera, Bhayanaka, Bibhatsa, Adbhuta and Shanta, representing love, humour, compassion, anger, courage, fear, disgust, wonder and peace.

Which dance is performed in the tribhanga posture?

Odissi, the classical dance of Odisha, is known for the tribhanga posture in which the body is bent at the head, torso and hips.

What is special about Kathakali?

Kathakali is a dance-drama from Kerala known for its colourful make-up, large costumes, mudras and facial expressions. The performers do not speak, and singers narrate the story.

Which dance is performed by women only?

Mohiniyattam of Kerala is traditionally a solo dance performed by women in the lasya style, with soft and graceful movements.

Which classical dance is associated with Assam?

Sattriya, created by the saint Shankaradeva in the 15th century, is the classical dance of Assam. It was recognised as a classical dance in 2000.

What are the gharanas of Kathak?

The main Kathak gharanas are Jaipur, Lucknow, Banaras and Raigarh, each with its own style of footwork, expression and rhythm.

What is Tarangam in Kuchipudi?

Tarangam is a Kuchipudi item in which the dancer dances on the rim of a brass plate while balancing a pot of water on the head.

Who revived Bharatanatyam in the 20th century?

Rukmini Devi Arundale revived Bharatanatyam and founded the Kalakshetra in Chennai in 1936.

Is Chhau a classical dance?

Chhau is a traditional mask and martial dance of eastern India. It is on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage (2010), but is not among the eight dances recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi.