Indian Dance Forms

Two types:
1. Classical Dance Forms: have particular steps that needs to be performed in
CLASSICAL DANCE particular events (mostly performed in temples)

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2. Folk Dance Forms: no particular steps defined, they are performed in particular
rituals

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Classical Dance For exam purpose
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↑
Total: 8 -> recognised by Sangeet Natak Academy
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Somewhere mentioned as 9 -> By Ministry of Culture
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8 + Chhau Nritta: pure dance
Nritya: expressive dance (pure dance +
Origin -> Natya Shastra written by Bharat Muni
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expression)
↓
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It is called as 5th Veda
Bharatnatyam also known as:
Abhinaya Darpan -> Dances madras, movements, expressions
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Dasiattam and Sadir attam

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Written by Nandikeshvara
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Symbolises Fire Origin
Classical dance of Tamil Nadu
1. Bharatnatyam Earlier, was performed by Devadasis in
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Made from three words: Bhav, Raag and Taal temples Last Devadasi: Shrimati Muthukannammal
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It is the oldest classical dance of India
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Performed solo (single person)-> Known as
“Ekaharya”
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Old names of Bharatnatyam: Sadir, Thevarattam,
Parathaiyat,dr Attam
↑
E Krishna Iyer and Rukmini Devi Arundale->Pushed
for name Bharatnatyam
↑
Forms of dance: Revived by E. Krishna Iyer
1. Shaivite (majorly) - Shiva (Masculine)
In 1910, was banned by Britishers
2. Vaishnavite -> Vishnu (Feminine) - Found in Natya Shastra

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Description in -> Silappathikaram
Silappathikaram
(by: Ilango Adigal) -
Associated with Kalakshetra style
↓ ↓
by
Love story between
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Manimegalai
Kovalan and Kannagi and Madhavi
Composed during 2nd Sangam Manimekalai (story of daughter of Kovalan and Madhavi)
 Music
Father: Purandar Das
Tamil text composed during 2nd

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Exponents of Bharatnatyam Movements/style
Stages of dance:
& Hindustani Carnatic
sangam: Tolkappiyam
↑
Alarippu Kathak Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Mohini, Kathakali
Performed in Carnatic music
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Jatiswaram
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Shabdam Queen: M. S Subbulakshmi (Bharat Ratna:
↑ Varnam 1998; Ramon Magsaysay Award: 1974)

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Padam
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Tillana
&
Mangalam Symbolises Earth

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Carnatic music Yakshagana was
Padma Bhushan 1956 - performed here in earlier
1st women to be nominated in 2. Kuchipudi times
Pandanallur style
Rajya Sabha
Founder of Kalakshetra
Kaiakshetra Dance Classical Dance of Andhra Pradesh (Krishna District)

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Bharatnatyam
School
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Odissi Known as Bhagavata Mela Dance in Tanjore, Tamil Nadu
Alarmel Velli
Rukmini Devi Arandale Created Bharat
Leading figure Nrityam
in Bharatnatyam
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Modern form: Tirtha Narayanayati
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Padma Subramanyam
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Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai -
Also, Kuchipudi Disciple: Sidhyendra Yogi (Vaishnavite)
Mirnalini Sarabhai, Mallika Sarabhai Developed dance drama
Bala Saraswati Kathakali Exponents of Kuchipudi Bhama Kalapam (story of
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Yamini Krishnamurthi Kuchipudi Satyabhama, the charming
Leela Samson TRICK jealous wife of Lord Krishna)
Shanta Dhananjayan/VP Dhananjayan
Sonal Mansingh Odissi
Revived by: Balasaraswati and
Ragini Devi
Sonal Mansingh: youngest recipient of Padma Vibhushan
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Elements
Ganesha Vandana
Some other exponents: Some Brahman families perform this ancient

:
Exponents: Jatiswaram
Rama Vaidyanathan dance since ages Shabdam
Raja Reddy
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Meenakshi Chittaranjan Tanjore Nattuvanars (families) Kalapam
I Radha Reddy
Narthaki Nataraj Style: Padam
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Padmaja Reddy Tarangam (the dancer dances on a rim of a
Urmila Satyanarayanan Pandanallur I
Bhavana Reddy brass plate)
Vazhuvoor
Kalakshetra
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Yamini Reddy
Melattur
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Yamini Krishnamurthy -> Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee
Tanjore "
Mallika Sarabhai 3 Kuchipudi + Bharatnatyam
 Exponents of Kuchipudi
Exponents of Odissi
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Elements

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Mangalacharan
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Batu Nritya
Shagun Bhutani Pallavi
Vempata Chinna Satyam
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Gangadhar Pradhan I
Tharijham
Aparna Satisham Madhabi Mudgal
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Moksha
Lakshmi Narayan Shastri
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Vendantam Satyanarayan -> Padma Shri awardee Bijayni Satpathy
Swapna Sundari Sanjukta Panigrahi
Shobha Naidu Sudhakar Sahu
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Kuchipudi Sutapa Talukdar
Halim Khan
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Symbolises Water
4. Kathak
3. ·
Odissi
Oddissi -

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Classical dance of Uttar Pradesh
I Classical dance of Odisha -
Name originated from “katha” meaning “story”
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Only classical dance to feature Persian elements
Exponents of Odissi

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Performed in Thumri music
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- or Pankaj Charan
↓
Das
PA Gharanas:
Banaras
performed in Urdu ghazals
Mughals patronised this
dance

Last Nawab of Awadh

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Father of Odissi

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3 gharanas
Modern form of Odissi Jaipur Wajid Ali Shah
Exponents: I Leela Mohanty
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Lucknow:
Founders Elements: Amad, Thaat, Tukra, Paran, Jugalbandhi, Tarana,
Kelucharan Mohapatra Lucknow
Jaipur: Bhanuji Founder: Ishwari Prasad
:
Sujata Mohapatra Niharika Mohanty Banaras
Raigarh Janaki Prasad
Chattisgarh
Kramalaya Ghat, Bhaav

2007: Padma Vibhushan

 Exponents of Kathak Exponents of Mohiniyattam

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Kalka Bindadin Gharana (Lucknow)

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Mohini Mohiniyattam VN Menon Revived the
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Padma Vibhushan, >

1984/1986
~

1986
- Gopi - Gopika Verma dance form
Birju Maharaj, Lacchu Maharaj, Achhan Maharaj Kan Kanak Rele
- Dance school: Kalashram, 1998
Shovna Narayan Suna Sunanda Nair
Sitara Devi Jay Jayaprabha Menon
Kamini Asthana, Nalini Asthana
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Narayan Prasad, Kalka Prasad, Ishwari Prasad Krishna Pallavi Krishnan Revival of the dance form
Vidhya Gauri Akhbar Amma Kalyanikutty Amma
Kumudni Lakhia
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Founder of Keral Kalyanam, 1952
Aditi Mangal Das VN Menon: Revived the dance form
Kumkum Dhar Shows: win of good over evil
Roshan Kumar >
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Performed in temples after Sevakali
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Face is green coloured:
session
=> green represents strength
6. Kathakali
Symbolises Air
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Vocal performance is in Hindi

5. Mohiniyattam ·
Classical Dance of Kerala
associated with Lord Vishnu Performed by a Male
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Associated with term “Mohini” It is based on the epics of Ramayan and Mahabharata
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Dance form of Kerala ↑

Forms
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Solo dance form performed by a female Elements

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Kalaripayattu:
References seen in ancient text: Vyavaharmala 1. Natyam :
Kelikottu
martial dance
Thodayam
↓ 2. Nritham

↓
Purappadu
Written by: Mazhamangalam 3. Nrithyam · Tiranokku
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Narayanan
Namboodiri
Namputiri 4. Sangeetam Ilakiyattam
:
No abrupt jerks
5. Vadya Kalasam
Forms:
M Order: Kalasam
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and dance
Tevitichyattam - Used of facial expressions and colours 24 hand gestures
Nangai Natukam
performance is
Elements Af
very smooth Meaning This dance form
24 hand gestures Cholkettu Padam Saptam
Dasiyattam
Al
↑ - -

I Katha (story), Kali represents win of

Jatiswaram Tillana
·
↑

(performance) God over evil

↑

Padavarnam Slokam
 Exponents of Kathakali
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8. Sattriya
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Milena Salvini Bal Milena na mile Kuch Gopi ki Kali mil jaye
↑
Dance form of Assam -> Vaishnavite form
↑
P.V. Balkrishna -
Included in year 2000
↑
Kunchu Kurup -
Father: Srimanta Shankaradeva (Vaishnava)

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- Gopi Nath I
Themes are related to Lord Krishna
↑ Kottakal Nandakumaran Nair -
Assam’s music -> Borgeet
(Presentation of Ankiya
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Mrinali Sarabhai /
Ankiya Naat dance - Bhaona Naat)

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↓Modified version
7. Manipuri Sattriya

↓
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Dance form of Manipur -> Introvert type of dance form Dance numbers: Chali, Jhumura, Nadu Bhangi
Based on Vaishnavism
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Vaishnavite form of dance
: Also known as ManipuriForms
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No theatre components
Raas Leela
↑
Forms:
Raas Leela Sankritana Thang ta Exponents of Sattriya
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1. Jagoi: shows feminine aspect

↑Radha and Krishna
2. Cholom: showsJagoi and Cholom
masculine aspect Martial Dance Jatin Goswami

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Profounder: Rajarshi Pung (drum) is used I
Bhupen Hazarika -> awarded Bharat Ratna in 2019
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BhagyaPerformed
Chandra bytoMeitei
performtribe
dances ↑
Guru Ghanakanta Bora I
Masculine ↑
Indira Bora highest Civilian Award
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Monogram Dutta
Exponents of Manipuri
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Dance form to be refashioned as a theatre art and to be exhibited widely both at home
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Jhaveri sisters and abroad: Bharatnatyam
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- Bimbavati Devi
↑ Nirmala Mehta I
Yamini Krishnamurthy: Resident dancer of Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam
~ Guru Bipin Singh -> Title given: Hanjaba >
- By Manipur King
↑ Charu Mathur Guru Sashadhar Acharapakkam awarded Padma Shri in 2010 for his contribution in

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- Devyani Chalia Chhau Dance
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Aluna Kabuini
KADAMB Centre for Dance in 1964 founded by Kumudini Lakhia
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National Nritya Shiromani Award 2022 awarded to Aparna Satheesan for Kuchipudi

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Famous personality of Bharatnatyam: Padma Subramanyam

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