Major Classical Dances of India

 

Dance is an antiquated and popular social practice in India which is a significant piece of Indian culture. Talking about dance or dance, today it is seen in every program like weddings, parties, festivals, films and TV shows. But if we talk about Indian Classic Dance or the major classical dance of India, there are only six forms of classical dances recognized by India at the national level – Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Manipuri, Kuchipudi and Odissi which are the folk culture of their respective states. displays to. But along with these there are other forms of classical dances which many people are unaware of. In this article, today we are going to talk in detail about the major classical dances of India, about which you must know –

6 Famous Classical Dances of India

Bharatnatyam (Tamil Nadu South India)

Performed to the celestial tunes of Carnatic music, Bharatanatyam is one of the major classical dance forms of India that comes under the state of Tamil Nadu in South India. The origins of Bharatanatyam are believed to date back to 1000 BCE, originating from the ancient temples of Tamil Nadu performed by women of the classical period. This classical dance is known for the dancer's makeup, and gestures which are called mudras in the traditional language. Bharatanatyam was very prevalent before the British period but its roots began to weaken during the colonial period but India kept the dance form alive in the homes, and today it is considered as one of the most respected art forms in India especially in the southern region of the country. is recognized as

Meaning of Bharatanatyam

Bhava: Bhava which means feelings

Ra: Raga means musical notes.

Ta: Taal means rhythm.

Natyam: Sanskrit word for Natyam drama.

Kathak (Uttar Pradesh North India)

 

Kathak is one more significant type of Indian exemplary dance that exhibits the craftsmanship culture of North India. Kathak is frequently alluded to as the dance of adoration where all kinds of people dance together. In this dance, the dancers dance to the tune of music, which mainly focuses on the feet and hands wearing their Ghugroo. Various forms of this dance can be seen as it is performed at different places in the country which includes Jaipur, Banaras and Lucknow. If we talk about the origin of Kathak, one of the major classical dance of India, it was first originated by professional story tellers who mixed dance, song and drama. Like other Indian dances, it began as a temple dance, but soon became a part of homes and events.

 

Pradeep10.redbubble.com

specialty of kathak

Kathak is world famous for its splendid footwork, postures and costumes.

It creates a connection between the dancer and the audience.

In Kathak, 100 to 250 Ghungroos are worn by the dancers in one leg. Various types of sounds are hidden in these Ghungroos like train driving, heavy rain, horse movement and many more.

Kathakali (Kerala South India)

Kathakali is one of the most famous classical dance form of India which is a folk dance of the South Indian state of Kerala. Like Bharatnatyam, Kathakali is a religious dance. It takes inspiration from stories from Ramayana and Shaivite traditions. Kathakali is traditionally performed by boys and men who dance with masks on their faces, along with their dance costumes and makeup are also very attractive. To say that Kathakali is a folk dance of Kerala but its popularity is all over the country.

Famous Artists of Kathakali

Kalamandalam Krishna Prasad

Kalamandalam Kesavan Namboodiri

Kalamandalam Gopi

Manipuri (Manipur, North East India)

Manipuri comes from Manipur in Northeast India which has its underlying foundations in the people customs and customs of that state. One of the major classical dances of India, Manipuri is performed to narrate the romantic relationship between the Hindu deities Radha and Krishna, known as Raasleela. This art form is performed with traditional Manipuri costumes and makeup to depict the story of both the deities. The dance is narrated on Katha Jaap and music produced by Indian classical instruments.

Manipuri dance styles

rasa

recitation

pung cholam

Dhola Cholam

kartal cholam

Thang Ta (a martial art of Manipuri) etc.

Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh)

Kuchipudi, belonging to Andhra Pradesh, is the most difficult form of classical dance in India. Kuchipudi is not considered as a mere dance but an entire religious process dedicated to the Lord which includes some rituals like sprinkling holy water, lighting incense sticks and praying to the Lord. Kuchipudi includes both singing and moving by the craftsman, which is the reason it requires both ability and more commitment than some other artistic expression in India. In earlier times, Kuchipudi was performed only by male dancers in temples, especially by Brahmins (upper caste of the society), but with the passage of time, it became famous among women and nowadays it is mostly performed by female dancers. Is .

Famous Dancers of Kuchipudi

Raja-Radha Reddy

Yamini Reddy

Vaijayanti Kashi

Uma Rama Rao etc.

Odissi (Odisha) 

Odissi Indian Classic Dance is another integral part that brings the dance form of Odisha state to the world. Odissi dance, like other classical dances, is derived from temples and most of its postures are inspired by sculptors and sculptures belonging to ancient temples of India. This dance is performed as a way of expressing the mythology of Hindu deities, which include Shiva and Surya. Odissi is considered to be the oldest dance form of India which has survived till date. One of the famous classical dance of India, Odissi dance is performed mostly by female dancers, which involves more than 50 intricate mudras (movements of the body). If you want to see Odissi dance, then definitely attend the Odissi dance show in Odisha.

Other famous dances of India

Bhangra (Punjab) –

Bhangra is the main and popular dance of Punjab which is performed on festivals and special occasions like (Lohri, Sankranti). Bhangra is an important part of Punjabi culture which is performed by both men and women.

Garba (Gujarat)

Although Garba has become the dance of the whole of India, but its origin and popularity was first seen in Gujarat and still the enthusiasm for Garba like Gujarat will not be seen in any other state. Garba is the most famous dance of Gujarat which is performed by a boy and a girl during Navratri festival. If you also want to play Garba then you must visit Gujarat during Navratri festival where you will find people playing Garba in every pandal of the cities.

Roof (Kashmir) –

Roof is a Kashmiri dance usually performed by female dancers to traditional Kashmiri music. Kashmiri individuals play out this dance to commend their celebrations and significant events in which Kashmiri culture and customs are seen.

Ghoomar (Rajasthan) -

Ghoomar is a traditional folk dance of Rajasthan which is counted among the 10 most prominent folk dances of India. The Ghoomar dance was first performed by the Bhil tribe to worship Goddess Saraswati. This dance is mainly performed at weddings, festivals and other religious occasions by veiled women, who wear a flowing dress called Ghaghara. As per traditional customs, the Ghoomar dance is performed by the newly wed bride upon entering her new matrimonial home.

Bihu (Assam)

Bihu Bhog is the main folk dance of the state of Assam performed during the Bihu festival in which young girls dressed in traditional attire sing "Bihu Geet" and perform the traditional "Mukolibihu" dance. Bihu is one of the major folk dance of India which is visited by tourists and dance lovers from all over the world. It has also been demonstrated in the 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony.

Lavani (Maharashtra) 

Originating from the kingdom of the Maratha Empire, Lavani is a popular dance form of Maharashtra that blends female oriented dance, traditional music and stories of gods. Initially the dance was staged in local temples as a form of worship, but now it is an erotic dance that presents socio-political satire. Lavani is mainly performed by women dressed in saris and golden jewelery and dances to the beats of the dholak.

Chhau (Mayurbhanj, Odisha)

Chhau, listed among the major classical dances of India, is a mixture of folk, tribal and martial arts. 'Chhau' - derived from the Sanskrit word 'chaya', which means shadow, picture or mask. Furthermore, Chhau is defined by Sitakanta Mohapatra which is derived from Chhuni (military camp) in Odia language. Traditionally performed by male - male troupes. There are three distinct regions of Chhau which originate from three different regions. It has its own unique feature, style of display and ornamentation.

Sattriya (Assam)

Sattriya is a traditional dance of Assam which is counted as one of the major classical dance form of India. Sattriya was recognized as a classical dance form by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2000.It is affected by Vaishnavism, the cutting edge type of which is ascribed to the fifteenth century Bhakti development researcher and holy person Srimanta Sankardeva. This dance was a creative method of introducing fanciful lessons. Traditionally this dance was performed by male monks or Bhokotas. However, today, the practice has changed in many ways, yet it is still popular all over the world.

Mohiniyattam (Kerala)

Mohiniyattam is the second most popular dance form of Kerala after Kathakali. Mohiniattam dance is dedicated to Mohini, the female avatar of Lord Vishnu, hence it follows the dance of divine magic. It is traditionally performed by women following the repertoire, singing and acting of Carnatic music.

In this article, you have come to know about the major classical dances of India and other famous dances of India, how did you like this article of ours, do tell us in the comments.