India is a land of diversity where numerous languages, cultures, and traditions are found on the basis of region, and therefore classical and folk dance forms can be discovered in India. While Indian folk dances also have spiritual and religious undertones, they are mostly driven by a festive mood rather than the traditional spirituality of the country’s classical dances. Just as there is diversity in Indian culture in the same way Indian classical dance has a wide range of varieties. Every style of dance in India is a representation of the tradition and attitude of a certain location or population. The traditional styles of Indian dance include Bharatnatyam, Kathakali, Mohiniattam, Odissi, Kathak, Kuchipudi, and Manipuri, to name just a few. Let’s check out some of the types of dance in India.
Bharatnatyam
This style of dance was restricted in the British era despite being rich in expressiveness by face, eye, and neck movements, hand gestures, and body movements. Roots in Tamil Nadu, this style of dancing was first undertaken as an act of worship in the old shrines. It has a long history in Indian civilization and is characterized by a unique set of melodies, guidelines, and fashion. This dance form strived during periods of mistreatment under British rule, but thanks to the initiatives of instructors and learners around the globe, Bharatanatyam has already been brought back to life to resume serving the needs of those who find happiness in the systematic and responsive gestures personified in the dance’s system. The basic source on art and creativity, Natya Shastra, serves as the basis for the conceptual framework of Bharatanatyam, called “Sadir.”
Kathakali
The Ramayana and Mahabharata, two Hindu chronicles, are frequently performed in this genre of classical dance, which is another dance style that has its antecedents in Kerala. The dance’s sophisticated facial makeup, outfits, cosmetics, and moves set it all apart and the emotion on the face is crucial for illustrating the struggle between goodness and badness. There are five primary elements that complete this dance form i.e, Sahithyam (literature), Sangeetham (music), Natyam (acting), Nrthriyam (dancing), and Chitram (painting). The kutiyattam legacy gave rise to it during the 16th century, and krishnanattam borrowed the martial arts legacy of kalaripayattu for its fast movement.
Kathak
This ancient genre, which has its roots in North India, is composed of the Jaipur Gharana and the Lucknow Gharana. The Lucknow Gharana demonstrates the genuineness of bachelorette performance. This dance, which veers off into storylines, was mostly conducted for Nawabs in Lucknow. It is known as the “dance of love” that syncs its beat to Hindustani music.
Odissi
This style of dance, which has its foundation in East India’s Orissa, depicts Shiva and Surya in addition to old shrines and legendary tales. It is well known that this dancing style, which is normally undertaken in Odramagadhi orchestral music, has origins in Shaktism and Vaishnavism. It is mostly a female-centric dance style, yet men may also do it due to its vibrant expressiveness.
Manipuri
This archaic practice focuses on “Rasleela,” which depicts Krishna and Radha’s passionate interactions. It is possible to pinpoint the origins of Manipuri to the Indian state of Manipur. This form of dance, also known as Jagoi, occasionally features many themes, including those connected to Shaivism and Shaktism. They must perform while wearing very heavy clothes, which may be problematic. It is a gentle, beautiful style of dance that emphasizes gentle gestures in its rhythms.
Mohiniyattam
This ancient dance, which is the second most well-liked in Kerala, recounts the story of Mohini, the female incarnation of Lord Krishna, and furthermore highlights the Tandava of Lord Shiva. The Natya Shastra, an old Sanskrit scripture, is the source of this traditional dance. This style of dance was originally a devotional spectacle with the primary topic of affection, played as lone performances by women. As opposed to Kathakali, the performers don exquisite white or off-white Kerala Kasavu sarees and bare little jewelry.
Kuchipudi
This old classical dance genre was historically practiced by the high-class Brahmin men performers and was rumored to be the trickiest dance. This dancing style is renowned for its jerking motions, dynamic hand movements, and bright eye movements. The brass plate is swung in sync with the Carnatic music, which is the dance’s distinctive notion. To be able to comprehend the verses of this performance, a Kuchipudi performer must also possess the extra skill of understanding Telugu and Sanskrit.
Sattriya Nritya
The Assamese art form of sattriya classical dance combines concepts of Krishna and Radha and, occasionally, Rama and Sita. Together with ornamentation and embellishments, the Sattriya dance outfit is exclusive to this folk dance.