Classical and Folk Dances of India

In our previous chapter, "What Makes Up Indian Culture?", we looked at the broad tapestry of languages, religions, and traditions that define India. Now, we are going to zoom in on one of the most vibrant and visual expressions of that culture: dance.

If you want to understand a region's history, its religious beliefs, and even its geography, look at how its people dance. In India, dance is not just entertainment. Historically, it has been a way to worship, a way to pass down ancient epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, and a way for communities to celebrate the harvest.

To master this topic, you need to understand the fundamental split in Indian dance: the strict, ancient Classical Dances and the spontaneous, community-driven Folk Dances. We will break down the rules that govern them, the eight official classical forms you must know, and the major regional folk dances that frequently appear in exams.

The Great Divide: Classical vs. Folk Dance

Before we look at specific dances, we need to understand what makes a dance "classical" and what makes it "folk." It is a favorite area for conceptual questions.

Think of classical dance like classical music or a formal martial art. It takes years of rigorous training under a teacher (a guru), it follows a strict rulebook, and every single movement of the eye, hand, and foot has a specific, documented meaning. You cannot just make up your own steps in a classical dance.

Folk dance, on the other hand, is like singing around a campfire. It is born in the community. You do not need a formal guru; you learn by watching your elders. It is performed to celebrate seasons, harvests, weddings, or festivals. The steps are usually simple, repetitive, and designed so that anyone in the village can join in.

The Building Blocks of Classical Dance

According to the ancient texts, every classical dance has two basic aspects:

1. 1Tandava: The masculine, vigorous, and powerful aspect of dance, originally associated with Lord Shiva.
2. 2Lasya: The feminine, graceful, and fluid aspect of dance, associated with Goddess Parvati.

Furthermore, a classical performance is broken down into three distinct elements:

• Nritta (Pure Dance): Rhythmic movements and footwork that do not tell a story. It is just about the beauty of motion and keeping time with the music.
• Nritya (Expressive Dance): Dance that conveys emotions and tells a story using facial expressions and hand gestures (mudras).
• Natya (Drama): The theatrical element, where the dancer essentially acts out a character, sometimes even using spoken words or heavy dramatic makeup.

The Eight Classical Dances of India

The Sangeet Natak Akademi (India's national academy for music, dance, and drama) officially recognizes exactly eight classical dance forms.

Let's travel across India and look at each of the eight official classical dances in detail.

1. Bharatanatyam (Tamil Nadu)

Bharatanatyam is often considered the oldest classical dance tradition in India. It originated in the Hindu temples of Tamil Nadu, where it was performed by Devadasis (women dedicated to the service of the temple deity).

The name itself is often said to be a combination of three syllables: Bha (Bhava or expression), Ra (Raga or melody), and Ta (Tala or rhythm), combined with Natyam (dance).

Key Features:

• Fire Element: Bharatanatyam is known as the "fire dance" because the dancer's movements resemble a dancing flame.
• Posture: The dancer often maintains a low, half-sitting posture called Aramandi. The movements are highly geometric, with straight lines and sharp angles.
• Music: It is always performed to Carnatic (South Indian) classical music.
• Revival: The dance was nearly lost during British rule due to the banning of the Devadasi system, but it was revived in the 20th century by legendary figures like Rukmini Devi Arundale.

2. Kathak (Uttar Pradesh / North India)

The word Kathak comes from the Sanskrit word Katha, meaning "story." Originally, Kathakars were traveling storytellers in North India who used dance and music to narrate tales from the epics.

Kathak is unique because it is the only classical dance that was heavily influenced by Islamic and Mughal culture. When North India came under Mughal rule, Kathak moved from the Hindu temples into the royal courts.

Key Features:

• Footwork and Spins: Kathak is famous for its lightning-fast footwork (tatkar) and rapid, dizzying spins (chakkars).
• Straight Legs: Unlike the bent-knee posture of South Indian dances, Kathak is performed with straight legs.
• Gharanas: Because it developed in different royal courts, Kathak is divided into distinct schools or Gharanas. The most famous are the Lucknow Gharana (known for grace and expression), the Jaipur Gharana (known for fast footwork and spins), and the Benares Gharana.
• Famous Exponents: The late Pandit Birju Maharaj is the most iconic name associated with modern Kathak.

3. Kathakali (Kerala)

If you have ever seen a dancer with a massive, elaborate headdress and a face painted bright green, you were looking at Kathakali. Originating in Kerala, Kathakali translates to "story play." It is a highly dramatic, larger-than-life dance form that traditionally lasts all night.

Key Features:

• Elaborate Makeup: The makeup in Kathakali is a complex code.
• Pacha (Green) is used for noble, heroic characters like Lord Krishna or Arjuna.
• Kathi (Green with red streaks) is for characters who are noble but have an evil streak, like Ravana.
• Thadi (Red or Black beards) are for purely evil demons or aggressive characters.
• Silent Actors: The dancers themselves never speak or sing. They act out the story using intense facial expressions (especially eye movements) and hand gestures, while vocalists sing the story from the back of the stage.
• Themes: The stories are almost exclusively drawn from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Puranas.

4. Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh)

Kuchipudi gets its name from the village of Kuchelapuram in Andhra Pradesh. For a long time, it was performed exclusively by male Brahmins who would travel from village to village staging dance-dramas. Today, it is performed by both men and women.

At first glance, Kuchipudi looks very similar to Bharatanatyam, but it is generally faster, more fluid, and incorporates more spoken dialogue and acting.

Key Features:

• Tarangam: This is the most famous and unique element of Kuchipudi. The dancer balances a pot of water on their head while dancing with their feet on the sharp brass edges of a circular plate. It requires immense balance and concentration.
• Earth Element: While Bharatanatyam represents fire, Kuchipudi is said to represent the earth element.

5. Odissi (Odisha)

Odissi is one of the most graceful and lyrical of all the classical dances. It originated in the temples of Odisha, performed by temple dancers known as Maharis. Later, young boys dressed as women, known as Gotipuas, also performed it.

Key Features:

• Tribhanga Posture: This is the defining feature of Odissi. Tribhanga means "three bends." The dancer's body bends at the neck, the torso, and the knees, creating a beautiful 'S' shape. It mimics the postures of the sculptures found in ancient Indian temples.
• Chowk: Another fundamental posture, which is a wide, square, masculine stance representing Lord Jagannath.
• Water Element: Odissi represents the water element, which is visible in the fluid, wave-like movements of the dancers.
• Famous Exponents: Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra is credited with reviving Odissi in the 20th century.

6. Manipuri (Manipur)

Tucked away in Northeast India, Manipuri dance is deeply rooted in the Vaishnavism (worship of Lord Vishnu/Krishna) of the region. The central theme of Manipuri dance is the Ras Leela—the divine love dance of Lord Krishna and the gopis (cowherd girls).

Key Features:

• Gentle and Graceful: Unlike the heavy footwork of Kathak or the sharp angles of Bharatanatyam, Manipuri is incredibly soft. The dancers do not wear heavy ankle bells (ghungroos), and their feet touch the ground very gently.
• The Potloi: The female dancers wear a highly distinctive, stiff, barrel-shaped skirt called a Potloi, which is richly decorated with mirrors and gold thread.
• Pung Cholom: While the women's dance is gentle, the men perform a highly energetic dance called Pung Cholom, where they leap and spin while playing a traditional drum (the Pung).

7. Mohiniyattam (Kerala)

Kerala gives us two classical dances: the heavy, masculine Kathakali, and the soft, feminine Mohiniyattam. The word translates to "Dance of the Enchantress." According to Hindu mythology, Mohini was the female avatar of Lord Vishnu, who used her beauty and charm to distract the demons during the churning of the ocean.

Key Features:

• Lasya Dominant: Mohiniyattam is almost entirely based on the Lasya (graceful, feminine) aspect of dance. There are no sharp, jerky movements; everything is circular and swaying, like the palm trees of Kerala.
• Costume: The costume is strictly a white or off-white sari with a bright gold border (the traditional Kerala Kasavu sari). The dancer's hair is tied in a distinctive bun on the left side of the head.
• Air Element: Mohiniyattam represents the element of air.

8. Sattriya (Assam)

Sattriya is the most recent addition to the Sangeet Natak Akademi's list of classical dances (recognized in the year 2000). It was introduced in the 15th century by the great Assamese saint and social reformer, Mahapurush Sankaradeva.

Key Features:

• The Sattras: The dance was developed and preserved in Vaishnava monasteries in Assam, known as Sattras. For centuries, it was performed only by male monks (Bhokots) as a daily ritual of devotion.
• Bhaona: The dance is often part of a larger theatrical performance called Bhaona, which tells stories of Lord Krishna and Lord Rama.
• Costume: The dancers wear traditional Assamese silk (Pat silk), and the music is heavily driven by the Khol (a two-faced drum) and cymbals.

Major Folk Dances of India

While classical dances are bound by the Natya Shastra, folk dances are bound only by the joy of the community. Exams frequently ask you to match a folk dance to its state of origin. Here are the most prominent ones you must know.

Gujarat

• Garba: Performed during the nine nights of Navratri. Women dance in a circle around a clay lantern (which represents the womb and the divine feminine). The circular movement represents the cycle of time and life.
• Dandiya Raas: Also performed during Navratri, but using colorful wooden sticks (dandiyas). It is highly energetic and represents a mock fight between Goddess Durga and the demon Mahishasura.

Punjab

• Bhangra: Originally a harvest dance performed by men to celebrate the spring festival of Baisakhi. It is driven by the heavy, infectious beat of the dhol (drum).
• Giddha: The female counterpart to Bhangra. Women stand in a circle, clap their hands rhythmically, and sing folk couplets called boliyan.

Rajasthan

• Ghoomar: A traditional dance of the Rajput women, originally developed by the Bhil tribe. Women wear wide, swirling skirts (ghaghras) and perform graceful pirouettes, causing the skirts to flare out beautifully.
• Kalbelia: Performed by the Kalbelia snake-charmer tribe. The women wear flowing black skirts with silver embroidery that mimic the scales of a snake, and their movements are incredibly flexible and serpentine. It is recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Assam

• Bihu: The most famous folk dance of Assam, performed during the Rongali Bihu festival to celebrate the arrival of spring and the Assamese New Year. It features rapid hand movements, brisk steps, and the wearing of traditional red and gold Assamese silk.

Jammu & Kashmir

• Rouf: One of the most popular traditional dances of Kashmir, usually performed by women during the spring season and on festivals like Eid. The dancers form two rows facing each other, link their arms around each other's waists, and perform a rhythmic footwork pattern while singing folk songs.
• Kud: A ritual dance performed in the middle mountain ranges of Jammu. It is usually performed at night around a campfire to express gratitude to the local deities (Gram Devatas) for protecting their crops and cattle.

Other Notable Folk Dances

• Lavani (Maharashtra): A highly energetic dance performed by women wearing nine-yard saris, driven by the beats of the dholki. It is known for its fast tempo and powerful expressions.
• Chhau (Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal): A tribal martial dance that often uses elaborate masks. As mentioned earlier, it is so highly structured that the Ministry of Culture considers it a classical dance, though the Sangeet Natak Akademi classifies it as folk/traditional.

Quick Revision

• Classical vs. Folk: Classical dances follow the strict rules of the ancient Natya Shastra; folk dances are informal, community-based celebrations.
• Eight Classical Dances: Bharatanatyam (TN), Kathak (UP), Kathakali (Kerala), Kuchipudi (AP), Odissi (Odisha), Manipuri (Manipur), Mohiniyattam (Kerala), Sattriya (Assam).
• Bharatanatyam: Oldest, fire element, Aramandi posture.
• Kathak: North India, Mughal influence, fast footwork, spins, straight legs.
• Kathakali: Kerala, elaborate green/red/black facial makeup, silent actors.
• Kuchipudi: Andhra Pradesh, famous for the Tarangam (dancing on a brass plate).
• Odissi: Odisha, famous for the Tribhanga (three-bend) posture.
• Manipuri: Manipur, gentle movements, Ras Leela theme, stiff Potloi skirt.
• Mohiniyattam: Kerala, dance of the enchantress, white and gold sari, Lasya (graceful) dominant.
• Sattriya: Assam, introduced by Sankaradeva, preserved in monasteries (Sattras).
• Key Folk Dances: Garba/Dandiya (Gujarat), Bhangra/Giddha (Punjab), Ghoomar/Kalbelia (Rajasthan), Bihu (Assam), Rouf/Kud (J&K).