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List of Folk & Classical Dance Form In India – State wise PDF Download
List of Folk & Classical Dance Form In India - State wise PDF Download [hide]
 1 What is a Dance?
 2 Categories of Dances
 3 Technique of Dance
 4 Indian Classical Dances
o 4.1 Bharatanatyam
o 4.2 Mohiniyattam
o 4.3 Kathakali
o 4.4 Kathak
o 4.5 Odissi
o 4.6 Kuchipudi
o 4.7 Manipuri
o 4.8 Sattriya
o 4.9 Chakiarkoothu
o 4.10 Ottam Thullai
o 4.11 Yakshagana
 5 Folk Dances
 6 Difference between Classical Dance and Folk Dance
 7 Famous Folk Dances with Their States
 8 List of Folk & Classical Dance Form In India – State wise PDF Download
India is land of varied traditional and cultural. Diversity in all sphere make the India quite
unique. Each state in India and region of a unique way of life and celebration and
traditional. More you explore, more you will realise although they all tell the same story.
What’s truly magical is how they still different from each other. Let’s take a walk through
various Folk dance from various part of India.
What is a Dance?
♦ Physical expression of emotive content of music
=> “Gestures coupled with rhythmical movements to expressions can be defined as Dance”
=> Expression of mind through body movements
=> In ancient culture dance was purely for religious practices, in modern society-
entertainment.
♦ Pleasure of dancing is in watching that music through the visual expression.
♦ Literary work which gives information about ‘Natyasasthra’ by Bharata muni.
Categories of Dances
1. Classical Dances
2. Folk Dances
Technique of Dance
According to Sangeetharatnakara and Abhinayadarpana, dancing has 3 parts.
NATYA – corresponds to drama
 NRITT – pure dance – movement of body do not express any mood and do not convey any
meaning.
NRITHYA – or Abhinaya – along with NATYA.
Indian Classical Dances
According to Sangeet natak academy, 8 dances –
Bharatanatyam

Bharatanatyam is poetry in motion, a solo dance originating in temples of south India. It is

based on the principles of ‘Natya Shastra’, written by the great sage, Bharata, around 4000
BC. Earler, it was traditional dance performed to repertory of carnatic varnam, padam,
thillana and so on. Its present form was evolved in Tanjore by Ponniah Pillai and brothers.
Smt. Rukmini Devi gave it a new life and respectively. On par with her was T. Bala
Saraswathi, the queen of Bharatanatyam.
 Dance form of Tamilnadu
 ‘Bha’ stands for Bhava which is mood. ‘Ra’ for Raga = music. ‘Ta’ for Tala = rhythm
 Natam stands for Nritya.
Mohiniyattam
 A solo dance form from Kerala, Mohiniattam is also the heir to Devadasi dance heritage like
Bharatanatyam, Odissi and Kuchipudi. In the 19th Century, the king of Travancore, Swati
Tirunal encouraged this dance form. Poet Vallathol revived it through Kerala
Kalamanadalam founded by him in 1930 along with Kalamanadalam Kalyaniamma, the first
dance teacher of Kalamandalam.
 Originated in Kerala.
 Perfromed only by Women
 Derives it’s name from Mohiniof Puranas
 It has elements of Bharatanatyam and Kathakali
Kathakali

This dance form is from Kerala which is more dramatic than narrative in form. It has its
origin in the courts of the kings of Kerala and is considered to be the most scientific and
elaborately defined dance form. The body gestures, hand movements and eye/eyeball
movements comprise its language. It is not a folk dance but is highly classical, though not
very old. Poet Vallathol revived Kathakali in its present form.
 Dance drama of Kerala
 Born in the temples of Kerala
 Performed in open air, in nights
 Themes – epics
 Katha will recite in music by a singer accompanied by drums and musical instruments.
 Actor never open his lips.
 Movement of body, facial expression and art of hands interpret.
Kathak
 This dance form originated in U.P., Rajasthan. It has its roots in “Katha” meaning story. The
story tellers who were attached to the temples in North India, narrated stories from the
Epics, in the form of Radha and Krishnalilas. With the advent of Muslim rule, it came out
ofthe temples in the form of a sphisticated dance of the Mughal courts. The Nawabs of the
erstwhile small kingdoms patronised this dance form which drifted from a pure dance into
erotics. Binda Din Maharaj, Kalkadin, Achchan Maharaj, Gopi Krishna and Birju Maharaj are
some of the greatest exponents of Kathak.
 Dance form of North (mainly of U.P.)
 Derives it’s name from kathaka which means story teller.
 He recites from epics with gestures and music.
 Gradually it assumed an elaborate involving Nritt and Nrithya.
 Under Mughal rulers, it was influenced Persian customs and style of dance.
 Starts with soft and varied movements.
 Concluding with fast foot movements and jumps and turns.
 Male dancer usually wear sharvani and velvet cap.
 He ties bells around his ankles.
 Male or female dancers or even as couple dance.
Odissi
 Odissi is a dance form developed in Orissa during the second century BC when the Jain
King Kharavela ruled. He himself was an expert dancer. It is also based on the principles of
‘Natya Sastra’. Themes from Jayadeva’s ‘Gita Govinda’, poems in praise of Krishna written
around the AD12 Century dominate the contents. First performed by women called
‘Maharis’ in the Jagannath Temple (Puri) and then by young boys attired as women called
gotipuas’, Odissi is woven around the basic tribhanga pose typical of Indian sculpture. It has
gained popularity today and the credit goes to Smt. Samjukta Panigrahi who gave it an
universal appeal. The name of Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra is at the forefront of the
greatest exponents of odissi.
 Dance form of Orissa
 As devotion to lord Krishna
 Based on ‘Greethagovinda’
 Used to depict love and devotion to God.
 It was originally temple art, later performed in royal courts.
 Mudras and expressions are singer of Bharatanatyam.
Kuchipudi

It is a solo dance popular in Andhra Pradesh. It is originated in a place called “Kuchelapur”

Tirtha Narayana and Siddendra Yogi evolved this style. Traditionally performed by men
 attired like women, it has a style which corresponds with Bhagavata Mela Natak of Tamil
Nadu. Except for the emphasis on animation, it draws upon the principles of the Natya
Sastra and in all other aspects it is akin to Bharatanatyam. Vedntham Sayanarayana is the
doyen of Kuchipudi. China Satyam is a renowed guru of this dance form.
 Dance originated in Kuchipudi, Andhra Pradesh
 Traced back to dance drama of enacted by Brahmanas in temples.
 Theme – Bhagavat Purana especially life of Krishana.
 Famous thing is dancing up on brass plate and pot on his head.
 Performed both as solo and in group.
Manipuri

Manipuri is a dance form, mostly ritualistic, popular in the ‘north-east’. The ragas comprise
five different types of ballets based on Radha-Krishna-Gopis theme. The other form of this
dance is the “Sankirtanas”, usually performed by men carrying drums called ‘pung’. It is a
highly lyrical dance but lacks dramatic facial and gestural epression.
 Dance of Manipur
 Describe the plays of Krishna and Gopikas
 Body moves with slow and grace arm movements and movements of fingers.
Sattriya
 Assam
 Originated in 15th century by Sankardev
 Performed in SATTRAS (monasties) originally by males.
 Now by females too.
 Accompanied with musical compositions by sankardev.
Chakiarkoothu

This dance form is believed to have been introduced to Kerala by the earlier Aryan
immigrants. Its performance is restricted to the members of Chakiar caste. It is a highly
orthodox form of entertainment which is performed inside the temples and is witnessed by
Hindus of the higher castes only.
Ottam Thullai
 It is also a solo dance form of Kerala, known as poor man’s Kathakali. The dialogue is in
simple Malayalam and therefore has a mass appeal. Kunjan Nambiar evolved it to bring out
the social conditions of his time, the distinctions of class, and the whims and weaknesses of
the rich.
Yakshagana

It is a dance-drama from Karnataka which is of rural origin. the language is Kannada and
theme based on the hindu epics. It is about 400 years old. It was revived by Dr. Shivaram
Karanth.
Folk Dances
 Folk comprises common people
 Folk dance is common people’s dance.
 They are simple, natural and spontaneous expression of every day themes and feeling.
 Language is very simple and local.
Difference between Classical Dance and Folk Dance

Classical Dance Folk Dance

No. of participants – more, primarily solo group

Language – literary language Local

Dress – elaborate structure, colour and ornamentation Simple

Format – artificial atmosphere, Theme – mythological,

Natural
Audience participation

Audience can only enjoy Audience can participate

Indian folk and tribal dances are simple dances and are performed to express joy and
happiness among themselves. Folk and tribal dances are performed for every possible
occasion, to celebrate the arrival of seasons, birth of a child, a wedding and festivals. The
dances are extremely simple with minimum of steps or movements.
Famous Folk Dances with Their States

Dance State

Ankia Nat Assam

Bahaka Wata Orissa

Bhangra Punjab

Bhavai Gujarat, Rajasthan

Bidesie Bihar

Bihu Assam

Chakiarkoothu Kerala

Chakri Jammu and Kashmir

Chamar Givad Rajasthan

Chappeli Uttar Pradesh

Chhau West Bengal

Chavittu Natakam Kerala

Chiraw (bamboo dance) Mizoram

Dahikala Maharashtra

Dandanate Orissa

Dandiya Ras Gujarat

Gangore Rajasthan

Garba Gujarat

Gidda Punjab

Gidda Parhaun Himachal Pradesh

Hikat Jammu and Kashmir

Jata-Jatin Bihar

Jatra West Bengal

Jhulan Leela Rajasthan

Jhummar or Ghumar Rajasthan

Kaikotti kali Kerala

Kummi Tamil Nadu

Kajri Uttar Pradesh

Kayanga Himachal Pradesh

Karan Uttar Pradesh

Kathi West Bengal

Kayanga Bajavanga Rajasthan

Khayal Rajasthan

Krishnavattam Kerala

Kumaon Uttar Pradesh

Lai Haroba Manipur

Lavani Maharashtra

Lezim Maharashtra
Lota Madhya Pradesh

Luddi Himachal Pradesh, Punjab

Maach Madhya Pradesh

Maha Rasa Manipur

Mudiyttu Kerala

Nautanki Uttar Pradesh

Ojapali Assam

Pandvani Madhya Pradesh

Raslila Gujarat

Rauf Jammu and Kashmir

Swang Haryana

Tamasha Maharashtra

Tappatri Kali Kerala

Therukkthu Tamil Nadu

Theyyam Kerala
Tippani Gujarat

Veedhi Bhagavatam Andhra Pradesh

Wangala Laho Meghalaya

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