Overview of Indian Classical Dances and Their Artists

Sangeet Natak Akademi

Recognized eight classical dances of India.

Bharatnatyam

A classical dance from Tamil Nadu.

Kathak

A classical dance from Uttar Pradesh.

Kuchipudi

A classical dance from Andhra Pradesh.

Odissi

A classical dance from Odisha.

Kathakali

A classical dance from Kerala.

Sattriya

A classical dance from Assam.

Manipuri

A classical dance from Manipur.

Mohiniyattam

A classical dance from Kerala.

Natya Shastra

A text that specifies forms of each classical dance.

Dussehra

Celebrated on the tenth day after Sharad Navratri.

Me Dum Me Phi

A festival of the Galo tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, celebrated in April.

Kali Puja

A festival held on a new moon day.

Guru Bipin Singh

Famous for Mohini Attam.

Pandit Birju Maharaj

Famous for Kathak.

Surendra Nath Jena

Famous for Kuchipudi.

Elam Endira Devi

Famous for Manipuri.

Shambhu Maharaj

Famous guru of Lucknow Kathak gharana.

Natwari dance

Belongs to Kathak dance style.

Roshan Kumari

Famous Kathak artist.

Shovana Narayan

Famous Kathak artist.

Maya Rao

Famous Kathak artist.

Kumudini Lakhia

Famous Kathak artist.

Sujata Mahapatra

Famous Odissi dancer.

Madhavi Mudgal

Famous Odissi dancer.

Darshana Jhaveri and Devjani Chaliha

Famous for their outstanding contribution to the Manipuri dance style of Indian dance.

Manipuri Dance

A classical dance of India mainly based on Hindu Vaishnav themes, depicting the love of Radha and Krishna.

Bagurumba

A cultural dance from Assam performed by the indigenous Bodo tribe, dedicated to and inspired by nature.

Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam

An Indian dance guru known for his efforts to give classical status to the Kuchipudi dance style.

Jhijhiya

The main folk dance of Mithila region of Bihar performed to please Indra, the god of rain, for good rainfall and harvest.

Anita Ratnam

A dancer associated with Bharatnatyam.

Pallavi Krishnan

A dancer associated with Mohiniyattam.

Sharodi Saikia

A dancer associated with Sattriya.

Kelucharan Mohapatra

A dancer associated with Odissi.

Gopika Varma

Received fellowship from Sangeet Natak Akademi for Mohiniyattam, a dance form from Kerala.

Pandit Shambhu Maharaj

A famous dancer of Kathak.

Vaishnav Themes

The themes primarily depicted in Manipuri dance, focusing on the love of Radha and Krishna.

Chidambaram Temple

The temple where various postures of Bharatnatyam are depicted.

Bodo Tribe

The indigenous tribe of Assam known for performing Bagurumba dance.

Mithila Region

The region in Bihar where Jhijhiya dance is performed.

Rathwa dance

Performed by the Rathwas, who are the inhabitants of Gujarat state, on the occasion of Holi.

Sitara Devi

A great figure of the Kathak dance form, described by Rabindranath Tagore as 'Nritya Samragini' (Empress of Dance).

Sangeet Natak Akademi recognition

As of August 2021, Eight (8) classical dance styles in India were officially recognized by the Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Songi Mukhawate dance

A dance of Maharashtra that celebrates the victory of truth over untruth, named after the two lion masks worn by the dancers representing Narsimha.

Kumkumdhar

A Lucknow based Kathak dancer awarded the central Sangeet Natak Akademi Award from the president Droupadi Murmu.

Lebang Boomani dance

A harvest dance of Tripura performed by both men and women.

Mahari Dance

A dance related to the state of Odisha, performed at the temple of Lord Jagannatha at Puri.

Gotipua dance

A dance related to the state of Odisha, also known as Bandha Nritya.

Panthi dance

A dance form associated with the state of Chhattisgarh.

Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma

Known for creating the morphological structure and ornamentation of the Mohiniyattam dance form.

Raut Nacha

A dance style related to Chhattisgarh.

Gedi

A dance style related to Chhattisgarh.

Kajari

A dance style related to the state of Uttar Pradesh, whose origin is believed to be in Mirzapur.

Mukteshwar dance festival

Organized from 14 to 16 January at Mukteshwar temple in the state of Odisha.

Rauf dance

A folk dance of Jammu and Kashmir, India, performed by the Rauf tribe.

Damhal

A folk dance of Kashmiri people, also known as Rauf.

Giddha

A popular dance of women in the Punjab region, known for its energetic display of feminine grace and elegance.

Janaki Prasad

A musician who belonged to the Banaras Gharana of Kathak.

Kalbelia dance

A folk dance of Rajasthan, also known as 'Sapera Dance' or 'Snake Charmer dance.'

Kargam

A folk dance related to Tamil Nadu.

Sangeeta Kalanidhi

An award given by the Madras Music Academy for contributions to Bharatanatyam dance.

Bihu

A folk dance of Assam.

Bhangra

A folk dance of Punjab.

Yakshagan

A classical dance form originating from Karnataka.

Jawara

A folk dance of Punjab.

Dadra

A folk dance of Punjab.

Fugdi

A folk dance of Punjab.

Chari

A folk dance of Rajasthan.

Gair

A folk dance of Rajasthan.

Ghoomer

A folk dance of Rajasthan.

Bharatanatyam

A classical dance form associated with Tamil Nadu.

Ghoomar dance

A traditional folk dance from Rajasthan.

Bihu dance

A folk dance style belonging to Assam, performed during Bihu festival.

Lavani dance

A dance form famous in Maharashtra, performed on the beats of an instrument called Dholki.

Bhangra dance

A lively folk dance originating from Punjab.

Girija Devi

A famous Indian classical singer of Banaras Gharana, known as the 'Queen of Thumri'.

Gair dance

A dance performed by the Bheel, Meena tribal community of Rajasthan.

Deepika Reddy

A classical dancer of Kuchipudi dance from Telangana state and a National Sangeet Natak Akademi award winner.

Aditi Mangaldas

A leading dancer and choreographer in the classical Indian dance form of Kathak.

Kamalini and Nalini Asthana

Dance couple awarded the Padma Shri in 2022, famous for Kathak dance style.

Siddheswari Devi

An Indian classical singer known for her contributions to thumri singing.

Annapurna Devi

A renowned Indian classical musician and instrumentalist.

Naina Devi

An Indian classical singer known for her contributions to thumri singing.

Gopika Verma

A classical dancer known for her performances in Mohiniyattam.

Kalyani Amma

A notable artist associated with Mohiniyattam.

Birju Maharaj

A legendary figure in Kathak dance, known as the father of this classical dance.

Sujata Mohapatra

An Indian classical dancer and teacher of Odissi, honored with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2017.

Wajid Alishah

The last Nawab of Awadh under whose patronage the golden age of Kathak was seen in the 19th century.

Jhinka Dasai dance

A dance performed by the Santhal tribe of Jharkhand.

Mati-Akhora

Related to Sattriya classical dance, meaning exercise done on the ground.

Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra Award

An award festival named after the famous classical dancer of Odissi.

Lai Haroba

An early form of Manipuri dance, directed by Guru Bipin Singh.

Khemraj

Received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his contribution to folk music and 'kud' dance from Jammu and Kashmir.

Sattriya dance

A classical dance form of India, associated with the state of Assam.

Odissi dance

An Indian classical dance style associated with Sujata Mohapatra.

Kud dance

A folk dance from Jammu and Kashmir performed at night under the stars.

Sangeet Natak Akademi Award

An award given for contributions to Indian classical music and dance.

Paikha dance

A dance performed by the Santhal tribe of Jharkhand.

Golwari dance

Another dance performed by the Santhal tribe of Jharkhand.

Kalka-Bindadin Gharana

The gharana to which Birju Maharaj belonged.