8 Classical Dances of India

Csotume:

Ghungroo

Female: off white saree wth bright golden embroidery ar border with los of pleats

Mohiniyattam, Kerala (pic)

Costume: 

silk costume

Traditional assamese designs

ropes hanging from waist

printed textiles

Sattriya, Assam (pic)

Costume:

Wrapped in traditional style

Bright shades of red, orange or green

Silver Jewellery:

Tikka (forehead jewellery)

Allka (headpiece where tikka hangs)

Wasit Belt

Odissi, Orissa (pic)

Costume: 

Female costume called patloi

Male wear saffron depicting Krishna

Manipuri, Manipur (Pic)

Costume:

Similar to Bharatnatyam

Saree folds at the back

Kuchipudi, Andhra Pradesh (pic)

Heargear and Makeup Unique

Kathakali, Kerala (pic)

Costume:

Ghungroo

Mle: Bare chested: dhoti, kurta or churidaar

Female: lehenga choli or churidaar kameez

Kathak, Uttar Pradesh (pic)

Costume and jewellery:

• Silk Saree with Gold Embroidery

• Sarees have lots of pleats

• Necklace, bangles

• ghungroo

Bharatnatyam, Tamil Nadu (pic)

Bharatnatyam

tamil Nadu

• Oldest form (mother of all classical dances)

• Origin: temple dancer in tamil nadu

• Earlier known as Daasiyattam

• Gurus are called Nattuwanars

• Knees bent in this form, trianglar shapes visible

Bharatnatyam, Tamil Nadu

• Means “to tell a story”

• Tells story of Radha and Krishna, in natwari style

• Pairs with Hindustani Classical Music

Kathak, Uttar Pradesh

Kathak

Uttar Pradesh

Mohiniyattam

Kerala

• Derives name from Lord Vishnu’s Avatar

• Means “dance of the enchantress”

• Dance form with a drama

• performed with subtle gestures and footwork

• derived from bharatnatyam and kathakali

Mohiniyattam, Kerala

Instruments Used:

Mridangam, Violin, veena, fleet and talam (cymbols)

Bharatnatyam (instr)

Instruments: Tabla, Harmonium, Sarengi, Talam (cymbols)

Kathak (instr)

Instruments: Idakka (hour glass drum), mridangam, flute, talam

Mohini-attam (instr)

Kathak (Gesture)

Triangular shapes

Bharatnatyam (gesture)

• Originates from Kerala

• Based on theme of good and evil

• Rapid Movement of eyes and eyebrows

• Make up and dance total - 12hrs

Kathakali, Kerala

• Dance showcases grace

• Focuses on geometrical shapes and patterns through her body

• Independent movement of head, chest and pelvis

• Origin: Devdasis of Puri Temple

Odissi, Odisha

Odissi (gesture)

• very similar to/ derives from Bharatnatyam

• Balancing dance form

Kuchipudi, Andhrapradesh

Theme based on Rasleela

Religious + spiritual experience

Manipuri, Manipur

Based on Mythological Themes

Use variety of hand gestures

Sattriya, Assam

Sattriya, Assam (Gesture)

Kathak Perosnalitu

Birju Maharaj, Bharti gupta and Gopi Krishna

Bharatnatyam Personality

Mallika Sarabhai, C.V. Chandrashekhar, Balasaraswati

Mohiniyattam Personality

Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma, Mukundraja, Krishna Paniker, Thankamony Kutty

Kathakali Personality

Mallika Sarabhai, C.V. Chandrashekhar, Balasaraswati

Odissi Personality

Sangjukta Panigrahi, kelucharam mahapatra, sonal mansingh

Kuchipudi Personality

Raja and Radha reddy

Mohini-attam Personality

Gopika Verma, Sunanda Nair

Sattriya Personality

Jatin Goswami, Krishnakshi Kashyap