Classical and Folk Dances of India

Indian dance forms are a standard GK topic in Kerala PSC exams. Questions typically ask about classical dances, their states of origin, famous exponents, and folk dances by state. The tables below cover all exam-essential facts.

1. Eight Classical Dance Forms of India

Dance Form	State of Origin	Key Features	Famous Exponent(s)
Bharatanatyam	Tamil Nadu	Oldest classical form; based on Natyashastra; Nritta, Nritya, Natya	Rukmini Devi Arundale, Balasaraswati
Kathakali	Kerala	Elaborate costumes and makeup; stories from Ramayana, Mahabharata	Kalamandalam Gopi, Kottakkal Sivaraman
Kathak	Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow/Jaipur)	Storytelling through footwork and spins; Mughal influence	Birju Maharaj, Sitara Devi
Odissi	Odisha	Temple dance; tribhangi (three-body-bend) posture	Kelucharan Mohapatra, Sonal Mansingh
Kuchipudi	Andhra Pradesh	Dance-drama tradition; originated in Kuchipudi village	Vempati Chinna Satyam, Raja and Radha Reddy
Manipuri	Manipur	Ras Leela theme; gentle, graceful movements	Guru Bipin Singh, Jhaveri Sisters
Mohiniyattam	Kerala	”Dance of the enchantress”; feminine, graceful; white and gold costume	Sunanda Nair, Kalamandalam Kshemavathy
Sattriya	Assam	Originated in Vaishnavite Sattra monasteries; recognized in 2000	Bapuram Bayan

2. Key Facts About Classical Dances

Feature	Detail
Source text	Natyashastra by Bharata Muni (between 200 BCE and 200 CE)
Sangeet Natak Akademi	Recognized 8 classical forms
Sattriya recognized as classical	2000 (most recently added)
Abhinaya	Expressive aspect of dance (4 types: Angika, Vachika, Aharya, Sattvika)
Nritta	Pure dance (rhythmic movements without expression)
Nritya	Expressional dance (combination of rhythm and expression)

3. Kerala’s Dance Forms — Detail

Dance Form	Type	Key Feature
Kathakali	Classical	Male performers; elaborate green/red face paint (Paccha, Kathi, Thadi)
Mohiniyattam	Classical	Female solo dance; swaying movements like palm trees
Koodiyattam	Classical theatre (UNESCO)	Oldest surviving theatre form; Sanskrit drama; UNESCO Intangible Heritage (2001)
Thiruvathirakali	Folk/ritual	Women’s group dance during Thiruvathira festival
Oppana	Folk	Muslim wedding dance; bride surrounded by clapping women
Margam Kali	Folk	Syrian Christian dance; performed during weddings
Padayani	Ritual art	Masks and costumes; performed in Bhadrakali temples; Pathanamthitta district
Theyyam	Ritual art	North Kerala (Kannur, Kasaragod); performer becomes deity
Chavittu Nadakam	Folk drama	Latin Christian art; vigorous stamping; influenced by European theatre

4. Folk Dances by State

State	Folk Dances
Kerala	Thiruvathirakali, Oppana, Margam Kali, Padayani, Theyyam
Tamil Nadu	Bharatanatyam (also classical), Kummi, Kolattam, Karakattam, Mayilattam
Karnataka	Yakshagana, Dollu Kunitha, Veeragase
Andhra Pradesh / Telangana	Kuchipudi (also classical), Lambadi, Dappu, Perini Sivatandavam
Maharashtra	Lavani, Tamasha, Powada, Koli
Gujarat	Garba, Dandiya Raas, Tippani
Rajasthan	Ghoomar, Kalbelia, Chari, Gair, Kathputli
Punjab	Bhangra (male), Giddha (female)
Assam	Bihu, Sattriya (also classical), Jhumur
West Bengal	Chhau (also Jharkhand, Odisha), Jatra, Baul
Jharkhand	Chhau (Seraikella), Sarhul, Karma
Odisha	Chhau (Mayurbhanj), Gotipua, Dalkhai
Uttar Pradesh	Raslila, Nautanki, Charkula
Jammu and Kashmir	Rouf, Dumhal, Hafiza
Himachal Pradesh	Nati
Uttarakhand	Langvir Nritya, Barada Nati
Manipur	Lai Haraoba, Ras Leela
Meghalaya	Nongkrem, Shad Suk Mynsiem
Mizoram	Cheraw (Bamboo Dance)
Nagaland	Chang Lo, Zeliang
Goa	Fugdi, Dekhni, Mando

5. UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage — Indian Dance/Theatre

Art Form	State	Year of Recognition
Koodiyattam	Kerala	2001
Ramlila	Uttar Pradesh	2008
Chhau Dance	Jharkhand/Odisha/West Bengal	2010
Kumbh Mela	Multiple states	2017

6. Kathakali — Characters and Makeup (Kerala PSC Favourite)

Vesham (Character Type)	Colour	Represents
Paccha (Green)	Green face	Noble/heroic characters (e.g., Rama, Krishna)
Kathi (Knife)	Green with red marks	Villainous but noble characters (e.g., Ravana)
Thadi (Beard)	Red beard: Dussasana; White beard: Hanuman; Black beard: hunters	Various character types
Kari (Black)	Black face	Demonesses (e.g., Surpanakha)
Minukku (Polished)	Yellow/mild tones	Women, sages, Brahmins

7. Important Institutions

Institution	Location	Focus
Kerala Kalamandalam	Thrissur (Cheruthuruthy)	Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Koodiyattam, Thullal; founded by Vallathol Narayana Menon (1930)
Kalakshetra Foundation	Chennai	Bharatanatyam; founded by Rukmini Devi Arundale (1936)
Sangeet Natak Akademi	New Delhi	National academy for music, dance, drama
Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy	Imphal	Manipuri dance

8. Previous Year Question Patterns

• “How many classical dance forms in India?” — 8
• “Mohiniyattam originated in?” — Kerala
• “Sattriya dance is from?” — Assam
• “Kerala Kalamandalam was founded by?” — Vallathol Narayana Menon
• “Bharatanatyam originated in?” — Tamil Nadu
• “Bhangra is a folk dance of?” — Punjab
• “Ghoomar belongs to?” — Rajasthan
• “Natyashastra was written by?” — Bharata Muni
• “Koodiyattam is UNESCO heritage since?” — 2001
• “Kathakali green makeup character is called?” — Paccha