India's classical dances trace their theory to the Natya Shastra, the Sanskrit treatise attributed to Bharata Muni, and mix nritta (pure dance), nritya (expressive storytelling) and natya (drama).
Key facts
- Natya Shastra, attributed to Bharata Muni, is the root text; nritta, nritya and natya are the three performance categories.
- Bharatanatyam: the temple form Sadiraattam was banned in Madras in 1910 and revived in the 1930s; its margam runs from Alarippu to Tillana; debut is the arangetram.
- Kathak: four gharanas, Lucknow, Jaipur, Banaras (traditionally the oldest) and Raigarh; tatkar footwork, ghungroo and whirling turns.
- Odissi: tribhanga and chauka postures; temple dancers (maharis) and boy dancers (gotipuas); Manchapuri cave carvings date to the 1st or 2nd century BCE.
- Kuchipudi: named after a village; traditionally all-male troupes; recitals in Telugu with Carnatic music; kavutvams balance pots on the head.
- Sattriya: grew from Ankiya Nat plays in the sattras; once performed only by monks (bhokots); recognised as the eighth classical dance in 2000.
Why exams ask about it
Which state each dance belongs to, who revived it, which text or saint it draws on, and the gharanas are asked every year.