Classical dances of India

Eight classical forms

• Kathak (North India, especially Uttar Pradesh): grew from the kathakars (story-tellers) of temples and later flourished in Mughal and Rajput courts. Repertoire includes thaat, amad, salami, tukda, toda, paran, gat (gat-nikas, gat-bhav), fast footwork (tatkar) and many spins (chakkar). Music is Hindustani, with tabla or pakhawaj and sarangi or harmonium. Dancers wear many ghungroos. Gharanas: Lucknow, Jaipur and Banaras.
• Bharatanatyam (Tamil Nadu): developed from the temple dance called sadir. The Tanjore Quartet (Chinnaiah, Ponniah, Sivanandam, Vadivelu) organised its margam (order): alarippu, jatiswaram, shabdam, varnam, padam and javali, ending with tillana. The basic stance is the half-sitting araimandi. Karnatak music with mridangam; the nattuvanar conducts with cymbals.
• Manipuri (Manipur): soft, flowing and devotional, centred on the Vaishnava Ras Lila; the older Lai Haraoba is its ritual root. The Radha and gopi costume has a stiff cylindrical skirt called potloi. The pung (drum) is central. Dancers do not wear ghungroos.
• Kathakali (Kerala): a dance-drama of the 17th century, with stories from the epics (texts called attakatha). It is known for elaborate face make-up types: pacha (green, noble heroes), kathi (proud, villainous kings), thadi (bearded), kari (black, demonic or forest characters) and minukku (soft radiant make-up for women and sages). Music is in the sopanam style with chenda and maddalam.
• Odissi (Odisha): traced to temple dancers (maharis) and boy dancers (gotipuas); sculptures at Udayagiri caves show early forms. Key postures are chowk and tribhanga. Repertoire: mangalacharan, batu, pallavi, abhinaya and moksha. Songs of Jayadeva's Gita Govinda are popular.
• Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh): from the village of Kuchipudi; associated with Siddhendra Yogi and the dance-drama Bhama Kalapam. The tarangam is danced on the rim of a brass plate.
• Mohiniyattam (Kerala): the dance of the enchantress Mohini; graceful lasya, swaying movements, solo female dance. Off-white costume with gold border and hair bun at the side.
• Sattriya (Assam): created by Srimanta Sankaradeva in the Vaishnava monasteries (sattras); linked with Ankiya Naat and borgeet; khol drum.

Key points

• Kathak: chakkar, tatkar; three gharanas.
• Bharatanatyam: Tanjore Quartet, araimandi, margam.
• Kathakali: face make-up types; dance-drama.
• Kuchipudi: tarangam on brass plate; Odissi: tribhanga.

Common mistakes

• Assigning Mohiniyattam to Tamil Nadu; both Kathakali and Mohiniyattam are from Kerala.
• Confusing Sattriya (Assam) with Manipuri.