Art and Culture

History Theatre in India began as a narrative art form. The Sanskrit word ‘nataka’ was derived from the root word ‘nata’ which actually meant a dancer. In ancient India, plays were generally of two types Lokadharmi: These were realistic depictions … Continue reading →

State: Assam Origin: The Sattriya dance form was introduced in the 15th century CE by the Vaishnava saint and reformer Sankaradeva. Theme: It has a religious character and is associated with the Sattras, (Vaishnava maths or monasteries). Features Sattriya dance … Continue reading →

Location: North India Origin of Word: The word Kathak has been derived from the word Katha which means a story. History It was primarily a temple or village performance wherein the dancers narrated stories from ancient scriptures that spread during … Continue reading →

State: Manipur History Manipuri is an ancient classical dance form that originated in the northeastern region. Lai Haraoba is the earliest form of dance in Manipur, and it forms the basis of all such dances. It has its roots in … Continue reading →

State:  Odisha Theme: The major subjects of performance are lores of incarnations of Lord Vishnu and verses of Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda. Feature A soft dance backed by soothing lyrics and is similar to Bharatanatyam in terms of the mudras and … Continue reading →

State: Kerala Other Name: Also known as the dance of Mohini (incarnation of Lord Vishnu). Performance  Mostly a solo performance. The Lasya aspect is dominating. Malayali poet V.N Menon revived it along with Kalyani Amma. Reference Vyavaharamala written in 1709 … Continue reading →

State: Kerala Influenced by: Chakiarkoothu, Koodiyattam, Krishnattam and Ramanattam. Features Kathakali is a blend of dance, music and acting and dramatises stories, which are mostly adapted from the Indian epics. Heavy make-up and stunning costumes are used. The dancers enact … Continue reading →

State: Andhra Pradesh Features It derives its name from a village in Andhra Pradesh. It was known under the generic name of Yakshagana. It is performed as dance drama i.e. performance in groups and also as solo items.

State: Tamil Nadu Source: The Abhinaya Darpana by Nandikesvara is one of the main sources of textual material dealing with Bharatnatyam Dance. Features Bharatnatyam dance is known to be ekaharya, where one dancer takes on many roles. The dance involves … Continue reading →

As per Natya Shastra, there are two basic aspects of Indian classical dance Lasya – It denotes grace, bhava, rasa, and abhinaya. It is symbolic to the feminine features of dance as an art form.  Tandava – This is symbolic … Continue reading →