Discover published sets by community

Origin: Assam Characteristics: Traditionally performed by male monks as part of their daily rituals or to mark special festivals in the monasteries called Sattras. Famous Dancers: Indira PP Bora, Anita Sharma, Mallika Kandali

Origin: Andhra Pradesh Characteristics: Revived traditional classical dance form performed by the temple dancers known as 'Devadasis'. Famous Dancers: Swathi Somnath, Anupama Kylash, Purvadhanashree

Origin: Jammu and Kashmir Characteristics: Performed by the men of the Wattal tribe, the dance involves colorful costumes and a tall conical hat, performed on specific occasions. Famous Dancers: Dumhal is a community dance and does not focus on individual performers

Origin: North India Characteristics: Involves fast footwork, spins, and expressive gestures and facial expressions. Famous Dancers: Birju Maharaj, Pandit Durga Lal, Shovana Narayan

Origin: North India Characteristics: A dance form with roots in the Mughal era, known for its intricate gestures and footwork. Famous Dancers: Notable performers from the past include courtesans during the Mughal and British Raj eras

Origin: Odisha Characteristics: Performed by boys dressed as young women, it involves acrobatic postures and is often seen as the precursor to Odissi dance. Famous Dancers: Renowned Gotipua gurus are rare, as this is traditionally taught in akhadas or gymnasiums by performing art teachers

Origin: Manipur Characteristics: Characterized by smooth and graceful movements. The dance is subtle yet expressive. Famous Dancers: Jhaveri Sisters, Nirmala Mehta, Darshana Jhaveri

Origin: Karnataka Characteristics: A drum dance where performers play the Dollu, a percussion instrument, as they dance in vigorous and synchronized movements. Famous Dancers: Dollu Kunitha is typically performed in groups and does not focus on individual performers

Origin: Kerala Characteristics: Distinguished by elaborate costumes, detailed gestures, and well-defined body movements presented in tune with playback music and complementary percussion. Famous Dancers: Kalamandalam Gopi, Keezhpadam Kumaran Nair, Kottakkal Sivaraman

Origin: Odisha Characteristics: Known for its fluidity of movement, expressive hand gestures, and rapt expression on the face. Famous Dancers: Sanjukta Panigrahi, Kelucharan Mohapatra, Sonal Mansingh

Origin: Odisha Characteristics: Performed originally by Maharis or temple dancers of Odisha, it has similarities to Odissi but possesses its own unique rituals and nuances. Famous Dancers: Sanjukta Panigrahi, Guru Pankaj Charan Das, Priestesses of the Jagannath Temple

Origin: Eastern India Characteristics: Known for martial arts-like movements, flips, jumps, and spins. It's often narrative in nature, recounting mythological stories. Famous Dancers: Pandit Gopal Prasad Dubey, Shashadhar Acharya, Janmejoy Saibabu

Origin: Tamil Nadu Characteristics: A street theater form performed in open spaces where episodes from Hindu epics like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana are enacted. Famous Dancers: Therukoothu artists often form troupes, and it's a community affair rather than highlighting individual names

Origin: Kerala Characteristics: A solo dance performed by women characterized by elegant movements and feminine grace, often compared to a beautiful swan. Famous Dancers: Sunanda Nair, Kalamandalam Kshemavathy, Methil Devika

Origin: Kerala Characteristics: Known for its simplicity, wit, and humor, Ottan Thullal performances combine dance and poetic recitation. Famous Dancers: Kalamandalam Geethanandan, Kalamandalam Prabhakaran, Kottakkal Kesavan

Origin: Kerala Characteristics: A dance drama that presents the life and activities of the Hindu god Krishna. It is a precursor to Kathakali. Famous Dancers: Traditionally performed by the communities like Chakiar and Nambiar families

Origin: Tamil Nadu Characteristics: Noted for fixed upper torso, bent legs, and a sophisticated vocabulary of sign language based on gestures of hands, eyes, and face muscles. Famous Dancers: Rukmini Devi Arundale, Padma Subrahmanyam, Alarmel Valli

Origin: Andhra Pradesh Characteristics: A dance-drama performance, with its roots in the ancient Hindu Sanskrit text of Natya Shastra. Combines fast rhythms with fluid movements, creating a nice blend of control and abandon. Famous Dancers: Raja and Radha Reddy, Yamini Krishnamurthy, Shobha Naidu

Origin: Karnataka Characteristics: A traditional theatre form that combines dance, music, dialogue, costume, make-up, and stage techniques with a unique style and form. Famous Dancers: Keremane Shambhu Hegde, Chittani Ramachandra Hegde, Nilavar Srishaila Bhat

Origin: West Bengal Characteristics: A classical dance tradition of the Bengali region involving elaborate gestures and expressions. Famous Dancers: Mahua Mukherjee, Bhabananda Barbayan, Guru Thankamani Kutty

Origin: Tamil Nadu Characteristics: The precursor to the modern Bharatanatyam, it was performed by Devadasis or servant dancers of deities in temples. Famous Dancers: T. Balasaraswati is a notable figure associated with this dance form

Origin: Gujarat Characteristics: A traditional folk theatre, it is a mixture of drama, dance, and music which focuses on social issues and mythological anecdotes. Famous Dancers: Not focused on dance individually, it’s a communal performance by various artists