February 2, 2013

Classical dances of India


Bharatnatyam (Tamilnadu) - follows the principal of Natya Shastra. Rukminidevi Arundale revived it by establishing ‘Kalakshetra’ at Adayar, Chennai. Famous dancers are Yamini Krishnamurthy, Sonal Mansingh, Padma Subramanyam, Mrinalini Sarabhai.

Kathakali & Mohiniyattam (Kerala) - the poet Vallathol revived Kathakali and Mohiniyattam by establishing Kerala Kalamandalam at Cheruthuruthi, Thrissur, in 1930.

Kathak - North Indian classical dance form. Birji Maharaj, Gopi Krishna and Shambu Maharaj are the famous exponents of this dance form.

Odissi (Orissa) - Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra is at the forefront of the greatest of Odissi exponents.

Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh) - a variation of Bharatnatyam.

Mohiniattom (Kerala) - Swathi Thirunal encouraged this dance form.

Manipuri (Manipur) - a delicate lyrical style of dance.