Kuchipudi A classical dance-drama style occasionally performed as a solo female dance, that originates from Kuchipudi village in Andra Pradesh and is often regarded as an off-shoot of Bharatanatyam. Developed over various parts of south India during...

Odissi Odissi dance has its roots in devotional ritual, originating from Orissa state in the northeast of India. It was founded by the Mahari (devadasi) temple dancers, who worked in the service of religious centres such as Puri, Bhubaneshwar and Udayagiri in...

Manipuri A minor classical dance style of Northern India, Manipuri originates from the valley of Manipur, situated in the secluded north-eastern corner of India. It evolved from the folk traditions of the Deities, followers of a tantric cult combined...

Mohiniattam Mohiniattam is a solo dance from Kerala performed by women using techniques from Bharatnatyam and Kathakali. It is a product of the diverse social and cultural characteristics introduced by invading rulers from neighbouring Tamil Nadu and...

Kathakali A classical dance-drama style from Kerala in South India. Katha means 'story', while kali is the enacting of stories through mime and movement. Kathakali is not performed by a solo dancer, compared to other Indian classical dance styles,...

Bharatnatyam Bharatnatyam is the most prominent dance style of South India. Its name, and much of its style and technique, derives from Bharata's Natya Shastra, an ancient handbook on dance and drama. For much of its early history Bharatnatyam was...

Kathak Kathak is the most prominent classical dance style of Northern India. The word Kathak' is derived from Sanskrit and loosely translated means 'to tell a story'. This is done through dance and mime, the two main elements of this dance style....