Bharatanatyam is one of the main classical dances of India. Bharatanatyam, whose antiquity is well established, is said to be originated in South India. It is the purest form of classical dance and is said to be danced by Lord Nataraja, the Lord of the dances. It is thought to have been created by Sage Bharata Muni who also wrote the Natya Shastra in 4000 B.C. Natya shastra  is an elaborate text about this dance form as danced by the great Lord Nataraja. In ancient times, this dance form was danced by devadasis, or temple dancers dedicating their lives in service to the gods. In fact, it is the celestial dancers, the apsara's, who are depicted in many scriptures dancing the heavenly version of what is known on earth as Bharatanatyam. Bharatanatyam is considered to be a fire-dance — the mystic manifestation of the metaphysical element of fire in the human body.  It is one of the most stylised dance form which has definitive feet movements, most descriptive hand gestures and geometrical patterns of steps. 

 

 

 

Kathak originated from northern India. This dance form traces its origins to the the nomadic bards of ancient northern India, known as Kathaks, or story tellers. These bards, performing in village squares and temple courtyards, mostly specialized in recounting mythological and moral tales from the scriptures, and embellished their recitals with hand gestures and facial expressions. The unique feature of this dance form is the chakkar or spins and the fast-paced footwork that the dancer displays. The intricate footwork is interspersed with the rhythmic syllables of music and the drums to create a series of beats with the feet which are astonishing to watch. The spins that the dancer performs can be ranging from 8-16-24 turns in one go.

 

 

 

 

 

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Bollywood dancing is the commercial name for modern Indian Dance. The unique style of dance has its roots in classical and folk dance with the occasional Latino and Arabic influence.

 

Bollywood is also the name given to the film industry in India which is considered to be the largest in the world producing the greatest number of titles each year.  

More recently, films such as Slumdog Millionaire have helped to bring Indian films to the Western world.

 

Bollywood films use many songs and lots of dancers to help tell the stories. The use of vibrant colours and modern Indian music make these films intoxicating.

 

Bollywood dancing is the style of dancing used in these successful Indian films and is now popular across the world.

 

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Odissi a is a major ancient Indian classical dance that originated in the Hindu temples of Odisha – an eastern coastal state of India. Odissi, in its history, was performed predominantly by women, and expressed religious stories and spiritual ideas, particularly of Vaishnavism (Vishnu as Jagannath). Odissi performances have also expressed ideas of other traditions such as those related to Hindu gods Shiva and Surya, as well as Hindu goddesses (Shaktism).

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Odissi is traditionally a dance-drama genre of performance art, where the artist(s) and musicians play out a mythical story, a spiritual message or devotional poem from the Hindu texts, using symbolic costumes, body movement, abhinaya (expressions) and mudras (gestures and sign language) set out in ancient Sanskrit literature. Odissi is learnt and performed as a composite of basic dance motif called the Bhangas (symmetric body bends, stance). It involves lower (footwork), mid (torso) and upper (hand and head) as three sources of perfecting expression and audience engagement with geometric symmetry and rhythmic musical resonance.  

 

Modern Odissi productions by Indian artists have presented a diverse range of experimental ideas, culture fusion, themes and plays. Odissi was the only Indian dance form present in Michael Jackson's 1991 hit single Black or White.

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Kuchipudi, originating in the state of Andhra Pradesh of South India, shares many movements from Bharatanatyam.  But this style of dance usually is a story-telling drama style of dance where the dancer uses movements and songs to tell a story or dancers enact an old epic  or story.  The movements in Kuchipudi are quicksilver and scintillating, rounded and fleet-footed.However, the pure dance section of this dance form is closely related to Bharatanatyam. The fast movements combined with elegant movements make this dance form very unique.

 

 

 

 

Mohiniattam, originated in Kerela, is a very graceful dance meant to be performed as a solo recital by women.  The term Mohiniyattam comes from the words "Mohini" meaning a woman who enchants onlookers and "aattam" meaning graceful and sensuous body movements. The word "Mohiniyattam" literally means "dance of the enchantress".

This dance which has influences and elements from two South Indian dance forms, the Bharatanatyam and Kathakali, was formulated in the court of king Swati Tirunal. The dance involves the swaying of broad hips and the gentle movements of erect posturefrom side to side. This is reminiscent of the swinging of the palm leaves and the gently flowing rivers which abound Kerala, the land of Mohiniyattam.