Dances of India: Classical and Folk
Dances of India: Classical and Folk
Dance questions in NTPC are mostly "which state" questions, with some on classical dance exponents and UNESCO-listed forms. Learn the eight classical dances with their states, a list of folk dances by state, and the dancers associated with each classical form.
1. Classical Dances
| Dance | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bharatanatyam | Tamil Nadu | Exponents Rukmini Devi Arundale, Yamini Krishnamurthy |
| Kathak | Uttar Pradesh (North India) | Birju Maharaj; Lucknow, Jaipur and Banaras gharanas |
| Kathakali | Kerala | Dance-drama with heavy make-up |
| Mohiniyattam | Kerala | Graceful solo dance by women |
| Kuchipudi | Andhra Pradesh | Named after a village in Krishna district |
| Odissi | Odisha | Kelucharan Mohapatra, Sonal Mansingh |
| Manipuri | Manipur | Ras Lila themes |
| Sattriya | Assam | Introduced by Srimanta Sankardev; recognised in 2000 |
The Sangeet Natak Akademi recognises eight classical dances; the Ministry of Culture also lists Chhau
2. Folk Dances by State
| State | Folk dances |
|---|---|
| Jharkhand | Chhau (Seraikela), Paika (martial), Jhumar, Karma |
| Bihar | Jat-Jatin, Jhijhiya, Bidesia |
| Assam | Bihu |
| Gujarat | Garba, Dandiya Raas |
| Punjab | Bhangra, Giddha |
| Rajasthan | Ghoomar, Kalbelia |
| Maharashtra | Lavani |
| Karnataka | Yakshagana, Dollu Kunitha |
| Kerala | Theyyam |
| Himachal Pradesh | Nati |
| Mizoram | Cheraw (bamboo dance) |
| Chhattisgarh | Raut Nacha |
3. Dance Terms and More Folk Forms
| Term or dance | Meaning or state |
|---|---|
| Natya Shastra | Ancient text on drama and dance by Bharata Muni |
| Mudra | Symbolic hand gesture |
| Abhinaya | Expression through face, body and speech |
| Tandava and Lasya | Vigorous form linked to Shiva and graceful form linked to Parvati |
| Nataraja | Shiva as lord of dance; famous Chola bronze |
| Gotipua | Odisha; performed by boys dressed as girls, a forerunner of Odissi |
| Karagattam | Tamil Nadu; dance with a pot balanced on the head |
| Perini Shivatandavam | Telangana; warrior dance of the Kakatiya period |
| Rouf | Jammu and Kashmir |
| Gambhira | West Bengal (Malda) |
| Thang-Ta | Manipur; martial art form |
On the UNESCO intangible heritage list: Chhau, Kalbelia and Mudiyettu (all 2010), and Garba (2023)
✗ Kuchipudi belongs to Tamil Nadu | ✓ Kuchipudi is from Andhra Pradesh; Bharatanatyam is from Tamil Nadu
✗ Mohiniyattam and Kathakali belong to different states | ✓ Both are from Kerala
हिंदी नोट: आठ शास्त्रीय नृत्य: भरतनाट्यम (तमिलनाडु), कथक (उत्तर प्रदेश), कथकली और मोहिनीअट्टम (केरल), कुचिपुड़ी (आंध्र प्रदेश), ओडिसी (ओडिशा), मणिपुरी (मणिपुर) और सत्त्रिया (असम)। छऊ और पाइका झारखंड के लोक नृत्य हैं; बिहू असम का और गरबा गुजरात का।
Exam Pointer: Verified NTPC patterns: the state of Chhau (March 2026 Graduate CBT-1) and of the Paika folk dance (June 2025 Graduate CBT-1). Classical-dance and exponent questions are tagged syllabus-based.
Pariksha Pattern: Every Way NTPC Asks This Topic
Pattern 1: Folk dance and its state
[PYQ: NTPC Graduate CBT-1 24-Mar-2026 Shift-3 | NTPC Graduate CBT-1 14-Jun-2025 Shift-1]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. Paika, a martial folk dance of the Munda community performed with swords and shields, belongs to which state?
Jharkhand, where the Munda community performs it.
Answer: Jharkhand
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. Match the dance with the state: Lavani, Cheraw, Raut Nacha.
Lavani: Maharashtra. Cheraw (bamboo dance): Mizoram. Raut Nacha: Chhattisgarh.
Answer: Maharashtra, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh
Pattern 2: Classical dances and states
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. Sattriya is a classical dance of which state?
Assam.
Answer: Assam
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. Which two classical dances belong to Kerala, and how many classical dances does the Sangeet Natak Akademi recognise?
Kathakali and Mohiniyattam; eight.
Answer: Kathakali and Mohiniyattam; eight
Pattern 3: Exponents of classical dance
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. With which dance is Birju Maharaj associated?
Kathak.
Answer: Kathak
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. Match the dancer with the form: Kelucharan Mohapatra, Rukmini Devi Arundale.
Kelucharan Mohapatra: Odissi. Rukmini Devi Arundale: Bharatanatyam.
Answer: Odissi; Bharatanatyam
Pattern 4: UNESCO-listed dances
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. Which Gujarati dance was added to UNESCO's intangible heritage list in 2023?
Garba.
Answer: Garba
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. Which three Indian dance and theatre forms were added to the UNESCO list in 2010, and to which states do they belong?
Chhau (Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal), Kalbelia (Rajasthan) and Mudiyettu (Kerala).
Answer: Chhau, Kalbelia, Mudiyettu
60-Second Revision
- Eight classical dances; two from Kerala.
- Kuchipudi Andhra Pradesh; Bharatanatyam Tamil Nadu; Sattriya Assam.
- Jharkhand: Chhau, Paika, Jhumar; Rajasthan: Ghoomar, Kalbelia.
- UNESCO: Chhau, Kalbelia, Mudiyettu (2010), Garba (2023).