State-Wise Classification of Indian Classical Dances: From Bharatanatyam to Sattriya
India is famous for its culture, art, and traditions. Dance is an important part of Indian culture and is used to tell stories, show feelings, and celebrate life. Among the many dance forms, there are nine main classical dances that are known all over India. Each dance belongs to a different state and has its own unique style, dress, and music.
In this post, you will learn about the 9 Classical Dances of India, their origin states and main features, along with important MCQs to help you in your exam preparation. This topic is very useful for SSC, Railway NTPC, ADR 3.0, Assam Police, Assam TET, and other Assam or state-level competitive exams. Read carefully and try the quiz given below to test your knowledge.
Bharatanatyam (Tamil Nadu)
Bharatanatyam is one of the oldest classical dances of India. It started in Tamil Nadu. This dance is known for its bent legs, fixed upper body, quick footwork, and expressive hand and face movements.
Kathak (Uttar Pradesh)
Kathak comes from North India, mainly Uttar Pradesh. It includes fast footwork, beautiful spins, and storytelling using expressions and hand gestures.
Kathakali (Kerala)
Kathakali is a famous dance from Kerala. It is known for its colorful costumes, painted faces, and strong expressions. It shows stories from epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh)
Kuchipudi is a classical dance from Andhra Pradesh. It has quick steps, expressive storytelling, and sometimes includes acting and singing.
Manipuri (Manipur)
Manipuri dance is from Manipur. It is soft, slow, and graceful. Most dances show the love stories of Lord Krishna and Radha.
Mohiniyattam (Kerala)
Mohiniyattam is a graceful dance from Kerala. It is usually performed by women and combines the beauty of Bharatanatyam and Kathakali.
Odissi (Odisha)
Odissi comes from Odisha. It is known for its smooth, curved movements and beautiful poses that look like temple sculptures.
Sattriya (Assam)
Sattriya is from Assam. It was started by the saint Srimanta Sankardev in the 15th century. It is a devotional dance, performed by monks in monasteries called sattras.
Chhau (Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand)
Chhau is a martial dance from Eastern India. It mixes dance, drama, and martial arts, often using masks. It shows stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
9 Classical Dances of India with MCQs
Multiple Choice Questions
Classical Dances of India with MCQs Quiz
1. Bharatanatyam dance is related to which state?
[A] Kerala
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] Karnataka
[D] Andhra Pradesh
Correct Answer: B [Tamil Nadu]
2. Kathak dance form belongs to which Indian state?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Rajasthan
[C] Punjab
[D] Madhya Pradesh
Correct Answer: A [Uttar Pradesh]
3. Kathakali originated in which Indian state?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Odisha
[C] Kerala
[D] Assam
Correct Answer: C [Kerala]
4. Kuchipudi dance is related to which state?
[A] Telangana
[B] Karnataka
[C] Andhra Pradesh
[D] Maharashtra
Correct Answer: C [Andhra Pradesh]
5. Manipuri dance belongs to which state?
[A] Mizoram
[B] Manipur
[C] Assam
[D] Tripura
Correct Answer: B [Manipur]
6. Mohiniyattam is the classical dance form of which state?
[A] Kerala
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] Odisha
[D] Andhra Pradesh
Correct Answer: A [Kerala]
7. Odissi dance is related to which Indian state?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Odisha
[C] Jharkhand
[D] Bihar
Correct Answer: B [Odisha]
8. Sattriya dance form originated in which state?
[A] Assam
[B] Manipur
[C] Meghalaya
[D] Sikkim
Correct Answer: A [Assam]
9. Chhau dance is popular in which of the following states?
[A] Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand
[B] Assam, Manipur, Tripura
[C] Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh
[D] Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh
Correct Answer: A [Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand]
10. Which dance form was introduced by saint Srimanta Sankardev?
[A] Bharatanatyam
[B] Sattriya
[C] Kathak
[D] Odissi
Correct Answer: B [Sattriya]
11. Bharatanatyam is known for which of the following features?
[A] Acrobatics
[B] Bent legs and expressive gestures
[C] Martial art moves
[D] Use of masks
Correct Answer: B [Bent legs and expressive gestures]
12. Kathakali stories are mainly taken from which epics?
[A] Mahabharata and Ramayana
[B] Bhagavad Gita and Vedas
[C] Bible and Quran
[D] Rigveda and Upanishads
Correct Answer: A [Mahabharata and Ramayana]
13. Manipuri dance mainly depicts stories of which Hindu deity?
[A] Shiva
[B] Vishnu
[C] Krishna
[D] Rama
Correct Answer: C [Krishna]
14. Which dance form combines the grace of Bharatanatyam and the strength of Kathakali?
[A] Sattriya
[B] Mohiniyattam
[C] Odissi
[D] Manipuri
Correct Answer: B [Mohiniyattam]
15. Chhau dance often uses what special feature?
[A] Masks
[B] Fire
[C] Paintings
[D] Puppets
Correct Answer: A [Masks]
16. Odissi dance movements resemble which of the following?
[A] Temple sculptures
[B] War techniques
[C] Folk songs
[D] Yoga postures
Correct Answer: A [Temple sculptures]
17. Which classical dance includes both acting and singing?
[A] Kuchipudi
[B] Kathak
[C] Odissi
[D] Manipuri
Correct Answer: A [Kuchipudi]
18. Which dance form is usually performed by women and has graceful movements?
[A] Kathak
[B] Mohiniyattam
[C] Chhau
[D] Bharatanatyam
Correct Answer: B [Mohiniyattam]
19. The main theme of Sattriya dance is —
[A] War and Heroism
[B] Devotion and Spirituality
[C] Love Stories
[D] Nature and Seasons
Correct Answer: B [Devotion and Spirituality]
20. Which classical dance form blends dance, drama, and martial arts?
