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Among the various dance forms in India
are
Bharatanatyam, Chakiarkoothu, Kathak,
Kathakali
, Krishnanattam, Kuchupudi,
Manipuri, Mohiniattom, Oddissi,
Ottanthullal and Yakshagana
. Besides, there are umpteen
numbers of folkdances peculiar to various
regions and sub-cultures.
Bharatanatyam
 Bharata
Natyam is poetry in motion, tracing its
hoary origins in the Natya Shastra,
written by the great sage, Bharata,
it is a highly traditional and stylized
dance form. Crystallized in the cast-iron
mould of Bharata's technique, this art form
grossly disallows new-fangled innovations or
gimmicks except in repertoire and forms of
presentation. Emerging far back in the
labyrinthine twists of ancient history (as
information for the date conscious, 4000
B.C. is the ascribed date to the Natya
Shastra), Bharatanatyam has been
immortalized in successive generations, as
much by the sinuous grace of great dancers
as by the nimble fingers of renowned
sculptors who have demonstrated the
perfection of Bharata's technique in the
flowing lines of temple sculptures.
Chakiarkoothu
This form is believed to have been
introduced to Kerala by the early Aryan
immigrants and is performed only by the
members of the Chakiar caste. A
highly orthodox type of entertainment, it
can be staged inside temples only and
witnessed by the Hindus of the higher
castes. The theatre is known as Koothambalam.
The story is recited in a quasi-dramatic
style with emphasis on eloquent declarations
with appropriately suggestive facial
expressions and hand gestures. The only
accompaniments are the cymbals and the drum
known as the mizhavu, made of copper
with a narrow mouth on which is stretched a
piece of parchment.
Kathak
It has its root in Katha-story. A
band of storytellers who were attached to
temples in India, narrated stories from
epics. Later, they added mime and gesture to
their recitation The next stage in its
evolution came in the 15th and 16th
centuries A.D. with the popularization of
the Radha-Krishna legend. With the
advent of the Muslim rule, it was taken out
from the temples to the courts. Jaipur,
Lucknow and Benaras became the centers.
While Jaipur gave predominance to pure dance
with emphasis on rhythm, the Lucknow one
drifted into erotics. Benaras also stuck to
pure dance but it provided for the sensuous
aspect by delineating episodes from the
Radha-Krishna legend. Binda din Maharaj,
Kalkadin, Aachan Maharaj. Gopi Krishna and
Briju Maharaj are but a few maestros in this
line.
Kathakali
 Kathakali
is the most refined; the most scientific and
elaborately defined dance form of Kerala. As
it is obtained today it is not more than 300
years old, but its roots can be traced back
farther past. It is a very exciting art form
demanding not only complete control of
practically every fiber of the artist's
body, but also intense sensitivity of
emotion.
Kuchipudi
Kuchipudi is the dance drama of Andhra
Pradesh. It is the corresponding style of
the Bhagavada Melka Nataka of Tamil Nadu.
Except that the emphasis is on the
animation. The grammar is derived from the
Natya Shastra and in all other aspects it is
akin to Bharata Natyam. Tritha Narayan and
Siddendra Yogi evolved this style.
Kuchelapuram in Andhra Pradesh was the
originating center for this style. Hence the
name Kuchipudi. It was a male prerogative.
In recent years women have taken to it but
it is mostly solo dance that they
perform.
Manipuri
From the 15th to the 18th centuries,
Vaishnavism came to be adopted in Manipur
and this ushered a new era in the
development of this style. For Manipuris,
dance has been so inextricably woven into
their patter n of life. The dance form is
mostly ritualistic. It has still preserved
the dance drams technique, which draws
heavily from the rich lore of legend and
mythology. Costumes are colorful and the
music has quaint old-world charm. The
numbers presented are Lai Haraoda and
Rasa Leela.
Mohiniyattam
 Mohiniyattam
is also the heir to Devadas dance heritage
like Bharathanatyam, Kuchipudi and Odissi.
The word 'Mohini' literally means a maiden
who exerts desire or steals the heart of the
onlooker. There is the well-known story of
Lord Vishnu taking on the guise of a 'Mohini'
to enthrall people, both in connection with
the churning of the milk-ocean and with the
episode of the slaying of Bhasmasura. Thus
it is thought that Vaishnava devotees gave
the name of Mohiniyattam to this dance form.
Odissi
 This
is also based on the Natya Shastra and
earliest evidence, we have of the existence
of the heart of dance in Orissa is during
the 2nd century B.C. when the Jain King
Karavela rules. Himself an expert dancer and
musician, he arranged a performance of
thandava and abhinaya. In the early 17th
century, a class of boys known as gotipuas
came into being. They dressed as dancing
girls and danced in the temples. Grace is
its uniqueness and the most important
elements are the Bhangis and Karanas. The
Bhangis are the basic poses and the Karanas
the basic dance units.
Ottanthullal
Ottanthullal is performed solo and because
of its ready mass appeal, it is also known 
as the poor man's Kathakali. Kunjan
Nambiar evolved it and brought out the
social conditions of his time, the
distinctions of class and the weaknesses and
within the rich and the great. The dialogue
is in simple Malayalam and therefore ensures
mass appeal.
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