A Beginner’s Guide to Indian Classical Dance

Indian classical dance is rich, expressive, and deeply rooted in storytelling. If you’re new to it, don’t worry — you don’t have to understand every gesture or rhythm to enjoy the experience!

There are several major forms, each with its own regional roots and distinctive style:

• Bharatanatyam (Tamil Nadu)

• Kathak (North India)

• Odissi (Odisha)

• Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh)

• Kathakali (Kerala)

• Manipuri (Manipur)

• Mohiniyattam (Kerala)

A few quick notes: dancers perform barefoot, as the stage is considered a sacred space. Dancers also wear ankle bells (salangai/ghungroo/ etc) — these are not worn with shoes!

Each performance is a conversation between rhythm, expression, and story. Over the coming months, we’ll be sharing more posts diving into these dance traditions, their meanings, and the artists who bring them to life.