Indian classical dance, or Shastriya Nritya, is an umbrella term for various performance arts rooted in religious Hindu musical theatre styles, whose theory and practice can be traced to the Sanskrit text Natya Shastra. These dances are traditionally regional, all of them include music and recitation in local language or Sanskrit, and they represent a unity of core ideas in a diversity of styles, costumes and expression. Indian classical dance is made from India and classical dance is played by various actors.

Let's know more about the history of these classical dance forms:

The Natya Shastra is the foundational treatise for classical dances of India, and this text is attributed to the ancient scholar Bharata Muni. Its first complete compilation is dated to between 200 BCE and 200 CE, but estimates vary between 500 BCE and 500 CE. The most studied version of the Natya Shastra text consists of about 6000 verses structured into 36 chapters. The text, states Natalia Lidova, describes the theory of Tāṇḍava dance (Shiva), the theory of rasa, of bhāva, expression, gestures, acting techniques, basic steps, standing postures – all of which are part of Indian classical dances. Dance and performance arts, states this ancient text, are a form of expression of spiritual ideas, virtues and the essence of scriptures.

1) Bharata Natyam

Founded by Bharata Muni, the father of Natya Shastra, Bhartnatyam may indeed be described as a science among the performing arts. It is the most widely practiced Indian Classical Dance of south India and has its origin in Tamil Nadu. It is the most ancient of all the classical dance forms in India. It requires rigorous practice, hard work and full dedication in order to achieve the balance of body, hands, legs and eyes. Bhartnatyam is exact in the sense that it places equal emphasis on the different aspects that go to make a dance, namely Bhava (expression), Raga (Melody) and Thala (Rhythm).

2) Kathakali

Kathakali is one of the oldest theatre forms in the world. It originated in the area of southwestern India now known as the state of Kerala. Kathakali is a group presentation, in which dancers take various roles in performances traditionally based on themes from Hindu mythology, especially the two epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. One of the most interesting aspects of Kathakali is its elaborate make-up code. Each Character has different make up according to their nature.

3) Manipuri

Manipuri is one of the most beautiful dance styles of India. Nurtured in the mountainous region of the northeast, it takes its name from the name of the place Manipur, which is now a state. Manipur literally means a jewel of a land, and the state is set like a gem in the verdant hills. The legend goes that the gods drained a lake in the beautiful countryside in order to find a place to dance. No wonder then, that dance is the part of the rituals of daily life, such as weddings and homage to ancestors.

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4) Odissi

The long-established dance form in the serene surroundings of Shri Jagannath Temple in Odisha is famous as ‘Odissi'. It has its mention in the oldest Sanskrit Text – Natya Shastra as Audramagdhi. In ancient days this dance form filled with Bhakti ras was a part of worship to God at Jagannath temples. Thus we find many sculptures in dance position inside the temple. It has a combination of Lasya and Tandav. Graceful and mesmerizing, it appears like waves of the ocean. Odissi is famous for its presentations on poet Jayadev's fabulous work.

5) KuchiPudi

Originally Kuchipudi was only performed by men. Even the female characters in the dance drama would be staged by a man. The dance form originated in Andhra Pradesh and tells mythological tales like other classical dance forms in India. Kuchipudi is usually accompanied by musical instruments like the flute, veena, and mridangam.

6) Mohiniyattam

Mohiniyattam originated in the Southern state of Kerala in India. The name comes from a mythical character Mohini—an enchantress—who is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The dance form was given the contemporary form in the 18th century. Mohiniyattam was infamous for being a dance form of the devadasis (temple slaves).