Indian Art, Culture, Literature and Heritage

Classical Dance Traditions of India

60 practice questions, each with the answer and an explanation.

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Random questions from this topic, one at a time. You see the answer and the explanation straight after each one.

All 60 questions

  1. How many classical dances has India's Sangeet Natak Akademi given recognition to?
  2. Which ancient Sanskrit treatise on the performing arts, attributed to Bharata Muni, has 36 chapters in its most studied version?
  3. In classical Indian dance theory, which term refers to the abstract, fast and rhythmic aspect of dance?
  4. Which gentle and graceful dance, associated with the goddess Parvati, is contrasted with the masculine Tandava of Shiva?
  5. Which Indian classical dance form, whose older name Sadiraattam was renamed in 1932, is described as the oldest classical dance tradition in India?
  6. Which dancer, together with her husband, established the Kalakshetra academy of dance and music at Adyar, Chennai, in January 1936?
  7. In a Bharatanatyam margam (performance sequence), which item is a rhythmic invocation described as a pure dance?
  8. In a Bharatanatyam recital, which item is the longest and central expressive piece, often 30 to 45 minutes?
  9. Which classical dance form's origin is attributed to travelling bards of ancient northern India known as Kathakaar ('storyteller')?
  10. Which Nawab of Awadh, who used the pseudonym 'Akhtarpiya' for his musical compositions, was a patron of Kathak at Lucknow?
  11. In Kathak, what are the footwork sequences during a nritta called?
  12. Which legendary Kathak maestro of the Lucknow 'Kalka-Bindadin' Gharana, a Padma Vibhushan recipient in 1986, died in January 2022?
  13. Which classical dance-drama of Kerala, with all roles typically played by male actor-dancers, uses green (Pachcha) make-up for noble characters?
  14. In Kathakali makeup, which colour is the base for noble characters such as Krishna, Rama and Arjuna?
  15. Which two drums, with the Idakka as a third major drum, are used in a Kathakali performance?
  16. Which classical dance is named after a village in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, known as Kuchelapuram, where it developed?
  17. Whose play Parijatapaharana, depicting Satyabhama and Krishna, is more commonly known as the Bhama Kalapam?
  18. In a Kuchipudi performance, what is the name for the pure dance items performed rhythmically to a musical raga?
  19. Which classical dance of Odisha is linked to Gotipuas, young boys dressed as women?
  20. Which posture of Odissi is an S-shaped three-fold bending of the body?
  21. Which 12th-century Sanskrit work by Jayadeva, whose ashtapadis are sung in the Odissi style at the Jagannatha temple, depicts the love of Krishna and Radha?
  22. Which Odissi guru, credited with the revival and popularising of the dance in the 20th century, received the Padma Vibhushan in 2000?
  23. Which classical dance of Kerala gets its name from Mohini, the female enchantress avatar of Vishnu?
  24. What is the traditional costume of a Mohiniyattam dancer?
  25. Which 19th-century king of Travancore supported Mohiniyattam and helped systematize it?
  26. Which Malayalam poet founded the Kerala Kalamandalam, inaugurated in November 1930 at Kakkad House in Kunnamkulam?
  27. Which classical dance form originating in Manipur is also called the Manipuri Raas Leela?
  28. Which hand-beaten drum do dancers play while dancing the Pung Cholom of Manipur?
  29. What cylindrical, stiff, mirror-embellished skirt costume, which makes the dancer appear to be floating, is worn in Manipuri dance?
  30. Which dance of Assam, recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2000 as one of India's classical dances, developed from the dance-dramas of the saint-poet Sankardev?
  31. In which institutions was Sattriya traditionally performed only by bhokots (male monks)?
  32. Which class of one-act plays from Assam is credited to Sankardeva?
  33. How many primary rasas does the Natya Shastra state and discuss in its dedicated section on rasa?
  34. In the list of rasas, which rasa denotes romance, love and attractiveness?
  35. How many asamyuta hasta mudras does the Natya Shastra list?
  36. How many karanas, the building blocks of dance combining hand and foot positions, does Chapter 4 of the Natya Shastra describe?
  37. At which Tamil Nadu temple does the eastern gopura wall show all 108 dance postures (karanas) of the Natya Shastra?
  38. Which four brothers, who first served the Maratha king Sarfoji II at Thanjavur, are known as the Thanjavur Quartet?
  39. In a Bharatanatyam performance, what is the vocalist who is typically also the conductor of the performance called?
  40. Which dance form of eastern India, with the Purulia, Seraikella and Mayurbhanj styles, was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List in 2010?
  41. Which gharana of Kathak focuses on technical expertise, footwork and fast spins?
  42. Which painter, born at Kilimanoor in the princely state of Travancore, is particularly noted for paintings of episodes from the story of Dushyanta and Shakuntala?
  43. In a Kathakali performance, what is the large lamp with a thick wick sunk in coconut oil that stands on stage called?
  44. Which south Indian martial art has also influenced Kathakali, according to the Kathakali article?
  45. In which city did Mrinalini Sarabhai found the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts?
  46. What is the dance village at Hesaraghatta near Bengaluru, set up by the Odissi dancer Protima Gauri and formally inaugurated on 11 May 1990?
  47. Which Indian dancer studied painting under Sir William Rothenstein at the Royal College of Art in London and later set up a centre at Almora?
  48. According to the fourfold scheme of abhinaya in classical Indian performance theory, what are the four aspects of abhinaya?
  49. Which Kerala classical dance has its ragas rendered in the 'sopana (steps)' style?
  50. Which exponent of Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam received the Padma Vibhushan in 2016?
  51. Which drum provides percussion in the Odissi mini-orchestra, which also includes the tanpura for a drone?
  52. What are the strings of small metallic bells worn on the ankles by dancers, called salangai or gejje in South India, known as?
  53. Which Kathak dancer was honoured by Rabindranath Tagore after he watched her perform when she was just sixteen years old?
  54. Which classical dance of India is noted for its dancers not wearing ankle bells, unlike the other classical dance forms?
  55. According to the Natya Shastra, how many one-hand (asamyuta) mudras are described?
  56. Which state is the homeland of the classical dance Sattriya, which grew out of Ankiya Nat performances created by Sankardev?
  57. What is the art of performing percussion syllables vocally in South Indian Carnatic music called?
  58. Which Kathakali aattakatha, the masterpiece of Unnayi Variyar, is based on the story of Nala and Damayanti?
  59. Which item brings the performance sequence of a Bharatanatyam recital to its climax?
  60. Which Sanskrit dramatist wrote the play 'Malavikagnimitram', in which a quarrel between two dancing-masters over their superiority leads to a contest?

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