India’s rich cultural diversity extends to all of the nation’s art forms including dance.

You will find numerous dance forms originating from various parts of the country with unique beauty and cultural significance.

Each of these dance forms of India are epitomized by graceful movements of the body. There are specific hand movements, positions and attire for each dance form.

While there are many dance forms in India, given below are some of the more popular ones.

Main Classical and Traditional Folk Dance Forms of India with Pictures

Given below are the main or more popular classical and traditional folk dance forms of India.

I do want to stress that by no means is this an exhaustive list. In fact, each state of India has multiple dance forms resulting in hundreds of distinct dances.

Bharatanatyam

Bharatanatyam - Classical and Traditional Folk Dance Forms of India

It is a classical dance form originating from Tamil Nadu. It is a combination of music, expression, and rhythm and is known for its intricate footwork, hand gestures, and facial expressions.

Kathak

Kathak - Classical and Traditional Folk Dance Forms of India

It is a classical dance form from North India, particularly Uttar Pradesh. It is characterized by its fast spins, intricate footwork, and storytelling aspect.

Kathakali

Kathakali - Classical and Traditional Folk Dance Forms of India

It is a traditional dance form from Kerala. It is known for its elaborate makeup, costumes, and facial expressions. It also combines elements of martial arts.

Kuchipudi

Kuchipudi - Classical and Traditional Folk Dance Forms of India

It is a classical dance form from Andhra Pradesh. It is known for its graceful movements and intricate footwork. It also features storytelling elements.

Manipuri

Manipuri - Classical and Traditional Folk Dance Forms of India

It is a traditional dance form from Manipur. It is characterized by its gentle, swaying movements, and is usually performed in groups.

Odissi

Odissi - Classical and Traditional Folk Dance Forms of India

It is a classical dance form from Odisha. It is known for its graceful, fluid movements and expressive facial expressions.

Mohiniyattam

Mohiniyattam - Classical and Traditional Folk Dance Forms of India

It is a classical dance form from Kerala. It is known for its graceful, serene movements and subtle facial expressions.

Bhangra

Bhangra - Classical and Traditional Folk Dance Forms of India

It is a folk dance form originating from Punjab. It is characterized by its high-energy movements and upbeat music.

Garba

Garba - Classical and Traditional Folk Dance Forms of India

It is a folk dance form from Gujarat. It is usually performed during the Navratri festival and is known for its circular movements and colourful costumes.

Chhau

Chhau - Classical and Traditional Folk Dance Forms of India

It is a martial arts-based dance form from West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand. It is characterized by its acrobatic movements and elaborate masks.

Bihu

Bihu - Classical and Traditional Folk Dance Forms of India

It is a folk dance form from Assam. Bihu forms an integral part of Assamese culture and is characterized by rhythmic body movements.

Lavani

Lavani - Classical and Traditional Folk Dance Forms of India

Lavani is the main folk dance form from Maharashtra. It is known for combining song and dance accompanied by the beats of a Dholki.

Final thoughts

Indian dance forms are elegance personified.

They represent the culture of the state or region from where they originated.

India is blessed to have such a diverse range of dance forms that are a treat to perform or watch.