Indian dance forms

This classical dance has its origination in south Indian state of kerela.  It is a much mesmerizing and graceful dance form performed by female mostly solo performances. The movements are tender and exquisite,  the legs are kept half-bent, the footwork is rhythmical and powerful and the arms are wide open. Mohiniyattam dance form seems to give a flavor of both kathakali and bharatnatyam. Mohini means a seductress and a dancer who performs an enchanting dance. The dancer is accompanied with a conductor who sings and plays the handheld cymbals. There are also the drummers who play the 'madallam' and a wind instrument. The dancer is dressed in beautiful white costume with gold border, hair is tucked in a bun also adorned with jasmine flowers, the face us painted with a natural tinted and the eyebrows are boldly outlined. Ornaments are gold plated, the dancer wears them on the neck, head and waist.

This is a feminine dance form that comes from the mountains region of manipur, situated on the north eastern border of India. The movements of manipuri dance are very tender, lyrical and slow. The moves are not done by force but they contain force that's a distinctive feature about it.the dancers very gently move their arms in arcs and circular motions. There are in fact no sharp edges to any of movements. All the movements of the Dance are in a flow that gives a fluidity and suppleness to the performance and make the dance quite different from the other styles which include quick and rigorous footwork and pirouettes. Even the facial expression is subtle and gentle. A manipuri dance form has been very much influenced by the religious movements of vaishnaivism, the raasleelas and the worship of lord vishnu. A manipuri dancer wears a long embroidered skirts with transparent veil. The Male dancers play drums called as 'pung' and execute twirls and turns on fast rhythm.