India is an amazing country with every state having its own unique culture and tradition. These diverse cultures include different food, dialect, clothing, folk dance, etc. Folk dances symbolize the tradition of their states. Central and State governments keep on promoting these dances to preserve the unique cultural heritage of India. GK Questions regarding various states and their dance forms are often asked in competitive examinations.
In India, the dance forms are classified into the following two categories i.e. Classical and folk dance. You are expected to know about these dance forms if you are preparing for government job examinations like UPSC, SSC, Railway, etc. In today’s post, we are sharing the list of States and their dance forms.
List of Classical Dance Forms of India
As per the data of the cultural ministry of India, there are 9 classical dance forms in India. The classical dances are those which are originated from the Natya Shastra. The names of 9 classical dance forms along with their expressions are as follows.
| Name of the dance | Expression of the dance |
| Shringar | Love |
| Hasya | Humorous |
| Karuna | Sorrow |
| Raudra | Anger |
| Veer | Heroism |
| Bhayanak | Fear |
| Bibhats | Disgust |
| Adbhoot | Wonder |
| Chhau | Combat |
State-wise list of Indian Folk Dances
Let’s go through the list of dances of every state of India. You should remember these dances if you are preparing for any state-specific examination.
Folk Dances of Andhra Pradesh
- Vilasini Natyam
- Bhamakalpam
- Veeranatyam
- Dappu
- Tappeta Gullu
- Lambadi
- Dhimsa
- Kolattam
Folk Dances of Arunachal Pradesh
- Buiya
- Chalo
- Wancho
- Pasi Kongki
- Ponung
- Popir
List of Folk Dances of Assam
- Bihu
- Bichhua
- Natpuja
- Maharas
- Kaligopal
- Bagurumba
- Naga dance
- Khel Gopal
Folk Dances of Bihar
- Jata-Jatin
- Bakho-Bakhain
- Panwariya
Folk Dances of Chhattisgarh
- Gaur Maria
- Panthi
- Raut Nacha
- Pandwani
- Vedamati
- Kapalik
List of Folk Dances of Gujarat
- Garba
- Dandiya Raas
- Tippani Juriun
- Bhavai
Folk Dances of Goa
- Tarangamel
- Koli
- Dekhni
- Fugdi
- Shigmo
- Ghode
- Modni
- Samayi nrutya
- Jagar
- Ranmale
Folk Dances of Haryana
- Jhumar
- Phag
- Daph
- Dhamal
- Loor
- Gugga
- Khor
List of Folk Dances of Himachal Pradesh
- Jhora
- Jhali
- Chharhi
- Dhaman
- Chhapeli
- Mahasu
Folk Dances of Jammu & Kashmir
- Rauf
- Hikat
- Mandjas
- Kud Dandi Nach
Folk Dances of Jharkhand
- Alkap
- Karma Munda
- Agni
- Jhumar
- Janani Jhumar
- Mardana Jhumar
- Paika
- Phagua
List of Folk Dances of Karnataka
- Yakshagana
- Huttari
- Suggi
- Kunitha
- Karga
Folk Dances of Kerala
- Ottam Thullal
- Kaikottikali
Folk Dances of Maharashtra
- Lavani
- Nakata
- Koli
- Lezim
- Gafa
- Dahikala Dasavtar
List of Folk Dances of Madhya Pradesh
- Jawara
- Matki
- Aada
- Khada Nach
- Phulpati
- Grida Dance
- Selalarki
- Selabhadoni
List of Folk Dances of Manipur
- Dol Cholam
- Thang Ta
- Lai Haraoba
- Pung Cholom
Folk Dances of Meghalaya
- Ka Shad Suk Mynsiem
- Nongkrem
- Laho
Folk Dances of Mizoram
- Cheraw Dance
- Khuallam
- Chailam
- Sawlakin
- Chawnglaizawn
- Zangtalam
List Folk Dances of Nagaland
- Rangma
- Bamboo Dance
- Zeliang
- Nsuirolians
- Gethinglim
Folk Dances of Odisha
- Savari
- Ghumara
- Painka
- Munari
Folk Dances of Punjab
- Bhangra
- Giddha
- Daff
- Dhaman
- Bhand
List of Folk Dances of Rajasthan
- Ghumar
- Chakri
- Ganagor
- Jhulan Leela
- Jhuma
- Suisini
- Ghapal
Folk Dances of Sikkim
- Chu Faat
- Sikmari
- Singhi Chaam or the Snow Lion
- Yak Chaam
- Denzong Gnenha
- Tashi Yangku
Folk Dances of Tamil Nadu
- Kumi
- Kolattam
- Kavadi
Folk Dances of Tripura
- Hojagiri
List of Folk Dances of Uttar Pradesh
- Nautanki
- Raslila
- Kajri
- Jhora
- Chappeli
Folk Dances of Uttarakhand
- Pandav Nritya
- Bhotiya
- Choliya
- Mukhota
- Kumayuni
- Kajari
- Jhora
- Raslila
Frequently Asked Questions
Question -1: What are the classical dances in India along with the state of origin?
Answer: The list of classical dances in India along with their state of origin are as follows.
- Bharatnatyam – Tamil Nadu
- Kathak – Uttar Pradesh
- Kuchipudi – Andhra Pradesh
- Odissi – Odisha
- Kathakali – Kerala
- Sattriya – Assam
- Manipuri – Manipur
- Mohiniyattam – Kerala
- Chhau – West Bengal
Question – 2: Which dance is most recently added to the list of classical dances of India?
Answer: Chhau is the classical dance that is added to the list of classical dances of India by the Cultural Ministry of India.
Question – 3: How many total classical dance forms are there in India?
Answer: According to the Sangeet Natak Academy (India’s National Academy), there are only eight classical dance forms in India. However, The Ministry of Culture also considers Chhau Dance as a classical dance of India. So, according to the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, there are 9 classical dances in India.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) on States and their dance forms
Question – 1: Kuchipudi’ is the Classical Dance of _________________ State?
- Andhra Pradesh
- Tamil Nadu
- Karnataka
- Kerala
Answer: 1 (Andhra Pradesh)
Question – 2: Which of the following dance is related to Kerala?
- Kuchipudi
- Bharathanatyam
- Kathak
- Kathakali
Answer: 4 (Kathakali)
Question – 3: ‘Nautanki Jhora’ dance is related to which State?
- Haryana
- Punjab
- Uttar Pradesh
- Himachal Pradesh
Answer: 3 (Uttar Pradesh)
Question – 4: ‘Gidda’ and ‘Bhangra’ dances are mainly related to which state?
- Punjab
- West Bengal
- Nagaland
- Odisha
Answer: 1 (Punjab)
Question – 5: Which of the following dance is related to Rajasthan?
- Jatra
- Ghumar
- Jhora
- Jadur
Answer: 2 (Ghumar)
Question – 6: ‘Bhagavata Mela Nataka’ is mainly related to which place?
- Kakinada
- Vijjayawada
- Tanjore
- Thiruvananthapuram
Answer: 3 (Tanjore)
Question – 7: ‘Mohiniattam’ is the classical dance of which State?
- Kerala
- Tamil Nadu
- West Bengal
- Andhra Pradesh
Answer: 1 (Kerala)
Question – 8: ‘Kavadi’ and ‘Karagam’ are related to which state?
- Tamil Nadu
- Maharashtra
- Karnataka
- Kerala
Answer: 1 (Tamil Nadu)
Question – 9: Which of the following is the dance related to Andhra Pradesh?
- Kaliyattam
- Kirtan
- Burrakatha
- Jimmi ki kamal
Answer: 3 (Burrakatha)
Question – 10: Which of the following is related to Tamil Nadu?
- Pinnal Kolattam
- Lezim
- Lovani
- Ghanta Mardala
Answer: 1 (Pinnal Kolattam)
