SSC
In Indian classical dance, the soft and graceful style that is considered suitable for female presentation is known as:
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)View answer ▾Hide ▴
Answer: Option B — Lasya
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Lasya. Indian classical dance has two basic aspects, Lasya and Tandava, which are described in the Natyashastra and in Hindu mythology. Lasya is the soft, graceful, lyrical and feminine aspect of dance. According to tradition, it was first performed by the goddess Parvati, and it expresses love, beauty and tender emotions through gentle, flowing movements.
Tandava is the vigorous, powerful and masculine aspect of dance. It is associated with Lord Shiva, who as Nataraja, the King of Dance, performs the cosmic Tandava that represents the cycle of creation, preservation and destruction of the universe. Every classical dance form contains a mix of both Lasya and Tandava, although some styles lean more towards one. Mohiniyattam of Kerala, for example, is described in the Natyashastra tradition as a Lasya dance and is performed only by women, with soft swaying movements. Kathakali, also from Kerala, is mainly a Tandava style, with powerful movements and dramatic expressions. Manipuri dance also has the Lasya-like Jagoi and the Tandava-like Cholom.
About the other options:
Tandava is the opposite of Lasya. It is the energetic, masculine dance of Shiva.
Nritta is pure dance, made up of rhythmic movements and steps that do not convey any specific meaning or story. It is one of the three elements of dance, together with Nritya and Natya.
Abhinaya is the art of expression, through which a dancer conveys meaning and emotion. It has four types: Angika, Vachika, Aharya and Sattvika.
💡 Exam tip
Learn Lasya and Tandava as a pair, together with the deities linked to them (Parvati for Lasya and Shiva for Tandava). Questions often describe one of them in words and ask you to name it, or ask which classical dance is mainly Lasya in style (Mohiniyattam).💬 Discussions on this question
Ask a doubt ›Still stuck on this question? Ask our faculty and fellow students — answers appear here.
Ask a doubtMore Indian Dance Forms Questions
View all ›- Q1.The techniques of Rasa and Bhava used in Indian classical dance trace their origin to which ancient text?
- Q2.Lavani, Powada, Koli, Waghya Murali and Dhangari Gaja are folk dances of which state?
- Q3.The one-act play associated with the Sattriya tradition of Assam is called:
- Q4.Which dance form of Goa is known as the 'Warrior Dance'?
- Q5.Manipuri dance is based on the Rasleela themes of:
Indian Dance Forms — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Indian Dance Forms, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
Indian dance forms are one of the most frequently tested areas of static GK. This topic covers the eight classical dances recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi (Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam and Sattriya), the folk and tribal dances of every state, and related terms such as mudra, abhinaya, lasya and tandava. Most questions ask which state a dance belongs to, which community performs it, or which feature identifies a classical style. Learn the classical dances with their state and one signature feature each, such as the face make-up of Kathakali or the brass plate of Kuchipudi. For folk dances, group them state by state, since exams often list three or four dances and ask for the common state. Watch for dances shared by more than one state, such as Chhau, which has three styles. Practise the Indian dance forms questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.