Jagoi and Cholom are the two main divisions of which classical dance?

The correct answer is Manipuri. Manipuri dance, the classical dance of Manipur, is broadly divided into two styles: Jagoi and Cholom. Together, they cover the full range of movement in Manipuri dance, from the most gentle to the most vigorous.

Jagoi is the gentle, graceful and feminine style, comparable to the lasya described in the Natyashastra. Its movements are soft, rounded and flowing, with the body moving in curves and spirals. The dancers never stamp their feet hard, and they avoid sharp angles or jerky movements. Jagoi is seen most clearly in the Ras Leela, where the gopis dance around Krishna in a mood of devotion and love. Cholom is the vigorous, energetic and masculine style, comparable to the tandava. Its best-known example is the Pung Cholom, the drum dance performed as a prelude to the Ras Leela and to Sankirtana, in which the male dancers play the pung (drum) while leaping, spinning and dancing. The Kartal Cholom, in which the dancers play cymbals, is another example.

Manipuri dance has some unique features. The dancers avoid making direct eye contact with the audience, because the dance is seen as an act of devotion rather than entertainment. The female dancers wear the Potloi, a stiff, cylindrical skirt decorated with mirrors and embroidery, and a fine veil. The dance is accompanied by the pung, the kartal, the flute and devotional songs, often in Bengali, Sanskrit or Brajabuli.

About the other options:

• Sattriya of Assam has its own types, such as Chali (graceful) and Jhumura (vigorous).
• Kathak of North India has its own divisions, such as nritta (pure dance) and abhinaya, and its own gharanas.
• Odissi of Odisha has two basic postures, the chauka (square) and the tribhanga (three bends).