SSC
'Natwari Nritya' is an older name associated with which classical dance?
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Answer: Option A — Kathak
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Kathak. Natwari Nritya, sometimes written as Natvari Nritya, means the dance of Natwar, which is a name of Lord Krishna. Kathak, the classical dance of North India, grew out of the storytelling traditions of temple performers called kathakars, who narrated stories from the epics and the Puranas, especially the stories of Krishna. In the Braj region around Mathura and Vrindavan, this devotional dance was known as Natwari Nritya.
The word Kathak comes from "katha", which means story, so a kathak is a storyteller. During the Bhakti movement, Kathak was strongly influenced by the Ras Leela of Braj and by Vaishnava devotion to Radha and Krishna. Later, under the Mughals and the Nawabs of Awadh, it moved into the royal courts, where it became more refined and technical, with fast footwork, spins (chakkars) and complex rhythmic patterns played on the tabla and pakhawaj. Kathak developed into four main gharanas (schools): Lucknow, Jaipur, Banaras and Raigarh. Famous Kathak dancers include Pandit Birju Maharaj, Sitara Devi, Shambhu Maharaj and Kumudini Lakhia.
About the other options:
Manipuri is the classical dance of Manipur. It is also based on the Radha-Krishna theme, but it is not known as Natwari Nritya.
Odissi is the classical dance of Odisha. It developed from the temple dance of the maharis and is linked with the worship of Lord Jagannath.
Kuchipudi is the classical dance-drama of Andhra Pradesh, named after the village of Kuchipudi and developed by Siddhendra Yogi.
💡 Exam tip
Questions on Kathak usually focus on the meaning of its name ("katha", story), its link with Krishna (Natwari Nritya), its Mughal influence, its gharanas, and its association with Hindustani music and the thumri.💬 Discussions on this question
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Ask a doubtMore Indian Dance Forms Questions
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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.