SSC
The Balti dance is associated with which region?
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Answer: Option A — Ladakh
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Ladakh. The Balti dance is a traditional dance of the Balti people, who are found mainly in the Kargil district of Ladakh and in Baltistan. The Balti people speak Balti, a Tibetic language, and most of them follow Shia Islam. Their culture combines Tibetan, Central Asian and Persian influences, which can be seen in their music, dress and dance.
The Balti dance is performed at weddings, festivals and other celebrations. Men and women dance in groups to the music of the surna (a wind instrument similar to the shehnai) and the daman (a drum). The movements are graceful and measured, and the dancers wear traditional woollen robes, caps and ornaments suited to the cold mountain climate. Ladakh became a separate Union Territory on 31 October 2019, after the reorganisation of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir, so its dances are now listed under Ladakh rather than Jammu and Kashmir.
Other well-known dances of Ladakh include Shondol, known as the royal dance of Ladakh, which was once performed for the kings; the Spao dance, a warrior dance based on the legend of King Kesar; the Cham dance, a masked dance performed by Buddhist monks at monastery festivals such as Hemis; and the Jabro dance of the nomadic Changpa people.
About the other options:
- Sikkim is known for the Cham (mask dance), the Maruni of the Nepali community, the Tamang Selo, and the Chu Faat of the Lepcha community.
- Himachal Pradesh is known for Nati (especially Kullu Nati), Dangi, Jhali and the Chamba region's Ghurehi.
- Arunachal Pradesh is known for Bardo Chham, Ponung, Aji Lamu and Rikhampada.
💡 Exam tip
Ladakh's dances (Balti, Shondol, Spao, Cham and Jabro) often appear in recent exams. Remember that Shondol is called the royal dance of Ladakh and that Ladakh has been a Union Territory since 31 October 2019.💬 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.