SSC
The two basic aspects of Indian classical dance are:
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Answer: Option B — Lasya and Tandava
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Lasya and Tandava. Every Indian classical dance form is built on these two basic aspects, which come from Hindu mythology and are described in the Natyashastra of Bharata Muni.
Tandava is the vigorous, powerful and masculine aspect of dance. It is associated with Lord Shiva, whose cosmic dance as Nataraja represents the rhythm of creation, preservation and destruction of the universe. The famous bronze sculptures of Nataraja made under the Chola dynasty show Shiva dancing the Tandava within a ring of fire. Lasya is the soft, graceful and feminine aspect of dance. It is associated with the goddess Parvati and expresses love, beauty and tender feeling through gentle, flowing movements.
Different dance forms lean towards one aspect or the other. Mohiniyattam of Kerala is a classic example of a Lasya dance, while Kathakali, also from Kerala, is strongly Tandava in character. Many forms combine both. In Manipuri dance, for example, the gentle Jagoi corresponds to Lasya and the vigorous Cholom corresponds to Tandava. In Odissi, the soft, curving tribhanga posture reflects Lasya, while the strong, square chauka posture reflects Tandava.
About the other options:
Angika and Vachika are two of the four types of abhinaya (expression), along with Aharya and Sattvika. They describe ways of expressing meaning, not the basic aspects of dance.
Raga and Tala are the melody and rhythm of Indian classical music. Dance uses them, but they are aspects of music rather than of dance itself.
Mudra and Hasta both refer to the hand gestures of classical dance. They are tools of expression, not the two basic aspects of dance.
💡 Exam tip
Remember the pairs Tandava with Shiva (vigorous) and Lasya with Parvati (graceful). Questions may also ask about the three elements of dance: Nritta (pure dance), Nritya (expressive dance) and Natya (dramatic dance).💬 Discussions on this question
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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.