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Which are the two classical dances of Kerala?
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Answer: Option B — Kathakali and Mohiniyattam
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Kathakali and Mohiniyattam. Kerala is the only state in India with two classical dance forms recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi: Kathakali and Mohiniyattam. The two dances are very different from each other, which makes them easy to compare in exam questions.
Kathakali is a dance-drama, traditionally performed by men, that tells stories from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Puranas. It is known for its spectacular, colour-coded make-up and costumes, its huge skirts and tall headdresses, its vigorous (tandava) movements, and its complex language of hand gestures (mudras), based on the Hastalakshana Deepika. The actors do not speak, and the story is sung by singers at the back of the stage. The music is provided by drums such as the chenda and maddalam. Kathakali developed in the 17th century from the Ramanattam and Krishnanattam traditions.
Mohiniyattam is a graceful solo dance performed by women. Its name means "the dance of the enchantress", from Mohini, the female form taken by Vishnu. It is a lasya-style dance, with soft, swaying movements that are often compared to the swaying of palm trees and the gentle waves of Kerala's backwaters. The dancers wear a simple white or off-white saree with a gold border (kasavu), and the songs are in Manipravalam, set to the Sopana style of music, with the edakka as the main drum.
Both dances were revived in the 20th century by the poet Vallathol Narayana Menon, who founded the Kerala Kalamandalam in 1930 at Cheruthuruthy, which remains the leading centre for training in both forms.
About the other options:
- Kuchipudi is the classical dance of Andhra Pradesh.
- Odissi is the classical dance of Odisha.
- Bharatanatyam is the classical dance of Tamil Nadu.
- Each of these options includes a dance that does not belong to Kerala.
💡 Exam tip
Kerala has two classical dances: Kathakali (a vigorous dance-drama, mainly by men) and Mohiniyattam (a graceful solo dance by women). Both are linked with the Kerala Kalamandalam, founded by Vallathol.💬 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.