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Bharatnatyam (Tamil Nadu)
Exponents
- Alarmel Velli → senior classical performer
- Rukmini Devi Arundale → revived Bharatnatyam
- Padma Subramanyam → research + dance
- Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai → guru tradition
- Mallika Sarabhai, Mrinalini Sarabhai → popularized globally
- Bala Saraswati → traditional style
- Yamini Krishnamurty, Leela Samson → modern fame
- Shanta & VP Dhananjayan → duo contribution
- Sonal Mansingh, Rama Vaidyanathan → contemporary exponents
- Narthaki Nataraj, Urmila Satyanarayan → noted performers
Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh)
Exponents
- Names end with REDDY → key identifier
- Vempati Chinna Satyam → major reformer
- Vedanta Satyanarayana, Lakshmi Narayan Shastri → classical base
- Swapna Sundari, Shobha Naidu → famous performers
- Yamini Krishnamurty, Mallika Sarabhai → multi-dance artists
- Haleem Khan, Aparna Satisham → contributors
Mohiniyattam (Kerala)
Exponents
- Gopika Varma, Kanak Rele → revival & promotion
- Sunanda Nair, Jayaprabha Menon → modern artists
- Radha Datta, Pallavi Krishnan → performers
- Kalyanikutty Amma → key guru
Kathakali (Kerala)
Exponents
- Mrinalini Sarabhai → contributed to spread
- Kottakal Nandakumaran Nair → traditional expert
- Kunchu Kurup, Gopi Nath → classical artists
- PV Balakrishnan, Milena Salvini → promoters
Kathak (Uttar Pradesh)
Exponents
- Birju Maharaj, Lachhu Maharaj, Achhan Maharaj → famous lineage
- Sitara Devi → queen of Kathak
- Shovana Narayan, Kumudini Lakhia → modern style
- Nalini & Kamini Asthana → duo performers
- Narayan Prasad, Kalika Prasad, Ishwari Prasad → gurus
- Vidya Gauri Adkar, Aditi Mangaldas → contemporary artists
Manipuri (Manipur)
Exponents
- Guru Bipin Singh → major teacher
- Jhaveri Sisters → popularized dance
- Bimbavati Devi, Nirmala Mehta → performers
- Aloka Kanungo, Charu Mathur, Devyani Chalia → contributors
Sattriya (Assam)
Exponents
- Jatin Goswami, Guru Ghanakanta Bora → key gurus
- Bhupen Hazarika → cultural influence
- Indra Bora, Monogram Dutta → performers
Odissi (Odisha)
Exponents
- Names end with MOHAPATRA / MOHANTY → key identifier
- Gangadhar Pradhan, Sudhakar Sahoo → gurus
- Sanjukta Panigrahi, Bijayini Satpathy → famous dancers
- Sonal Mansingh, Mohini Mudgal → well-known artists
- Sutapa Talukdar, Shagun Bhutani → performers
Key Facts
General
- Total Classical Dances = 8 (recognized by Sangeet Natak Akademi)
Literary Sources
- Natya Shastra (Bharat Muni) → foundation of dance
- Abhinaya Darpana (Nandikesvara) → gestures & expressions
Nature of Dance
- Lasya → feminine (Parvati)
- Tandava → masculine (Shiva)
🔥 Memory Tricks
- “B-K-M-K-K-M-S-O” → Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam, Kathakali, Kathak, Manipuri, Sattriya, Odissi
- Reddy = Kuchipudi, Mohapatra/Mohanty = Odissi
- Lasya = Lady, Tandava = Tough (male)
