As stated earlier, the basis for Indian music is " Sangeet ". Sangeet is a combination of three art forms: Vocal music, Instrumental music and Dance. Although these three art forms were originally derived from the single field of stagecraft, today these three forms have differentiated into complex and highly refined individual art forms.

However, India has a very rich tradition of classical dance. The Natya Shastra is the oldest surviving text on stagecraft in the world. In the old days of the theatre, the dancers used to mime the story while the singers used to sing the dialogue. The instrumentalists were supposed to accompany them all. As the dancers were performing on stage they used to occupy a central position.

For many centuries the dancers were attached to the temples too. This maintained a strong religious flavor to dance. Even today many of the traditional themes are mythological in nature.

Over the centuries different geographical areas have given their own colors to the ancient Indian classical tradition. Today the acknowledged classical styles are: Bharatnatyam of Tamil Nadu, Kathakali of Kerala, Kuchipudi of Andhra Pradesh, Manipuri of Northeast India, Orissi from Orissa, and Kathak from north India. Each of these styles has a strong regional connection and none can claim to be representative of the entire Indian subcontinent.

Here in this category autographs of some renowned dancers have been presented.