Indian classical dance

Indian classical dance is a fancy way of telling a story through dancing! It's been around for a really, really long time - ancient texts even mentioned Indian classical dance techniques - and it has grown and developed over time.

There are eight major styles of Indian classical dance, each from a different region of India, and each with its own unique moves and music. These styles are called Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Odissi, Mohiniyattam, Sattriya, and Kathakali.

In Indian classical dance, the dancers wear very colorful and decorative outfits, as well as jewelry and bells around their ankles. They also use very expressive facial and body movements to convey the different emotions and stories they are trying to tell.

One really interesting aspect of Indian classical dance is the use of hand gestures, called mudras, which have different meanings and represent different things. For example, a mudra with your pinky finger and thumb touching means "knowledge," while a mudra with your ring finger and thumb touching means "mercy."

In general, Indian classical dance is a very structured and disciplined art form - the dancers have to learn and practice for years to perfect their technique! But it can also be very fun and joyful, and a great way to tell stories and connect with others.