Dance forms of Kerala, Folk, Classical, Religious, Martial Arts

Kathakali Classical Dance

Kathak is one of India's eight primary classical dance styles. Kathak is said to have originated with the roaming bards known as Kathakars or storyteller in medieval northern India. Kathakali is a dance form that originated in Kerala, in southwestern India.

Mohiniyattam Classical Dance

Mohiniyattam, an Indian traditional dance genre that originated in Kerala and has remained popular ever since. This dance form is believed to have started in the 16th century under the reign of Swathi Thirunal, the ruler of Kerala's southernmost state.

Kalaripayattu Martial Arts Dance

Kalaripayattu is an Indian martial technique that can also be performed as folklore. This style of dancing and fighting technique originated in Kerala practiced to date. Kalaripayattu is renowned as the "Mother of All Martial Arts" since its beginnings date back to the 6th century.

Thirayattam Folk Dance

Thirayattam is a divine dance-drama form that originated in Kerala. For many ages, it is thought to have been conducted to obtain the blessings and kindness of the land's gods. The traditions and rituals that are observed in this vivid art extend back to antiquity.

Koodiyattam Traditional Dance

Koodiyattam, popularly known as Kutiyattam, is a traditional art form and traditional dance from Kerala, India. This is a dance form in which Hindu theatre is brought to life through music; the equipment used in this dance style is performed on stage with unique Traditional instruments.

Kummattikali Traditional Dance

Kummattikali is a type of traditional dance seen in Kerala, India. It is a type of dance in which the performers wear colorful masks and dance around the town, visiting each house. It is one of the most well-known dance genres, often performed at the Onam festival.

Kavadi Aattam Religious Folk Dance

Kavadi Aattam is a word that implies 'to dance.' Idumban, a follower of the saint sage Agastya who was tasked with relocating two hillocks in India's south. Apparently, he was unable to shift the hillocks, but he was ultimately successful.

Thidambu Nritham Folk Dance

Thidambu Nritham is a traditional dance genre from Kerala. Malabar's northern section has a culturally diverse heritage. It also has several well-known religious places that have aided in the development of numerous holy and ritual art forms, such as Thidambu Nritham.

Puli Kali Folk Dance

Puli Kali is a wobbly, dynamic classical dance genre from Kerala. Usually, the men are the ones who take the stage. The fierce angry nomenclature, generally painted bodies as if the tiger imprinted on it, is ready to loosen free and take a tremendous leap.

Chakyar Koothu Folk Dance

Chakyar Koothu considers itself to be one of those forms that have lasted the test of time, albeit in many forms as it has progressed. Koothu is a Tamil word that means "dancing" and Chakyar is the name of the priest caste.

Theyyam Folk Dance

Theyyam performance is not a once-in-a-lifetime type of experience. The roots of this traditional art, which is a fusion of dance, song, and ardent devotion, maybe dated directly to the Chalcolithic Age, and it is peculiar to the north Malabar region of Kerala.

Padayani Folk Dance

Padayani, or militia, is a mystical form that invokes the spirit of the almighty Mahakali, the dark Mother. A very dynamic Dance form with the tension of a battleground belonging to Kerala and is for people who have lost their inner self.

Kerala Natanam Dance

The Kerala Natanam is very popular dance form in the Indian State of Kerala and popularly known as Kerala dance. The Guru Gopinath known the founder of Kerala Natanam.

Duffmuttu Folk Dance

Duffmuttu is a South Indian art form that originated in the Malabar region of Kerala and also Karnataka. It gets its name from the duff, a wood-and-ox-skin drumming instrument. The term duff comes from Arabic and is also known as a Thappitta.

Margamkali Folk Dance

The endogamous sub-sect known as the Knanaya or Southist Christians perform Margamkali, an ancient Indian circle dance of the St. Thomas Christians community-based in Kerala state. Related to the third apocryphal Acts of Thomas, the dance reminds the life and missionary activities of St. Thomas the Apostle.

Mayilpeeli Thookkam Dance

Mayilpeeli Thookkam is a folk dance form of Kerala, also called as Arjuna Nritham as dance mainly depicts the story of epic Mahabharata. Mayilpeeli Thookkam folk dance mainly performed on the religious occasions.

Oppana Folk Dance

This incredibly special art piece brilliantly depicts Kerala's lively cultural life. During wedding ceremonies, 15 girls, along with the musicians, play Oppana to the accompaniment of Mappila Pattu as a wonderful place (traditional folk Muslim song).