Hindu Dancers

Indian classical dance denotes various art forms based in Natya, which are sacred Hindu musical theatre styles, whose explanation can be traced to the Natya Shastra of Bharata Muni , circa 400 B.C. These include:

• Dances executed inside the holy sanctum of the temple as per the Agama Nartanam rituals. As such it was a spiritual dance form.
• Dances put on in royal courts to the background of Indian classical music were termed Carnatakam. As such it was an intellectual art form.
• Darbari Aattam type of dance appealed more to the everyday folk and it helped inform them about their religion,and culture. As such, these dances in India were performed exterior to the temple area in the courtyards.

For lack of any parallels in the European culture, the English colonial occupiers termed any such performing art forms found in India as "Indian dance". Despite the fact that the art of Natya includes nritta, or dance proper, Natya has not restricted itself to this but embraces also singing, and abhinaya (mime acting). As such, these are common features of all Indian classical styles.

A significant feature of Indian classical dances is the mudra or hand gestures used by the performers as a short-hand sign language to illustrate a story and to show certain concepts from emotions to weather.