Modern Dances
Art & Culture › Dance Forms · Topic 5.7
Modern dance in India means the new styles of the 20th and 21st centuries that mix classical, folk and foreign movement and break from strict tradition. The pioneer was Uday Shankar (1900 to 1977), who set up the India Cultural Centre at Almora in 1938 and created a creative style that blended Indian dance with ballet and stagecraft. Others are Rabindranath Tagore (Rabindra Nritya at Santiniketan), Madame Menaka, Ram Gopal, Mrinalini Sarabhai (Darpana Academy, Ahmedabad, 1949), Chandralekha, Astad Deboo and Shiamak Davar. Contemporary Indian dance also includes Bollywood dance, fusion, hip-hop and jazz.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture · Dance Forms
At a Glance
- Pioneer Uday Shankar
- Almora centre 1938
- Darpana Mrinalini Sarabhai, 1949
- Contemporary pioneer Chandralekha, Astad Deboo
- Popular form Bollywood dance
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Art and Culture: Dance Forms
Where Does It Fit?
This topic closes the dance macro by showing how Indian dance changed in the modern period, after the classical and folk forms, and how artists challenged old rules. Previous topic: Folk Dances (Bihu, Garba, Ghoomar, Chhau, Dandiya). Next topic: Natya Shastra Classical phase Sanskrit drama, Bhasa to Bhavabhuti Colonial stage Parsi and Bengali theatre Left theatre…">History of Theatre in India.
Who Are the Main Pioneers of Modern Indian Dance?
| Pioneer | Contribution | Institution or work |
|---|---|---|
| Uday Shankar (1900 to 1977) | Created the creative dance style using Indian classical and folk elements with Western stagecraft. Danced with Anna Pavlova in London in 1923 and later toured Europe and the United States | India Cultural Centre, Almora, 1938. Film Kalpana (1948). Brother of sitarist Ravi Shankar |
| Rabindranath Tagore | Introduced dance in education and blended Manipuri, Kathakali and folk steps into dance dramas | Rabindra Nritya, Santiniketan, West Bengal |
| Madame Menaka (Leila Sokhey) | Revived Kathak on stage and made new dance dramas | Menaka Ballet in the 1930s |
| Ram Gopal | Took Indian dance to the West | Toured Europe and the United States |
| Mrinalini Sarabhai | Bharatanatyam and Kathakali dancer who created new works on social themes | Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, Ahmedabad, 1949 |
| Rukmini Devi Arundale | Gave Bharatanatyam respect and introduced new dance dramas | Kalakshetra, Chennai, 1936 |
| Chandralekha (1928 to 2006) | Experimented with Bharatanatyam, yoga and kalaripayattu, and challenged strict rules | Work Sharira, Lilavati |
| Astad Deboo (1947 to 2020) | Pioneer of contemporary dance in India, blended Kathak, Kathakali and Western styles | Padma Shri awardee |
| Shiamak Davar | Brought jazz and Western styles in Bollywood and formed a dance company | Shiamak Davar Institute of Performing Arts |
What Are the Styles of Modern and Contemporary Dance Today?
| Style | Features | Where seen |
|---|---|---|
| Creative dance (Uday Shankar style) | Blend of classical, folk and ballet ideas with new themes | Early 20th century stage and film |
| Neo-classical | Classical movement with new music, themes and stage design | Darpana, Kalakshetra and Odissi works |
| Contemporary Indian dance | Free movement mixing yoga, martial arts and Western techniques, usually on social or personal themes | Astad Deboo, Chandralekha, Daksha Sheth |
| Bollywood dance | Mix of Kathak, folk, jazz, hip-hop and salsa for films | Indian cinema and weddings |
| Western styles in India | Hip-hop, breaking, salsa, ballet, jazz and street dance | Reality TV, clubs and studios |
| Fusion and folk-contemporary | Bhangra, Garba and classical forms put into new choreography | Festivals and diaspora events |
What Else Should You Remember?
- Meaning of modern: modern dances in India are not a single style, and means all forms after the 1920s that depart from the codified classical rules
- Alternate terms: Uday Shankar style is called creative dance or Hindu dance, and the term contemporary dance means new experimental work
- Reform context: the nationalist movement raised pride in Indian art, and reformers restored dignity to dance after the anti-nautch campaign
- Rabindra Nritya: grew at Santiniketan from the early 20th century and borrowed from Manipuri, Kathakali and Bengali folk dance
- Uday Shankar’s training: he trained as a painter in London at the Royal College of Art before dancing, and his troupe included Simkie, Zohra Sehgal and Guru Dutt
- Kadamb: Kumudini Lakhia set up Kadamb in Ahmedabad in 1967 and gave Kathak a group choreography style
- Daksha Sheth: founded Daksha Sheth Dance Company, mixing Kerala martial arts and Kathakali with contemporary ideas
- Government support: the Sangeet Natak Akademi, the Ministry of Culture and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) support dancers, including tours abroad
- Cultural diplomacy: Indian dancers abroad represent India, and the ICCR sponsors troupes for festivals
- Media role: television reality shows and social media have made dance popular and given rise to a large industry of choreographers
- Link to tradition: modern forms rework the old, as in Eight Classical Dance Forms (Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam, Sattriya) and Folk Dances (Bihu, Garba, Ghoomar, Chhau, Dandiya)
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Pioneers: Uday Shankar, Rabindranath Tagore, Mrinalini Sarabhai, Chandralekha, Astad Deboo
- Institutions: Almora centre, Darpana, Kalakshetra, Kadamb
- Styles: creative dance, contemporary dance and Bollywood dance
- Policy: ICCR, Sangeet Natak Akademi support
- Common errors: giving the Almora centre to Tagore, or calling Chandralekha a Kathak dancer
As an analytical point, modern dance shows that tradition can renew itself through experiment. The risk is shallow commercial copying, so training in classical forms should remain the base for fresh work.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Pioneers One-liner facts
- Institutions Years and places
- Debate Tradition and innovation
What Came Next?
The next macro begins with the History of Theatre in India. Next topic: History of Theatre in India.
Key People and Terms
- Creative dance Uday Shankar style
- Contemporary dance Experimental modern dance
- Neo-classical Classical with new design
- Fusion Mixed styles
- Choreography Planning of movement
- Kadamb Group Kathak school
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Pioneer: Uday Shankar, Almora 1938.
- Santiniketan: Rabindra Nritya.
- Darpana: Mrinalini Sarabhai, 1949.
- Contemporary: Astad Deboo, Chandralekha.
- Film-based: Bollywood dance.
Do Not Confuse With
- Uday Shankar and Ravi Shankar Dancer brother and sitarist brother
- Neo-classical and contemporary Classical base versus free experiment
- Kalakshetra and Darpana Chennai versus Ahmedabad
Memory Hook
Uday opened the door, Tagore added song, Sarabhai staged, Chandralekha broke the frame.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the balance of tradition and change. These points give a frame.
- Innovation Fresh themes and styles
- Tradition Classical base
- Diplomacy Dancers as cultural ambassadors
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Modern Indian dance has widened the meaning of tradition. Discuss with examples.”
How to Answer
- Origin Reform and nationalism.
- Pioneers Shankar, Tagore, Chandralekha.
- Today Bollywood and fusion.
- Way Keep classical roots.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the pioneer of modern dance in India?
Uday Shankar is regarded as the pioneer of modern Indian dance. He set up the India Cultural Centre at Almora in 1938 and created a style that combined Indian classical and folk dance with Western stagecraft. He was the elder brother of the sitarist Ravi Shankar.
What is Rabindra Nritya?
Rabindra Nritya is the dance style of Santiniketan in West Bengal, developed by Rabindranath Tagore for his dance dramas. It combines elements of Manipuri, Kathakali and Bengali folk dance with songs of Rabindra Sangeet, and aims at free expression of emotion rather than strict technique.
Who are the famous exponents of contemporary dance in India?
Famous contemporary Indian dance names include Chandralekha, who used Bharatanatyam with yoga and martial arts, Astad Deboo, who blended Kathak and Western techniques, Mrinalini Sarabhai of Darpana, Daksha Sheth and Shiamak Davar, who popularised jazz and Bollywood styles.
What is the difference between classical and modern dance in India?
Classical dance follows rules from the Natya Shastra, a fixed repertoire and long training under a guru. Modern dance breaks from these rules, mixing classical, folk and foreign movement and treating contemporary themes. Neo-classical work sits between the two, keeping classical forms with new designs.
What is Bollywood dance?
Bollywood dance is the style of choreography used in Hindi cinema. It mixes Kathak, folk dances like Bhangra and Garba, and Western forms such as jazz, hip-hop and salsa. It is performed in film songs and weddings, and has spread worldwide through the Indian diaspora.
Why is modern dance important for UPSC?
It is important because Prelims asks about pioneers like Uday Shankar and institutions like Darpana, and Mains asks how tradition and innovation coexist in art. It forms a link between classical and folk dances and the topic of cultural diplomacy in GS Paper 1.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Uday Shankar established the India Cultural Centre at Almora.
It was founded in 1938.
2 Mrinalini Sarabhai founded Kalakshetra.
She founded Darpana. Rukmini Devi Arundale founded Kalakshetra.
3 Rabindra Nritya was developed at Santiniketan.
It draws on Manipuri and folk dance.
4 Astad Deboo was a Kuchipudi exponent.
He was a contemporary dancer.
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