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The __________ of Kerala, originating in 16^th century AD, excels in the “Ekaharya Abhinaya”—a solo performing artist conveying drama through expressive dance—with subtle gestures and footwork aided by singing and music, typically performed solo by only women.

The __________ is a mixed-gender classical dance form of Assam—associated with monastic life and based on Krishna-centric Vaishnavism—derives its name from “sattra”, the place of its birth, and is accompanied by the khol (drum), bansuri (flute), taal (cymbal), harmonium, and violin.

The __________, a very complex and expressive women-only dance indigenous to Orissa, with independent movement of head, chest, and pelvis, over 50 “mudras” (symbolic hand-gestures), and postures that replicate those of temple sculptures, believed to be the oldest-surviving Indian classical dance.

The __________ of Manipur, is based to the Raslila act of Radha and Krishna and often depicts scenes from the life of Krishna, purely religious with a spiritual experience, with smooth, graceful movements for women and more forceful ones for men, accompanied by narrative chanting and choral singing.

The Kuchipudi of Andhra Pradesh that typically requires talent in both __________ and __________, is highly ritualized, with a formalized song-and-dance introduction, sprinkling of holy water, and burning of incense, along with invocations of goddesses, backed by violin, flute, and tambura instrumental music.

Kathakali, the 17^th century classical Indian dance form original to __________, is typified by its dancers’ faces made to look like painted masks, enormous headdresses, elaborate costumes, flamboyant body movements, and detailed gestures, traditionally performed by boys and men, even for female roles.

The __________ of Uttar Pradesh, named after “kathakas”—professional storytellers who use a mixture of dance, song, and drama—typically involves intricate footwork accented by bells worn around the ankles and stylized gestures adapted from normal body language, performed by both men and women.

The __________ of Tamilnadu originates from the Natyashastra, an ancient treatise on theatre written by the mythic priest Bharata, often used to express Hindu religious stories and devotions, characterized by bent legs, while feet keep rhythm, and hands tell a story through a series of mudras (symbolic hand-gestures).