๐ Chapter 06 ยท MCQs ยท Classical Dance
Classical Dance Forms โ Practice MCQs
10 practice questions on all 8 classical dances for UPSC & PSC exams.
Q1Sattriya was recognised as a classical dance by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in which year?
- A) 1992
- B) 1995
- C) 2000
- D) 2005
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Answer: C โ Sattriya was recognised as the 8th classical dance of India by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2000.
Q2The “Tribhangi” posture is a signature feature of which classical dance?
- A) Bharatanatyam
- B) Kathak
- C) Odissi
- D) Kuchipudi
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Answer: C โ Tribhangi (three bends in the body) is the signature posture of Odissi, creating an S-curve derived from temple sculpture.
Q3Rukmini Devi Arundale founded Kalakshetra in which city?
- A) Mumbai
- B) Delhi
- C) Chennai
- D) Kolkata
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Answer: C โ Rukmini Devi Arundale founded Kalakshetra in Chennai (then Madras) in 1936 for the revival and teaching of Bharatanatyam.
Q4In Kathakali, the “Pachcha” (green) makeup represents:
- A) Villainous characters
- B) Noble heroes like Rama and Krishna
- C) Female demons
- D) Sages and Brahmins
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Answer: B โ Pachcha (green) makeup in Kathakali represents noble, virtuous heroes such as Rama, Krishna, and Arjuna.
Q5The “Tarangam” is a unique feature of which classical dance?
- A) Odissi
- B) Kuchipudi
- C) Bharatanatyam
- D) Mohiniyattam
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Answer: B โ Tarangam is unique to Kuchipudi โ the dancer performs on the rim of a brass plate while balancing a pot of water on the head.
Q6Manipuri dance was introduced to the national audience by:
- A) Rukmini Devi Arundale
- B) Rabindranath Tagore
- C) Vallathol Narayana Menon
- D) Uday Shankar
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Answer: B โ Rabindranath Tagore invited Manipuri teachers to Shantiniketan in 1919, introducing Manipuri dance to the national audience.
Q7Mohiniyattam is primarily associated with which style?
- A) Tandava (masculine, vigorous)
- B) Lasya (graceful, feminine)
- C) Nritta (pure rhythmic)
- D) Natya (dramatic)
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Answer: B โ Mohiniyattam is characterised by the lasya style โ graceful, feminine, swaying movements. It is one of the most feminine classical dances.
Q8Sattriya dance was founded by which saint?
- A) Shankardev of Gujarat
- B) Srimanta Shankardev of Assam
- C) Tukaram of Maharashtra
- D) Kabir of North India
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Answer: B โ Sattriya was founded by Srimanta Shankardev (1449โ1568), the great Vaishnavite saint-reformer of Assam, who used dance and drama to spread Vaishnavism.
Q9Which classical dance has two major gharanas โ Lucknow and Jaipur?
- A) Bharatanatyam
- B) Kathak
- C) Kuchipudi
- D) Odissi
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Answer: B โ Kathak has two major gharanas: the Lucknow gharana (emphasising grace and abhinaya) and the Jaipur gharana (emphasising vigorous footwork and rhythmic precision).
Q10The Kerala Kalamandalam, the premier institution for Kathakali and Mohiniyattam, was founded by:
- A) Rukmini Devi Arundale
- B) Vallathol Narayana Menon
- C) Kalamandalam Gopi
- D) Mrinalini Sarabhai
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Answer: B โ Kerala Kalamandalam was founded in 1930 by the poet Vallathol Narayana Menon to revive and preserve Kerala’s classical performing arts.