Bharatanatyam is the most popular classical dance form of India, with sculptural evidence dating back nearly 2000 years. The dance in its present form originates from the Hindu temples in Southern India and is about 200 years old. It is a dedicatory style with strong undertones of spirituality. At the same time, the Bharatanatyam vocabulary framework lends itself well to modern day subjects and continues to evolve as a living performance art.

Kathak is a classical dance from Northern India uniquely characterized by its use of intricate and powerful footwork, rhythm, music, mathematics, and subtleties of of expression to weave together compositions and stories. Each of India's classical dance forms embodies both the intricacies of beauty and grace as well as tremendous powerful movement, rhythm, and expression.