Introduction
India is a land of diverse cultures, and our dances are a reflection of our culture and traditions. Typically, dances are classified as classical and folk. We have 8 prominent classical dance forms in India, while the folk dances are numerous and vary as per the local traditions of every region. In this article, we will tell you about some of the best dancers in India across all categories, be it classical, folk or western.
Dance, be it classical or contemporary, is a free form of expression. The costumes, facial expressions, dramatic makeup, and musical beats bring about the distinctiveness of Indian dances. The uniqueness of Indian dance styles, and Indian dancers, are well-known throughout the world. These dancers have truly refined the age-old Indian dances and are known for the experimental fusions that they bring to their dance forms.
In this article, we will discuss India’s famous dancers who have truly made a mark for themselves and have changed the way people see and perceive dance globally.
Who Are 10 Immensely Famous Dancers in India In 2023?
1. Kelucharan Mahapatra
The first on our list of 10 best dancers in India is Kelucharan Mahapatra. He was born on 8th January 1926 in Odisha. He is well known for his legendary Indian classical performances and has been credited for bringing back the Odissi form of dance in the 21st century. Besides dancing, he was great at playing instruments like Mridangam, Pakhavaj and Tabla and was also good at the traditional art of ‘Pattachitra’ painting. He has received many highly prestigious awards, including the 1966 Sangeet Natak Academy Award, the 1974 Padma Shri Award, the 1988 Padma Bhushan Award, the 1991 Sangeet Natak Academy Fellowship Award, and the 2000 Padma Vibhushan Award. He was among the first ones to receive the award from Odisha.
2. Rukmini Devi Arundale
Rukmini Devi Arundale is recognised as one of the top dancers in India and was born on 29th February 1904. She was not only a dancer but also a theosophist and choreographer of Bharatnatyam dance. She has been accredited for re-establishing the Bharatnatyam dance. Not only this, but she also worked on the re-embellishment of traditional arts and crafts. She also modified it the way we know it today. Bharatnatyam was earlier considered indecent by the common people, as it was known to be an extension of the Devdasi dance. She collaborated with several distinguished scholars to make dance dramas based on famous epics like Ramayana and Gita Govinda. She was also the first woman to be nominated in the Rajya Sabha.
3. Uday Shankar
Uday Shankar is one of the famous dancers in India and is known for blending Indian classical and western dance forms. He was born and brought up in a Bengali household and popularised his fusion dance in India and the US in the 1920s and 30s. Although he did not have any kind of formal training in any of the Classical dance forms, he stood out due to his creativity. When he stayed in Europe, he carefully observed ballet dance. In India, he got a chance to see Indian folk dances closely. Hence, he combined elements of both to create a fusion dance called “Hi-dance”. He is known as the “pioneer of modern dance” today.
4. Prabhu Deva
Prabhu Deva started his journey by working in south Indian films, but then successfully built a name for himself in the Bollywood film industry. Apart from being an ace choreographer and dancer, Prabhu Deva is also a director, producer, and actor. He has achieved fame across India and won 2 national film awards for the same. He was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri award in 2019 for his contribution to dance. He has choreographed and danced to many popular songs in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. His popular songs that showcase his talent include Hum Na Tode, Chal Maar, Go Go Govinda and Muqabla Muqabla. He is popularly called ‘The Indian Michael Jackson”.
5. Pandit Birju Maharaj
The next on our list of best dancers in India is none other than Pandit Birju Maharaj, whose real name is Brijmohan Mishra. Two of his uncles, Shambhu Maharaj and Lacchu Maharaj, were also Kathak Dancers, along with his father, Acchan Maharaj, under whose tutelage he grew up. He is mostly known for his graceful Kathak performances. He is often called “the torchbearer” of Kathak. If you like Kathak or are an aspiring {dancer, you must surely check out his dance performances. He has also worked as a choreographer for films like Devdas and Padmaavat.
6. Bala Saraswati
Bala Saraswati, also known as Tanjore Balasaraswati, is known as the queen of Bharatnatyam. She was born in 1918 in Chennai. Her graceful expressions and vibrant performances are unmatchable to date, making her one of the top dancers in India. What sets her apart from other dancers is her way of storytelling through dance. She won the Padma Bhushan in 1957 and was later awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1977 by the Government of India. She also made an appearance as an actress in the Hindi movie Bala.
7. Shakti Mohan
Shakti Mohan is an Indian Television personality best known for her contemporary dance and choreography. She is a famous dancer in India and an alumnus of the Terence Lewis Dance foundation contemporary scholarship trust. Her journey to fame began when she emerged as a winner in an Indian dance reality show. She has also acted in dance-based TV shows such as “Dil Dosti Dance” and “High School Musical”. The first song that she choreographed was “Nainowale me” from the film “Padmavat”. Since then, she has choreographed several films, such as Tees Maar Khan, Samrat, Dhoom 3, and Kanchi, amongst others. Today, she has opened a dance academy of her own called “Nritya Shakti”. You can also spot her in several Indian music videos to check out her amazing dance moves.
8. Guru Bipin
Representing Manipuri dance, Guru Bipin Singh is the choreographer, director, dance guru and undoubtedly, one of the best dancers in India. He had studied Manipuri dance under Guru Amdhon Sharma with the help of the King of Manipur. He is often credited as the father of Manipuri dance and has choreographed various film songs. However, he never lost touch with traditional forms of dance. He opened the Govinj Nartanaraya Dance School for Women in Imphal and the Manipuri Nartanaraya Dance School in Kolkata. He won the Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 1966 and died in 2000. He will always be in peoples’ minds for taking the Manipuri dance a notch up.
9. Remo D’Souza
Remo D’Douza is yet another famous dancer in India. He made his debut on television by training and judging a dance reality show along with a bunch of other choreographers. Later, he became a director with his directorial debut, “Faltu”. He has been the choreographer for Bollywood films like ‘yeh jawani hai deewani’, ‘bajirao mastani’, ‘kalank’, and ‘student of the year’, amongst several others. He has won many prestigious awards, such as the Zee Cine Awards, Filmfare, and the international Indian film academy.
10. Raghav Juyal
Raghav Juyal is one of the top dancers in India. Besides his dancing skills, Juyal is known for his charming on-screen personality. He is also called CrocRoaz and is known as the king of slow-motion dance by his fans. He was first spotted in the ABCD series that was directed by Remo D’Souza. Later, he also made appearances in movies like Nawabzaade, and street dance 3D, amongst others. Besides acting in movies, he is also famous for hosting dance and music reality shows. People are absolutely in awe of his moves and signature dance steps.
Conclusion
With this, we conclude our list of the 10 best dancers in India. These dancers are proficient in various dance forms and are truly legends in their respective fields. Most of them have received several awards and have been acknowledged for their work nationally and internationally. We hope you found this article helpful and informational. If dance entices you, then you must check out their exceptional body of work.
Frequently Asked Questions – (FAQs)
1. Who is the No 1 dancer in the world?
The No. 1 dancer in the world is undoubtedly Mr Prabhudeva, also called the Michael Jackson of India. He is the best dancer because his dancing style is quite versatile and fluid. He is also known as the most humble TV & Film personality in India.
2. Who will be the world’s Best Dancer in 2023?
Saburo Teshigawara can become the best contemporary dancer at the international level in 2023. He is trained in classical ballet and began his career nearly 4 decades back in 1981.
3. Who is The No. 1 South Indian dancer?
South Indians’ best dancer is none other than Prabhudeva. He is an Indian dance choreographer who has worked in several Tamil and Telegu films. He is known for his amazing dance movements.
4. Who is the best female dancer in India?
The best female dancer is undoubtedly Shakti Mohan, an accomplished dancer with a diploma in dance. Her dancing skills are quite popular across India, and she has been the heartthrob of millions of people in India.
