The Aandaal Project is undertaking a comprehensive documentation and revitalization of India's eight officially recognized classical dance forms - living treasures that embody thousands of years of cultural wisdom, spiritual philosophy, and artistic excellence.
The Eight Classical Forms
Recognized by India's Ministry of Culture and Sangeet Natak Akademi:
🕉️ Bharatanatyam
Tamil Nadu's temple dance with precise geometry and expressive storytelling
Revival Focus: Preserving rare padams from Thanjavur courts
🎭 Kathak
North Indian storytelling form blending Hindu and Mughal influences
Revival Focus: Documenting Lucknow and Jaipur gharanas
🌸 Odissi
Odisha's fluid temple dance with tribhangi postures
Revival Focus: Reconstructing Mahari temple rituals
🎭 Kathakali
Kerala's dramatic dance-theater with elaborate makeup
Revival Focus: Preserving Kalarippayattu-based training
💃 Kuchipudi
Andhra's dynamic form blending natya and nritya
Revival Focus: Yakshagana dance-drama techniques
🌺 Mohiniyattam
Kerala's lasya form with circular movements
Revival Focus: Recovering Swati Tirunal compositions
🕊️ Manipuri
Graceful northeastern form centered on Radha-Krishna
Revival Focus: Sankirtana singing traditions
🙏 Sattriya
Assam's monastic dance form from Vaishnavite monasteries
Revival Focus: Documenting borgeet musical repertoire
Documentation Initiatives
Our multi-pronged approach to preserving dance heritage:
📹 Digital Archiving Project
"We've recorded 1,200+ hours of elder artists performing rare compositions that exist nowhere else."
- 4K/8K video capture with multiple angles
- Motion capture for movement analysis
- Blockchain-verified authenticity
📚 Parampara Database
"Mapping guru-shishya lineages reveals how knowledge transmission actually occurred across generations."
- Interactive family trees of dance lineages
- Repertoire inheritance tracking
- Style comparison tools
🎓 Living Masters Program
"Elder artists earn ANDAL Coins for teaching rare items to next-generation documentarians."
- Intergenerational learning pairs
- Cultural credit system
- Community verification
Revitalization Through Technology
Bridging Tradition and Innovation
VR Abhinaya
Immersive expression training
Motion Analysis
Biomechanical studies
Skill Tokens
Blockchain credentials
Technology amplifies traditional learning rather than replacing it.
How to Engage
- For Artists: Contribute to documentation efforts and earn ANDAL Coins
- For Scholars: Access our research database and collaborate
- For Enthusiasts: Support specific dance form revitalization projects
- For Institutions: Partner on digitization initiatives
"These dance forms are not museum pieces but living traditions. Our work ensures they remain vibrant and evolving while maintaining their essential character."
- Dr. Priya Srinivasan, Aandaal Project Dance Heritage Director