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Gaudiya Nritya 
Gaudiya Nritya is a Bengali school of Indian classical dance. Originating in Gaur, West Bengal, the ancient capital of the region, it is an all-pervasive form which eventually gave rise to present-day Odissi, Manipuri and Kuchipudi and contributed to the development of many classical dance forms.
During the time of the Pala dynasty we could know from Ramcharita Kavya about the devadasi dancers of Gauda Banga. Padmavati, the wife of poet Jayadeva, (12th century A.D.) is also said to have been a classical dancer.
The visual grandeur, which could not be captured in words, was immortalized by sculptures in metal, stone, wood and clay. The unabashed beauty of this glorious dance tradition is conveyed through several sculptural representations found in many of the temples and preserved in the museums of Bengal. However, the temple sculptures and literature have remained a mute, yet irrefutable proof of dance in this part of India, though clay and mud do not stand a test of time usually.
From above substances this dance form has been revived by Prof. Mahua Mukherjee, Head, and Department of dance Rabindra Bharati University. One can study centre of this dance form under Rabindra Bharati University.
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Rabindra Nritya
The 1920s and 1930s witnessed many dramatic changes in the world of Indian arts and culture, including the birth of an entirely new genre of Indian dance. Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), Asia's first Nobel Laureate, was instrumental in this. The resulting dance form, which was first taught at the liberal arts university that Tagore founded in Santiniketan, is widely acknowledged to be the first 'modern' dance of India. The people of Bengal (the eastern state of India which was Tagore's home state) still refer to the style as 'Rabindra-nritya'.
Tagore encouraged the addition of movements from the numerous folk dances of India where the music was appropriate. While lacking the precision and sophistication of the classical styles, folk dance styles can bring elements of liveliness and communal joy to dance that the classical styles cannot provide. And thus, the new concept of a 'fusion dance' combining the different Indian dance styles was born.
This concept of Indian fusion dance was taken up and carried forward by other maestros of dance such as the Uday Shankar, Manjushree Chaki-Sircar, Shanti Bose, and one of its most recent proponents, Sukalyan Bhattacharya. In keeping with the philosophy based on which the style was initiated, its major proponents have continued to experiment with it, pushing boundaries not only in terms of mixing the different dance-styles, but also in terms of costuming, music and themes.
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Chhau Dance
Chhau dance is a genre of Indian tribal martial dance which is popular in the states of Orissa, Jharkhand and West Bengal. There are three subgenres of the dance, based on its places of origin and development, Seraikella Chhau, Mayurbhanj Chhau and Purulia Chhau
The subgenre of Chhau performed in Purulia district and Jhargram subdivision of Paschim Medinipur District in West Bengal state, is referred to as the Purulia Chhau. It has a distinctive character of its own. It has received international acclaim and scaled rare heights of beauty and perfection. Essentially a festival dance, Chhau was originally performed on the occasion of the Sun Festival towards the end of the month of Chaitra (March–April). The situation has changed with time, as Chhau is now performed during some other festivals and at other times of year as well.
The Chhau dance is epical in content, and is based on various episodes of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Sometimes certain episodes of the Puranas are also used. The dominant rasas are Vira and Rudra. In the end, generally, forces of evil are vanquished and the righteous triumphs. In the villages, no dais or raised platform is used; the dance takes place on the ground around which, the spectators sit in a circle. When performing outside their villages the dancers often use the stage. The dance, opens with the beating of drums followed by an invocation to Ganesha. by a singer. As soon as the singer finishes the song, host of drummers and musicians step in creates an in inexplicably wonderful environ prior to the dance. Ganesha appears followed in quick succession by other characters —gods, demons, animals and birds |
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Jhumur Dance
The Jhumur dance is one of the liveliest folk dances of Bengal. The dance is performed by girls while the boys play the dhol and madol.
Only Jhumur has a main attraction of music and folk dance. Jhumur has earned a place in the king’s palace. Mainly West Bengal and South-eastern Kings of Purulia, kings of Chilkigarh has placed Jhumur in high esteem. Because of this Jhumur has earned a special Gharana.
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Nepali Folk Dance
The Nepalese in Darjeeling are rich in folk culture. The hills and dales are the treasure house of songs and dances of the hill folk. There is not a moment in their lives, possessed as they are of a lyrical mind and heart that does not turn into singing and dancing.
The panorama of the Majestic Himalayan mountains, its lush green hills and forests seem to have played a significant role in influencing the religion and culture including the folk songs and dances of the Nepalese people, inhabiting in and around the Himalayan regions with its serene, romantic and poetic shades of different hues. Even the two major religions. viz., Hinduism and Buddhism seem to have influenced the Nepali culture full of its rich folk songs and dances, co-existing side by side.
The earlier cave paintings, religious rites and temple songs and dances have also played another significant role in influencing Nepalese Folks songs and dances. The earlier form of dances and folk songs attributed to the Gods and goddesses of both the Hindu and Buddhist pantheon, are also inspirational in creating Nepalese folk songs and dances, impressions of religious dances performed either to appease Gods and goddesses or ward-off the evil spirits can also be seen distinctly in performing arts of the Nepalese people.
The following are some of the most popular and worth mentioning forms of Nepali folk dances.
1. Maruni Nach. 2. Dhan Naach. 3. Jhankri Naach. 4. Jatra Naach. 5. Damphu Naach. 6. Khukuri Naach. 7. Deora Naach. 8. Panchay Naach. 9. Dhimay Naach. 10. Sanginy Naach. 11. Balan Naach. 12. Jhyauray Naach. 13. Paschimay Chutki. 14. Rodhighar Naach. 15. Baton Naach. 16. Jhumara Naach. 17. Sakhia Naach.
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 Santhali Tribal Dance
Santhal is a very popular folk dance performed in the districts of Bankura and Birbhum. It is a group dance performed by Santhal tribes originally from Jharkhand. This dance is performed by the Santhal tribes during all special festivals and occasions. It not only reveals the culture or traditions of the local tribes but also showcases the strength of unity.
The main attraction of the Santhal dance are the colorful costumes worn by the tribal people. The typical garments worn by men during the Santhal are dhoti and a turban but the main attraction is their body decoration with various species of flora. Since the Santhals are believed to be close to nature, they use natural things such as leaves, branches and flowers to do their make-up and design their clothes.
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