UPSC CSE Prelims
Classical Dance Forms Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Practice solved questions for Classical Dance Forms with detailed step-by-step solutions, key insights, and trend analysis for UPSC CSE PRELIMS.
Solved Previous Year Questions
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With reference to the famous Sattriya dance, consider the following statements:
- Sattriya is a combination of music, dance and drama.
- It is a centuries-old living tradition of Vaishnavites of Assam.
- It is based on classical Ragas and Talas of devotional songs composed by Tulsidas, Kabir and Mirabai.
Which of the statements given above is /are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Sattriya is a combination of music, dance, and drama, incorporating storytelling through movement, expressions, and devotional songs.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: It is a centuries-old living tradition of Vaishnavites of Assam, originated in the 15th century by Srimanta Sankardev as part of the neo-Vaishnavite movement.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Sattriya is based on compositions by Sankardev and Assamese saints, not Tulsidas, Kabir, or Mirabai, who belonged to different regional Bhakti traditions; it uses distinct Assamese Ragas and Talas.
In the context of the cultural history of India, a pose in dance and dramatics called ‘Tribhanga’ has been a favourite of Indian artists from ancient times till today. Which one of the following statements best describes this pose?
Detailed Explanation:
Tribhanga (meaning 'three bends') is a classical standing pose in Indian art and dance where the body forms a gentle S-shaped curve with bends at three points: neck, waist, and knee.
This tri-bent posture creates opposite curves at the waist and neck, making it the most graceful and sensuous pose in traditions like Odissi dance and temple sculpture, frequently depicted in images of Lord Krishna.
How do you distinguish between Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam dances?
- Dancers occasionally speaking dialogues is found in Kuchipudi dance but not in Bharatanatyam.
- Dancing on the brass plate by keeping the feet on its edges is a feature of Bharatanatyam but Kuchipudi dance does not have such a form of movements.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Kuchipudi dancers use Vachika Abhinaya (spoken dialogues) during performances, which is a unique feature not found in Bharatanatyam.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Dancing on brass plates (Tarangam) is a distinctive feature of Kuchipudi, not Bharatanatyam.
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