Facial expressions, known as bhavam are more pronounced in the case of the traditional forms of dance. Indian dance was first created by Lord Shiva. One of the forms of Shiva is Nattaraj who creates and destroys through his cosmic dance. Later, his art was passed on to the human world by the yogis, Narad and Bharat Muni, through the ancient books known as the Rig Vedas and Natya Sastra. In these books the authors write about the science behind dance and drama.
Most Indian dances take their themes from India's rich mythology and folk legends.
Thus, Indian dance is both a form of worship and an expression of man's most profound emotions. Individual dance maestros also conduct dance classes. The two most popular dances are Bharat Natyam and Kathak. Many parents go out of their way to involve their kids in the classes so that they can enjoy and learn the Indian culture through dance. Here are some of the popular dances explained briefly.