Classical Indian dances, which take their scaffolding from the Natya Shastra, feature intricate footwork, complex rhythms, and depictions of mythological stories and emotions that can transport the dancer and the viewer to temples and spiritual places far beyond their surroundings. Some classical dance forms such as Bharatanatyam were traditionally performed in temples to invoke the gods, other forms such as Kuchipudi were performed as dance dramas and ballets. Pieces range range from purely abstract and rhythmic, to devotional to dramatic to modern, with depictions of the divine in various forms.
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