Bollywood dance is a vibrant fusion of styles, drawing inspiration from traditional Indian classical and folk dance, and incorporating western and more modern dance styles such as Hip Hop and Jazz. One of the most fascinating elements of classical Indian dance that makes its way into Bollywood choreography is the use of hand mudras—symbolic hand gestures that have been part of Indian storytelling for centuries.
In this blog post, we’ll explore some classical Indian hand mudras, provide image references, and explain how they’re seamlessly woven into modern Bollywood routines.
What Are Hand Mudras?
In Indian classical dance, mudras (or hastas) are intricate hand gestures used to convey meaning, express emotions, or depict objects and animals. They’re integral to the storytelling aspect of dance, and many Bollywood dance sequences use these mudras to add grace and nuance.
There are a number of single and double hand mudras, which I believe can vary depending on the style of classical Indian dance, but personally as I have been learning Kathak, my guru has taught me most of the following mudras:
