The correct answer is Bharatanatyam. Key Points Bharatanatyam is India's oldest classical dance form, which developed in the Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu and is considered the mother of many other Indian classical dance forms. In Tamil, Bha- Bhavam (meaning expression), Ra- Ragam (means music), Ta- Talam (means beat or rhythm), and Natyam (means dance) are all terms used to describe Bharatnatyam dance. Bharatnatyam is a nearly 2,000-year-old Indian dance form. Lord Brahma is said to have given Bharatnatyam to Bharata, a great sage who codified the sacred dance in the Natya Shastra, a Sanskrit scripture. One of the most important treatises on Indian drama and aesthetics is the Natya Shastra. Important Points Odissi is an ancient Indian classical dance that developed in the Hindu temples of Odisha, a state on India's eastern coast. Kathak is one of the eight major forms of Indian classical dance. The origin of Kathak is traditionally attributed to the traveling bards in the of ancient northern India known as Kathakars or storytellers. It is the principal dance of northern India, and is widely practised in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, and even parts of western and eastern India today. Kathakali is a popular genre of Indian classical dance. It comes from southwestern India, around the state of Kerala. Like Bharatanatyam, kathakali is a religious dance. It draws inspiration from the Ramayana and stories from Shaiva traditions.