Indian classical dance is a relatively new umbrella term for various codified art forms rooted in Natya, the sacred Hindu musical theatre styles, whose theory can be traced back to the Natya Shastra of Bharata Muni (400 BC).

These are:

For lack of any better equivalents in the European culture, the British colonial authorities called any performing art forms found in India as "Indian dance". Even though the art of Natya includes nritta, or dance proper, Natya has never been limited to dancing and includes singing, abhinaya (mime acting). These features are common to all the Indian classical styles. In the margi form Nritta is composed of karanas, while the desi nritta consists mainly of adavus.

The term "classical" (Sanskr. "Shastriya") was introduced by Sangeet Natak Akademi to denote the Natya Shastra-based performing art styles. A very important feature of Indian classical dances is the use of the mudra or hand gestures by the artists as a short-hand sign language to narrate a story and to demonstrate certain concepts such as objects, weather, nature and emotion. Many classical dances include facial expressions as an integral part of the dance form.

Mukta Barve is an Indian television, theatre and film actress. She is known for her role in the critically acclaimed Marathi film Jogwa.

Mukta was born on 17 May 1979 in Pune, Maharashtra. She performed in her first play Ghar tighāncha hava when she was in high school. She graduated from Pune University majoring in theatre, and joined the Dramatics program at Lalit Kala Kendra (Institute for Fine Arts), Pune. She then moved to Mumbai to focus completely on her acting career.

Mukta started out by working in several TV serials such as Abhāḷamāyā, Gangādhar Tipre, Buwā Ale and Chitta chor. After starring in several plays such as Hum To Tere Ashique Hai and Final Draft, Mukta won critical acclaim for her portrayal of a Kabaddi sport enthusiast in the theatre production Kabaddi-Kabaddi, for which she won the 2007 Zee award for best actress in a commercial play.

Mukta made her film debut with the 2004 Marathi film Chakwa, and followed it with several productions including Thang, Maati Maay, Saavar Re and Ashok Saraf's directorial debut Ek Daav Dhobi Pachhad.