Prelims 1997 · archive
MediumWhich one of the following dances involves solo performance?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (c) Mohiniattam
Mohiniyattam is the Kerala classical dance traditionally performed solo by a woman.
- ✓ (c) Mohiniyattam was traditionally danced as a solo item, though groups now also perform it.
- ✗ (a) Bharatanatyam is also commonly presented solo, but it is not the form singled out as solo.
Remember · Mohiniyattam: Kerala, feminine, traditionally solo.
Sources
- Mohiniyattam, Encyclopaedia Britannica ↗ · reference work “Traditionally, the dance was performed solo, but in the 21st century it may also be performed in groups.”
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 1997, General Studies paper. UPSC did not publish an answer key for 1997: the answer shown is the generally accepted one, and the sources above explain the facts behind it. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 24 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·