The Sangeet Natak Academy, accords "classical" status to eight dance forms of India.These forms include Bharatanatyam( Tamil Nadu), Odissi( Orissa), Manipuri (Manipur), Kathakali (Kerala), Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh), Mohiniaattam, Kathak(Lucknow) and Yakshagana. These dance forms have their own set of rules. Most of these dance forms draw their origin to the Natya Shastra of Bharata Muni of ancient times (400 B.C.E).