temple dancer
Ritual movement artist
A temple dancer is a performer of sacred dances in Hindu temples, traditionally a woman trained from childhood in classical Indian dance forms as devotional practice.
Historically, these dancers—called devadasis—were dedicated to temple service and held respected status, though the institution became controversial under colonial rule.
The term now often refers more broadly to practitioners of classical temple dance traditions like Bharatanatyam.
- apsaraDivine dancer of heaven
- sacredWorthy of reverence
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- classicalOf ancient Greece/Rome
- mudraRitual hand gesture
hand gestures · anklets · silk · incense · shrine · goddess · offering · graceful · bells · gold jewelry · jasmine · Hindu · ceremony · devotion · oil lamp · veil · South Indian · sinuous
- Asian Sculptureseated Buddha, standing Buddha, garden Buddha, Bodhisattva, guardian lion
- temple workersacolyte, altar server, sacristan, sexton, altar boy
- religious womennun, sister, abbess, prioress, novice
- priestesseshigh priestess, sibyl, sacred virgin, druidess, mambo
temple dancercabaret dancer
Nightclub stage performer
nightclub dancer · showgirl · exotic dancer · burlesque performer · chorus girl
temple dancerstripper
Removes coatings or clothing
exotic dancer · erotic dancer · lap dancer · pole dancer · bar girl
temple dancerbusker
Public-space entertainer seeking donations
temple, temples, dancer, dancers, dance, dances, danced, dancing