Each of these regional cultures shaped the ‘Marga’ into its own very distinct form.
These offshoots are called ‘Desi’.
In essence, they are regional dance forms that are an offshoot of the Natya Shastra.
The Natya Shastra and the Desi forms have existed in parallel for centuries.
Unlike the Marga, many of the Desi forms stood the test of time and continued to live on through numerous conquests, religious conflicts, loss of patronage and change in economic status.
Some of the Desi forms that are still in practice today are Bharatanatyam (previously known as Sadir), Odissi, Kathak, Mohini Attam, Kuchupudi and Kathakali.