The nautch was a popular court dance performed by girls in later Mughal and colonial India. The word "nautch" was a British corruption of Nachna, the Hindi verb to dance. The culture of the performing art of the nautch rose to prominence during the later period of Mughal Empire and the rule of the East India Company.

In India, a devadasi is a female artist who is dedicated to the worship and service of a deity or a temple for the rest of her life. The dedication takes place in a ceremony that is somewhat similar to a marriage ceremony. In addition to taking care of the temple and performing rituals, these women also learn and practice classical Indian dances such as Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Kuchipudi, and Odissi. Their status as dancers, musicians, and consorts was an essential part of temple worship.