This study aims to fill the lack of the studies related to the seismic response of RCC dams. Therefore, earthquake response is investigated using the finite element method. Two-dimensional earthquake response of Cine RCC dam is presented considering geometrical non-linearity. Besides, material nonlinearity is also taken into consideration in time-history analyses. Bilinear kinematic hardening and multi linear-hardening model are used in the materially non-linear analyses for concrete and foundation rock, respectively. The dam–foundation–reservoir interaction is modeled by the contact elements. Different water levels of reservoir are considered in numerical analyses. The hydrodynamic pressure of the reservoir water is modeled with the fluid finite elements based on the Lagrangian approach. In the earthquake analyses, viscous dampers are defined in the finite element model to represent infinite boundary conditions. Comparing of principle stresses with respect to different water levels of the reservoir are carried out. Numerical solutions indicate that the principle stress components increase by the hydrodynamic pressure effect of the reservoir water, however those decrease in the materially non-linear time-history analyses. Larger displacements are obtained for nonlinear analyses compared with linear analyses.