Bharatanatyam

Performing Arts of south India

பரதநாட்டியம்   :::   Bharatanatyam    :::   भरतनाट्यम

Introduction:
Bharatanatyam is a classical dance style from south India, specifically Tamil Nadu.  It has its origins in the ritual dancing of the devadasis (temple dancers), and in the classical rules of Indian theatre arts.  The word Bharatanatyam consists of the first syllables of the words: bhava (expression), raga (melody), tala (rhythm), and natyam (dance/drama).

          Explanation of the term Bharatanatyam (Bha-ra-ta-natyam):
    • Bha   --   Bhava  (emotion or expression)
    • Ra     --   Raga  (melody or tune)
    • Ta     --   Tala  (beat or rhythm)
    • Natyam  --   Natyam  (a combination of dance and drama)


History of Bharatanatyam:
In the Vedas, a collection of ancient Hindu sciptures, many gods and goddesses are compared to dancers.  The highest Absolute Being manifests Itself as Siva-Natarajaliterally "King of Dance", whose cosmic dance represents the cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction of every element in the universe.


With regards to the technique and the form of presentation, the most applicable comparison to Bharatanatyam would be classical ballet, although the spectrum of movements and the narrative contents of the dances are fundamentally different.


Elements of Bharatanatyam are:
 1) the abstract, rhythmic dance (nritta)
 2) the narrative dance (nritya)
 3) the narrative dance (natya)
  • Nritta, the abstract or purely movement dance, consists of geometric movements that illustrate the beauty of tala (rhythm) and raga (melody).  Every abstract dance sequence is entirely planned according to the tala-system (rhythm and measure) of the Carnatic music system.
  • Nritya, the narrative dance, is the medium of expressions or abhinaya.  Abhinaya consists of representative body positions, of which the most characteristic are the hastas (hand positions) used to describe the content of the song with symbolic movements, as well as facial expressions.
  • Natya, the combination of nritta and nritya, synthesizes the dramatic dance elements and the movement structures.


Ranjani Vedanthan

The traditional jewelry consists of pearls and gems that frame the head and face.  The costume is derived from a colorful, silk sari (a six-yard cloth worn by women in India).  The little bells above the ankles are made of bronze; they have sacral meaning and emphasize the rhythm of the dance.  Fingertips, palms, and toes are colored red to symbolize the petals of the red lotus, and to accentuate the feet movement and intricate hand gestures.



பரதநாட்டியம்   :::   Bharatanatyam    :::   भरतनाट्यम

Dance Curriculum


   Beginner Level   
    • Tattadavus
    • Nattadavus
    • Teermanam Adavus x 2
    • Visharu Adavus x 8 (Ta Tai Tai Ta Dhit Tai Tai Ta)
    • Tattu Mettu Adavus x 5 (Tat Tai Ta Ha Dhit Tai Ta Ha)
    • Dances x 2


        Advanced Beginner Level    
      • All items above plus:
      • Kuditta Metta Adavus x 7 (Tai Gha Tai Hi)
      • Sutral Adavus x 4 (Tat Tai Tam Dhit Tai Tam)
      • Sarikal Adavus x 5 (Tai Ya Tai Yi)
      • Jaati Adavus x 5 (Tisram, Chatushram, Khandam, Mishram, Sankeernam)
      • Jaati Adavu Pattern #1 (5x TTDTT medium)
      • Mandi Adavus x 4 (Ta Ka Dhi Mi)
      • Korvais x 4 
      • Dances x 4


         Intermediate Level    

        • All items above plus:
        • Dances x 8



           Advanced Level followed by Arengatram  
          • All items above plus:
          • Nattadavus x 13
          • Varnam x 2
          • Nataraja Dances x 3
          • Devarnama x 4
          • Padam x 3
          • Tillana x 3



        For more information on any of the above, please refer to: