Bharatanatyam Classical Dance
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Bharatanatyam is a classical Indian dance form originating in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Bharatnatyam is usually accompanied by Carnatic music. Bharatanatyam, as the name depicts is the combination of: 'Bha' - Bhavam (means expression), 'Ra' - Ragam (means music), 'Ta - Talam (means beat or rhythm) and Natyam (means dance) in Tamil. A possible origin of the name is from Bharata Muni, who wrote the Natya Shastra to which Bharathanatyam owes many of its ideas. This etymology also holds up to scrutiny better since Bharathanatyam is pronounced with short (kuril) forms of "bha", "ra" and "tha" whereas each of "bhavam", "ragam" and "talam" contain the long (nedil) forms.
Bharatanatyam is a reworked dance-form from the traditional "sadir" known for its grace, purity, tenderness, and sculpturesque poses. Today, it is one of the most popular and widely performed dance styles and is practiced by male and female dancers all over the world. In ancient times it was performed as dasiattam by mandira (Hindu temple) Devadasis. Many of the ancient sculptures in Hindu temples are based on Bharatnatyam dance postures karanas. Bharatnatyam is considered to be a fire-dance the mystic manifestation of the metaphysical element of fire in the human body. Bharatnatyam proper is a solo dance, with two aspects, lasya, the graceful feminine lines and movements, and tandava Ananda Thandavam (Tamil) (the dance of Shiva), masculine aspect
BHARATNAYAM SIMPLIFIED
There are 3 types of dance; Nritta, Nritya and Natya. Nritta is a pure dance without any emotions, expressions or sahityam. Eg. Alarippu, Swarajathi, Jatiswaram. Nritya has sahityam ( a sentence which means something). It has emotions, expressions and has a meaning shown by the hastas. Eg. Ganeshakautvam, Ranganjali, Karthikeyakautvam. Natya is when a person is portraiting a character. Eg. All padams There are types of abhinaya in dance, they are 1) Anghika - Physical or body movements. 2) Vachika - the song being played, poetry 3) Aaharya - Ornamentation of a character/dancer eg. jewellery, costume 4) Satvika - Involuntary movements eg. trembling, break of voice, tears
ITEMS
Typically a performance includes:
Alaripu - A presentation of the Tala punctuated by simple syllables spoken by the dancer. This really is sort of an invocation to the gods to bless the performance.
Kautuvam - Ancient temple dance item performed in the beginning of the recital, containing rhythmic syllables sung for jathis.
Ganapati Vandana - A traditional opening prayer to the Hindu god Ganesh, who removes obstacles. See also Pushpanjali
Today Mangalam - a starting dance in which we show respect towards the god.
Jatiswaram - An abstract dance where the drums set the beat. Here the dancer displays her versatility in elaborate footwork and graceful movements of the body.
Shabdam - The dancing is accompanied by a poem or song with a devotional or amorous theme.
Varnam - The center piece of the performance. It is the longest section of the dance punctuated with the most complex and difficult movements. Positions of the hands and body tell a story, usually of loveand the longing for the lover.
Padam - Probably the most lyrical section where the dancer "speaks" of some aspect of love: devotion to the Supreme Being; or of love of mother for child; or the love of lovers separated and reunited.