Bharatha Natyam
Bharatanatyam is the oldest of all the classical dance forms of India.It is said to be originated in Thanjavoor of Tamil Nadu.It is based on the Theories of the books "Natyasasthram" & " Abhinaya Darpanam". The dance form is based on Adavu(or steps) and Hastamudra(or hand gestures). Bharatanatyam is considered a divine art to be celebrated, beyond the rapture of the body, for the purification of the spirit.In the past it was practised and performed in the temples by a class of dancers known as the devadasis.The dancer artistically tells stories and events from the epics through mudras (movements of the hand and feet) and facial expressions. Training in Bharathanatyam starts at a very early age. The dancer should have a strong and flexible body, strong expression in face and eyes and an in-born, natural sense of rhythm. A Bharatha Natyam performance is rendered by a solo artist, or a duo, or as a group. Bharatha Natyam is poetry in motion.
The term BHARATNATYAM is coined from Bha = Bhava or expression, Ra = Ragam(Raaga) or melody,Ta = Talam(Taal) or rhythm,Natyam = Dance. The performance start with the Prayers to God Ganesha and Worship of Nataraja Moorthi.
The main items of Bharatha Natyam involves Alarippu, Jathi Swaram, Shabdam, Varnam, Padam and Thillana Alarippu is the invocation of God, Jathi Swaram refers to note combination while a combination of notes and lyrics is known as Shabdam. Combination of pure dance and abhinaya is termed Varnam. Padam is the final dance and after Thillana with a 'Mangala Slokam' the dance program ends.
Normally the dance performance lasts for two to three hours. All the steps which are done in Bharathanatyam is collectively called Adavu. Adavu is the basic unit of dance and consist of Thattadavu, Nattadavu, Kuthithumettadavu, Mandia adavu, Sarikkal, Thattumettu, Jathi, Nadai, Ardi etc.
The different sets of beats used in Indian Classical Music is called Taalam.There are basically 7 taalams used in Bharathanatyam. Teerumanam means the pause between two Adavus or Movements
HeadGuestures in Bharathanatyam
There are nine headgustures used in Bharathanatyam.
Eye Guestures in Bharathanatyam
There are eight eye guestures used in Bharathanatyam.
NeckGuestures in Bharathanatyam
There are four neckguestures used in Bharathanatyam
HandGestures in Bharathanatyam
There are two types of HandGuestures in Bharathanatyam
Music & Musical Instruments used to accompany Bharathanatyam
The music of Bharathanatyam is based on Carnatic Classical Music.The instruments used are Mridangam,,Veena,Violin & Flute.The dance direction is done by 'Nattuvanar' giving the Thaalam using hand symbols and singing 'Vaayithari'. There will be two singers also.
Panthanalloor Meenaxi Sundaram Pilla,Panthanalloor Chokkalingam Pilla, Padmasree Vazhoor Ramayyan Pilla and Adyar Laxman are some of the famous 'Nattuvanar'.
Make-up,Costumes & Jewelleries
The make-up is georgious.The dancer's face is made up of yellow and pink-paste and eyes are blackened with kajal and lips reddened.The costume is paijama & jacket of Kanchipuram silk and Banaras silk.The beautiful Pallu (Thallaippu) in the front makes the costume very rich, colorful & beautiful. Small children will have a blouse with a small pleat in the front, instead of the Thavani (piece covering the blouse). The top portion is called Attached Thavani. Mainly temple jewelleries are used in Dance. But now-a-days jewelleries made of other metals are widely used by dancers. Some Traditional Patterns are shown here.
Famous Artists
Some of the famous Bharathanatyam Performers are Bala Saraswathi,Mrinalini Sarabhai,Kamala Laxman, Padma Subrahmanyam,Alarmel Valli,Dhananjayans,Malavika Sarukkai,Rukmini Devi Arundale,Swapnasundari and Chitra Visweswaran
The term BHARATNATYAM is coined from Bha = Bhava or expression, Ra = Ragam(Raaga) or melody,Ta = Talam(Taal) or rhythm,Natyam = Dance. The performance start with the Prayers to God Ganesha and Worship of Nataraja Moorthi.
The main items of Bharatha Natyam involves Alarippu, Jathi Swaram, Shabdam, Varnam, Padam and Thillana Alarippu is the invocation of God, Jathi Swaram refers to note combination while a combination of notes and lyrics is known as Shabdam. Combination of pure dance and abhinaya is termed Varnam. Padam is the final dance and after Thillana with a 'Mangala Slokam' the dance program ends.
Normally the dance performance lasts for two to three hours. All the steps which are done in Bharathanatyam is collectively called Adavu. Adavu is the basic unit of dance and consist of Thattadavu, Nattadavu, Kuthithumettadavu, Mandia adavu, Sarikkal, Thattumettu, Jathi, Nadai, Ardi etc.
- There are 5 Jathis used in Bharathanatyam. Tishram includes 3 beats "Ta Ki Ta"
- Chatusram includes 4 beats "Ta Ka, Dhi Mi"
- Khandam includes 5 beats "Ta Ka Ta ,Ki Ta"
- Mishram includes 7 beats "Ta Ki Ta , Ta Ka Dhi Mi"
- Sankeernam includes 9 beats "Ta Ka Dhi Mi, Ta Ka Ta Ki Ta"
The different sets of beats used in Indian Classical Music is called Taalam.There are basically 7 taalams used in Bharathanatyam. Teerumanam means the pause between two Adavus or Movements
HeadGuestures in Bharathanatyam
There are nine headgustures used in Bharathanatyam.
- Sama - means Level
- Udvaahita - means Raised up
- Adhomukha - means Down-cast face
- Aalolita - means Rolling
- Dhuta - means Shaken sideways
- Kampita - means Nodded
- Paraavarta - means Turned Round
- Utksipta - means Thrown down
- Parivaahitha - means Widely moved
Eye Guestures in Bharathanatyam
There are eight eye guestures used in Bharathanatyam.
- Sama - means Level
- Aalokitha - means keen glance
- Saaci - means side long
- Pralokita - means wide glance
- Nimilitha - means closed
- Ullokitha - means looking up
- Anuvartta - means quickly up-down movement
- Avalokita - means looking down
NeckGuestures in Bharathanatyam
There are four neckguestures used in Bharathanatyam
- Sundari - means To & Fro Horizontally
- Tirascinna - means upward movement on both sides
- Parivarthitha - means right to left like half moon
- Prakampitha - means backward and forward movement
HandGestures in Bharathanatyam
There are two types of HandGuestures in Bharathanatyam
- Asamyukta Hastha
- Samyukta Hastha
Music & Musical Instruments used to accompany Bharathanatyam
The music of Bharathanatyam is based on Carnatic Classical Music.The instruments used are Mridangam,,Veena,Violin & Flute.The dance direction is done by 'Nattuvanar' giving the Thaalam using hand symbols and singing 'Vaayithari'. There will be two singers also.
Panthanalloor Meenaxi Sundaram Pilla,Panthanalloor Chokkalingam Pilla, Padmasree Vazhoor Ramayyan Pilla and Adyar Laxman are some of the famous 'Nattuvanar'.
Make-up,Costumes & Jewelleries
The make-up is georgious.The dancer's face is made up of yellow and pink-paste and eyes are blackened with kajal and lips reddened.The costume is paijama & jacket of Kanchipuram silk and Banaras silk.The beautiful Pallu (Thallaippu) in the front makes the costume very rich, colorful & beautiful. Small children will have a blouse with a small pleat in the front, instead of the Thavani (piece covering the blouse). The top portion is called Attached Thavani. Mainly temple jewelleries are used in Dance. But now-a-days jewelleries made of other metals are widely used by dancers. Some Traditional Patterns are shown here.
- Some of the sites dealing in Traditional patterns jewels & Costumes information are shubhanu.com
- indian-heritage.com
Famous Artists
Some of the famous Bharathanatyam Performers are Bala Saraswathi,Mrinalini Sarabhai,Kamala Laxman, Padma Subrahmanyam,Alarmel Valli,Dhananjayans,Malavika Sarukkai,Rukmini Devi Arundale,Swapnasundari and Chitra Visweswaran