Bharatanatyam is a major form of Indian classical dance that is indigenous to Tamil Nadu [1] . Bharata Natyam is the oldest classical dance tradition in India. It was nurtured in the temples and courts of southern India since ancient times [1] [2] [3] It is one of eight forms of dance recognized by the Sangeet Natak Akademi [4] [5] (the others being Kathak , Kuchipudi , Odissi , Kathakali , Mohiniyattam , Manipuri and Sattriya ) and it expresses South Indian religious themes and spiritual ideas, particularly of Shaivism , Vaishnavism and Shaktism . [1] [6] [7]
Description of Bharatanatyam by 2nd century CE is noted in the ancient Tamil epic Silappatikaram , while temple sculptures of 6th to 9th century CE suggest it was a well refined performance art by the mid 1st millennium CE. [5] [8] Bharatanatyam is the oldest classical dance tradition of India. [9] Theoretical foundations of the Indian classical dance laid out in Natya Shastra . [6] can be traced to various ancient art forms including Bharatanatyam.
Bharatanatyam style is noted for its fixed upper torso, bent legs and knees flexed (Aramandi) combined with spectacular footwork, and a sophisticated vocabulary of sign language based on gestures of hands, eyes and face muscles. [8] The dance is accompanied by music and a singer, and typically her guru is present as the Nattuvanar, director and conductor of the performance and art. [1] The dance has traditionally been a form of an interpretive narration of mythical legends and spiritual ideas from the Hindu texts . [4] The performance repertoire of Bharatanatyam, like other classical dances, includes nrita (pure dance), nritya (solo expressive dance) and natya (group dramatic dance). [4] [10]
Bharatanatyam remained exclusive to Hindu temples through the 19th century. [8] It was banned by the colonial British government in 1910, [11] but the Indian community protested against the ban and expanded it outside the temples in the 20th century. [8] [11] [12] Modern stage productions of Bharatanatyam has been spread out and popular throughout India that has been done in different ways and have incorporated technical performances, pure dance based on non-religious ideas and fusion themes. [5] [8]
Bharatnatyam was associated with Devadasi Culture
Source: www. sangeethas.files.wordpress.com
With
the origination of temples in Tamil Nadu, Bharatnatyam soon became an
important part of South Indian temples around 300 BCE to 300 CE. Temple
dancers are known as Devadasis, who were dedicated to serve the Lord as
dasis or servants, performing the dance form and became an important
part of rituals in South Indian temples.
Why is the Lotus Temple Unforgettable? (source: JagranJosh)
Bharatnatyam is one of the most popular classical Indian dances. Bharatnatyam is more popular in South Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Bharatnatyam dance is almost 2,000 years old. It is believed that Bharatnatyam was revealed by Lord Brahma to Bharata, a famous sage who then codified this sacred dance in a Sanskrit text called the Natya Shastra. The Natya Shastra is one of the fundamental treatises on Indian drama and aesthetics. Natya Shastra divides dance into two distinct forms- nritta, and nritya. In nritta, focus is on mastery of abstract hand gestures and movements, whereas the dancer employs a complex system of hand signals and body language to depict emotional expressions in nritya.
Bharatnatyam is one of the most popular classical Indian dances. Bharatnatyam is more popular in South Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Bharatnatyam dance is almost 2,000 years old. It is believed that Bharatnatyam was revealed by Lord Brahma to Bharata, a famous sage who then codified this sacred dance in a Sanskrit text called the Natya Shastra. The Natya Shastra is one of the fundamental treatises on Indian drama and aesthetics. Natya Shastra divides dance into two distinct forms- nritta, and nritya. In nritta, focus is on mastery of abstract hand gestures and movements, whereas the dancer employs a complex system of hand signals and body language to depict emotional expressions in nritya.