Bharatanatyam
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Tamil Nadu's classical dance of crisp footwork, sculpted poses and expressive storytelling, recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi.
ClassicalWhere: Tamil NaduOccasion: Stage performances, temple festivals and the Chennai music season
| Performed by | Soloists, most often women; also men and groups today |
|---|---|
| Costume | Silk costume with a pleated fan at the front, temple jewellery, ankle bells (salangai), jasmine in the hair and red alta on hands and feet |
| Music and instruments | Carnatic music: vocalist, mridangam, violin or veena, flute, and the nattuvanar who keeps rhythm with small cymbals and spoken syllables |
How it is performed
- A recital traditionally begins with an invocation such as Alarippu, a pure-dance piece that 'blossoms' the body.
- Pure dance (nritta) pieces like Jathiswaram show rhythmic footwork in the half-seated aramandi posture.
- The central Varnam combines rhythm and expression, often the longest piece of the evening.
- In expressive pieces (abhinaya) such as Padams and Javalis, the dancer tells a story with hand gestures (mudras) and facial expression.
- The recital ends with a fast, joyful Thillana and a closing prayer (mangalam).
Significance
Rooted in the dance of temple traditions described in texts such as the Natya Shastra, Bharatanatyam was revived and brought to the concert stage in the 20th century by artists such as Rukmini Devi Arundale, who founded Kalakshetra in Chennai. Poses carved on temple gopurams, such as at Chidambaram, show the 108 karanas of classical dance.