What is Bharatanatyam?

History

Bharatanatyam is the national dance of India. It is thought to have been conceived in the minds of the the Gods, which is justifiable considering this is one of the most ancient dance forms still in existence today. It is said that the Gods perceived this dance to be the most effective way to communicate with mankind.

In its present form, Bharatanatyam is a modified form of Sadir or the temple dance performed by the devadasis ("servants of God") of the state of Tamil Nadu in South India.

It owes much of its modern presence to the revival efforts of Rukmini Devi Arundale, philosopher and the propagator of the Pandanallur school of Bharatanatyam dance, the more puritanical or esoteric form.

The other prominent style of Bharatanatyam dance was promoted by the temple dancer Balasaraswati and is known for involving more sensuous elements like hip and chest undulations, broadly termed sringara in dance parlance.

Most modern dance schools merge both styles when initiating their students.

The Dance

The word "Bharatanatyam" is composed of the sanskrit words for:

Bhaav which means emotion

Raag which means music

Taal which means rythm

Natyam which means drama

It is a unification of all these elements that give birth to this vibrant and emotive dance form. Bharatanatyam is a Fire dance, the movements of the dancer often resembling a leaping flame. The dance is mainly composed of :

Exhaustive footwork

Expressive hand gestures to communicate ideas

Elaborate neck and eye movements to convey emotion

Presentation

A typical dance recital generally involves a pattern in the pieces that the dancer chooses to perform:

• Alarippu: An invocation to God performed at the beginning of the dance to obtain his blessings for the performance. This is also a presentation of rythm.


• Pushpanjali: This is generally done with flowers to welcome the guests and praise the Gods


• Varnam: Centre piece of the dance usually involves the most complex movements with a narrative often involving love or feelings of longing.


• Sthuthi: Hymn in praise of a deity often incorporating a feigned mockery of some of their more human aspects


• Thillana:This section showcases footwork and ryhtm in detail and is normally the concluding portion of the performance

There are other types of pieces as well but they mainly differ in the ideas conveyed or the narrative style used.
The dance is also known for the very elaborate costumes and jewellery that the dancers wear. The particular set of ornaments used are called "temple jewellery" and the dress is a variation on the Indian sari.

The musical accompaniment to this dance is traditionally Carnatic music, which is a South Indian musical style which involves the use of the stringed instruments (violin and veena), drums (mridangam), the horn (nagaswaram) and the flute. The songs are normally in one of four languages, Tamil, Telegu, Kannada or Sanskrit.

Modern Bharatanatyam often incorporates elements from styles as diverse as ballet and flamenco to tap dancing and folk dances from across the world. This leads to a significant digression from traditional patterns in the presentation style, music and costumes. Bharatanatyam is a dance that constantly reinvents itself and yet maintains the purity of its unique style.

Significance

Bharatanatyam is one of the most pure and unadulterated forms of world classical dance. To this day it is performed in its original form. Like the many wonders of the world, including the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Wall, this is a human creation that has survived the test of time.

It is truly remarkable that the dancers who were once inscribed on the walls of temples that are more than a thousand years old, and sung of in ancient Hindu myth, are still among us today performing the same art that inspired the sculptors and poets of old.

Though deeply spritual, the form is all inclusive and used to narrate and express a range of stories and ideas. Modern Bharatanatyam has evolved to include environmental concerns, world politics, world literature and science in its broad repartee.

Bharatanatyam, the dance of India, is like the country of its origin- chaotic, colourful, exotic and never still.