Bharatanatyam originated Tamil Nadu, then spread throughout South India.
Mudras, hand gestures, are used to emphasize steps or convey new meanings in a dance. While storytelling, mudras can depict anything from water, to birds, to the action of making food, and much more.
Adavus are the fundamental dance steps used to compose pieces. This picture is of me performing an adavu incorporated into my dance.
BHARATANATYAM
bhava:
expression
raga:
music
tala:
rhythm
natyam:
dance
QUICK FACTS ABOUT BHARATANATYAM
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It is oldest Indian classical dance form.
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The styles of Bharatanatyam include: Mellatur, Pandanallur, Vazhuvoor, Kalakshetra, and Mysore (my style).
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Bharatanatyam dances can be purely step based, or convey a story. Most often, these dances express Hindu religious stories and devotions.
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This dance form was originally performed as a temple dance for women.
COSTUME
Just like other dance forms, the Bharatanatyam dance costume plays an important role in a dancer's stage presence and performance.
The "fan" in a Bharatanatyam costume emphasizes a dancer's movements on stage, and highlights their steps. Experienced dancers will know how to dance in a way that opens their fan the most, and shows all of its detail and length.
Bells:
- worn to amplify the sound a dancer's feet make while performing
- the amount of rows in a dancer's bells differ; beginning dancers start with one row bells, and progress to five row bells
Red Markings:
- used to make the hand and feet movements of dancers more visible to the audience