Bharatanatyam - The Most Popular Classical Dance Form in India

Bharatanatyam is one among the most popular Indian classical dance forms. It demands unconditional and complete dedication from the performing artist. Bharatanatyam is dance form which makes use of the combination of bhava, raga, tala, and natya. It has been  not solely made for the purpose of seeking pleasure, but in fact, the fabulous dance form had an embodiment of several cosmic relationships and expressions (bhava) emanating from all the worlds. The dynamic and earthy style of this dance makes it one of the most chosen forms of Indian classical art forms. Bharatanatyam is performed by women. Men are also known to engage in it. Men have bare chest and wear a dhoti-like outfit in the lower part of the body, while the women wear a typical sari in the dance performance. Bharatanatyam evolved during the late 18th or early 19th century. In the ancient India, the devadasis performed in various parts of Tamil Nadu.


Basic Features of Bharatanatyam


Movement, costume, and music are the three evident aspects of Bharatanatyam. In other words, what the dancer is doing, how the dancer looks, and what are the accompanying sounds. We’ll describe these aspects of the dance, and later on, attempt to explain their combined effect, which is the intention of the dance.

Movements in Bharatanatyam


Expressive movements convey meaning and show emotion, through a vocabulary of hand gestures, postures, and facial expressions. Their purpose is to portray a theme or feeling, and to transmit an experience of it to the audience.The movements that are done to show rhythm, to provide decoration, and to create beauty is the abstract movement.

Costume in Bharatanatyam


Bharatanatyam costumes for women resemble Indian saris. They’re not single pieces of cloth. It’s a combination of number of specially stitched pieces. Such a customization makes it easier to wear, and easier to dance in than a sari. Bharathanatyam costumes are bright and colorful. They inherit from the sari tradition the use of contrasting border colors, and the borders of the various pieces of the costumes form patterns that decorate the dancer’s form. Pair of anklets or ankle bells are the most essential item among Bharatanatyam costume. They make the rhythmic footwork of the dance audible. Dancers treat their salangai like musicians treat their instruments.The salangai are blessed by the dancer’s guru; they are worshipped on special occasions, and are never worn casually. Costume’s for bharathanatyam involve a significant amount of jewelry, including bangles, rings, earrings, nose rings, and special ornaments for the arms and head.

Music of Bharatanatyam Dance


Bharatanatyam is accompanied by music of the Carnatic style,that has been specialized for dance. The music is specialized in a few ways. In a music concert, the musician’s talent is displayed. In a dance performance, the musicians must focus on accompaniment and support the dancer. Excessive ornamentation and improvisation in the music distracts from the dance. Improvisation is left to the dancer, in particular phases of items. The musicians must be able to take cues from the dancer to make impromptu adjustments. The range of tempos in the music is limited to what a dancer can physically handle. The percussionists must also play so that they emphasize the beats that are important to the dancer, and avoid virtuoso demonstrations that don’t support the dancer.


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